The rising theft of catalytic converters: here's how to avoid it

Unfortunately, we hear more and more news about organised gangs dedicated to stealing car catalytic converters, or we know someone who has been affected. Just recently, seven people were arrested in Málaga and Seville for more than 50 such incidents. And this isn’t happening only in our country, where between January 2021 and August 2022, more than 3,600 insurance claims for catalytic converter theft were processed.

Also in the news in recent days has been the dismantling of a network dedicated to catalytic converter theft in the United States, with arrests in California, New Jersey, Minnesota, New York and Virginia. A total of 25 people made up this nationwide gang, which could have sold the stolen catalytic converters for more than 545 million euros.

Why are catalytic converters stolen?

Catalytic converters are devices fitted to the exhaust system of combustion-engine vehicles to reduce polluting emissions by transforming exhaust gases through a chemical reaction.

For this reaction to take place, the catalytic converter contains a series of valuable metals inside it, including palladium, platinum and rhodium. It is these valuable metals, not the catalytic converter itself for use as a spare part, that thieves are after, and they trade them on the black market.

Bear in mind that the price per gram of some of these metals even exceeds that of gold. A standard catalytic converter contains around two grams of palladium, between three and five grams of platinum and a few milligrams of rhodium. If you consider that palladium costs around 30 euros per gram, platinum costs double that figure, and rhodium multiplies the price of platinum more than twelvefold, you will better understand why catalytic converters are the car parts most stolen today.

Moreover, unlike a vehicle, which has its registration plate and chassis number, the catalytic converter has no code or identification number that allows it to be tracked. For this reason, and because they are so easy to steal, they have become a highly sought-after target for thieves.

Careful, don’t confuse the catalytic converter with the particulate filter. Particulate filters are an additional component to the catalytic converter, which work differently and do not contain the valuable metals that catalytic converters do. They are also stolen, but far less, since in this case they are taken to be sold on the black market for counterfeit parts.

How is a catalytic converter stolen?

With an angle grinder. Yes, you read that right. Usually access to the catalytic converter is gained from underneath the vehicle. Thieves only need a powerful electric cutting tool, such as a metal saw or an angle grinder, to make two cuts in the section of exhaust pipe where the catalytic converter is located. At end-of-life vehicle processing centres they do it with powerful pneumatic clamps, but don’t think thieves take much longer with a good electric angle grinder…

And they don’t usually go to much trouble, since, as we said, the complete part is normally not intended for resale on the black market as a counterfeit spare part. So they tend to “cut it quick and clean”, and the “operation” barely takes a few seconds. Typically, stolen catalytic converters enter an illegal trade and reach companies that process them to extract the valuable metals, which then enter the black market.

How can I tell that my catalytic converter has been stolen?

Trust me, you’ll notice almost immediately when you start the engine. Think about it: when the catalytic converter is cut out and the exhaust is left open, the sound will be very loud and distinctive. In addition, a fault warning light on the instrument panel will soon come on, as the sensors associated with the catalytic converter fail. If you are unlucky enough to experience this, you should stop the engine and call a tow truck, not try to drive the car to the workshop.

Which catalytic converters are stolen most?

Thieves tend to focus on those cars that have more catalytic converters, those with larger catalytic converters… or on those where the anti-pollution device is easier and quicker to remove, such as large pick-up trucks. These vehicles, very popular in the American market in versions with large petrol engines that often have more than one catalytic converter, are easier to get under because of their high ground clearance.

Recently, catalytic converter thefts have also been strongly linked to vehicles of the brand Toyota and Lexus. In reality, the catalytic converter of any petrol hybrid is coveted by thieves, because it contains more valuable materials than that of a conventional combustion-engine car. But thefts from Toyota and Lexus make more headlines because these brands have many hybrid cars on the market. Moreover, many of them are SUVs, such as the Rav4, where it is easier for thieves to get underneath to manoeuvre.

Does insurance cover catalytic converter theft?

Normally, if you have a comprehensive insurance policy, or third-party insurance with theft cover, the insurance will cover the theft of the catalytic converter. In any case, it is worth checking the “small print” of your policy, or calling your insurance company to find out.

How much does it cost to fit a new catalytic converter if it is stolen?

Since each car model has a different catalytic converter, and there are many references, the price varies greatly depending on the type of converter and the vehicle. Bear in mind that petrol cars started using catalytic converters from the mid-to-late 1980s.

But I can tell you in advance that it is an expensive device: fitting a new one can cost between 1,500 and 3,000 euros. And you must also bear in mind that, depending on the damage the thieves may have caused, breaking cables, connections or brackets to take the coveted part, the total cost of fitting a new catalytic converter may clearly exceed that figure. Moreover, some cars have two exhaust lines, and one catalytic converter for each.

Tips to avoid having your catalytic converter stolen

The first measure to take to prevent your catalytic converter from being stolen relates to the way thieves go about removing this device: avoid parking in lonely or poorly lit areas, such as wasteland or industrial estates outside working hours, etc.

There are protective plates that prevent direct access to the catalytic converter, but this measure cannot be applied to every car — it depends on where the catalytic converter is located and the shape of the underside — and it is not one hundred percent effective either. It clearly has a deterrent effect, but a good angle grinder can get through the protective plate in very little time.

The police also suggest any additional measures that make it harder to sell the catalytic converter on the black market, such as painting it with special heat-resistant paint in a very eye-catching colour, or engraving the registration plate or the car’s VIN on the catalytic converter.

Related information of interest

• Protect your car: tips to prevent it being stolen
• Why insure your car comprehensively?