Unfortunately, a camera wont do much for stopping theft, but it may help the police after the fact. By adding bright paint, you can create a visible deterrent to alert thieves to move on. Assistant Assigning Editor | Auto loans, consumer credit. Constant product innovation is the reason why I always recommend a Miller CatShield if they make a model for your vehicle. The Catalytic Converter Assistance Program provides financial aid to victims through a partnership with the state legislature and the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority. Well, it depends. liability insurance, plus collision and comprehensive policies that repair or replace your own car you're covered, minus your deductible amount. As far as installation, if you know someone who is a car person that likes to tinker, its a 2 hour DIY job tops, especially on your van. Three ways to protect against catalytic converter theft 1) Etch your license plate number onto your catalytic converter. This stuff is much cheaper than than the cost of a catalytic converter. If I remember correctly, A 2013 Hyundai Elantra has two catalytic converters, one built into the manifold up at the engine and one underneath the car as part of the exhaust run. A number of other states have proposed legislation. The best bet: if you have a garage, clean out all of that old sports equipment and park your car in there instead! Here is a list of our partners. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. The idea of driving an old beater is false. How do thieves know which converters have the rare metals and which ones dont? They do provide a sticker that a thief probably wont see when under your car in the dark, but every little bit helps. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=2ba02a33-c319-4410-bba7-f8321a13bed3&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "2ba02a33-c319-4410-bba7-f8321a13bed3" }).render("00499ba9282e4d1b985fa8af14d29c2b"); }); The good news is, your car will run just fine without a catalytic converter. You can buy the Miller Cat Shield directly from the manufacturer, and the CCM CatSecurity on Amazon. Protect Yourself From Indoor Air Pollution, 21 Small Kitchen Appliances for $100 or Less, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Much like the rest of life, catalytic converter thieves come in all levels of skill and preparation. The cars that are most commonly targeted for their catalytic converters are the Toyota Prius, Honda Element, That means buying an electric car. WebStatewide: Catalytic Converter Protection Theft of catalytic converters is on the rise in Colorado due to a lucrative black market. Passwords are 6-20 characters with at least one number and letter. Theyll find out later its useless as scrap, but its still been stolen from your E-250. It uses a heat activated adhesive, kind of like a peel-n-stick setup. This leaves your car in a location where many people can see it. Thats because they use rare metals like palladium and platinum to filter your emissions and reduce vehicle pollution. Hey there Mark. I have a 2012 Subaru Outback which Ive maintained well and is excellent condition. If youre handy with those kinds of things, go for it. Most people are surprised to find out that their alarms primarily stop a thief from moving /entering a car without key, but do nothing to trigger when a window is broken or a vehicle is moved like during catalytic converter theft. Sorry to hear about your van. A huge increase in thefts of catalytic converters has hit the nation, for at least the second time this century. Plus, catalytic converters dont carry any sort of identification number, so its pretty much impossible to identify them as stolen property. The thieves dont care. Depending on what vehicle you drive, you may have some choices. Most catalytic converters are the passenger side, just park your car on the street and let the curb block anyone from accessing your catalytic converter. She has been working in the personal finance space for more than 10 years. But ive been hearing so much about these that Ive got a few coming my way for testing. It wont, Drive an old beater you think no one wants? It's your call, but if we had a Prius, we'd definitely give a shield a shot. For only $300 we will install a catalytic converter shield that prevents theft of this necessary and critical vehicle component. Do they make a converter for a 2021 Toyota Venza? With the right combination of thief and vehicle, a catalytic converter can be stolen in less than a minute. They took mine although I caught them in the act, they threatened me with machetes saying they would kill me if I didnt go back in my house and close the door as they were doing it on my drive literally few feet away from my front door. 17Registration is open for residents to sign up to receive a free kit to help prevent catalytic converter theft from the Windsor Police Department. Thanks. 1 guy had his stolen 4 times 1 month apart each time he fixed it. Just answer a few questions to get personalized results from our lending partners. There were a little under 60,000 Prius and 82,000 Toyota Tundras sold in the US just in 2021 alone, all of them high targets for expensive catalytic converter theft. Victoria, I am also looking for some type of an alarm. Making yours harder than the next one dramatically reduces your chances of being a victim. I cant say for sure yet, but if all the volume comes out of the front of that little device, the noise is easy to overcome by just putting your hand over it. Assuming a thief can access the underside of a vehicle, converters are easy to remove with battery-operated power tools, or in some cases, even simple hand tools. By 2021, there were 18,026 thefts, a 1400% increase since 2019! Our car experts choose every product we feature. One of the shops I use had a customer who insisted on an OEM (Original Equipment from the Manufacturer) Catalytic Converter replacement for their Honda Accord. Web3. Scrapped converters can then be processed to remove the precious metals, which is what makes them so valuable to scrap metal dealers and thieves. That was so funny about the electric car. Thanks for your comment. I looked at Miller CAT Shields but they do not make one. Im 62, definitely not handy, and drive a 2020 Ford Fusion Hybrid. That opens up alot more room and attachment options for a DIY / homebrew solution, like a rebar cage to protect your catalytic converter. There are a few subtle differences, but theyre pretty similar in design. The downside it doesnt look like a substantial physical deterrent like the other options. The only off the shelf option that stands out is the CatClamp Maxx. For example, if you have a $1,500 deductible to keep your monthly premium low, you wouldnt file a claim on a repair that cost $1,200. WebStep 2. Some people complain of rattling after installation, but thats usually due to an install issue along the way. The NICB says replacing a catalytic converter can range from $1,000 to $3,000, which doesnt include loss of work or paying for alternate transportation. That's why I'm so jazzed to be shining light on what works, what doesn't, and how people can enrich their lives by being smarter consumers. And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free. The Toyota Priusa popular gasoline-electric hybrid with two convertersis a favorite target, according to the NICB. Would the Millercat work on my car? The Cateye is a motion sensor alarm just for your catalytic Converter. Also get to know your neighbors and join neighborhood networks such as NextDoor to be aware of strangers in the area or reports of theft. After being a NerdWallet reader for many years, Shannon welcomed the opportunity to become a NerdWallet writer and help more people with financial decision-making. Some muffler shops will custom-weld such a device to your car. Like the CatClamp above, the cables make cutting off your catalytic converter more difficult. Our opinions are our own. To prevent catalytic converter theft, the New Castle County Division of Police offers these tips: Park in a well-lit area. Make your catalytic converter standout. SWIM, BIKE, RUN Focused on you, the athlete we bring you informative articles and gear reviews about cycling, running, trail running, triathlons and other endurance sports. the reviewers mentioned a few concerns and I have a few too. He adds that its a crime of opportunity, and car owners can take steps to encourage thieves to move on to easier prey. 19. Usually if its a model I dont have hands on experience with I can make a few calls and see whats been working, but coming up empty for the 2002 Jetta! While there is no guaranteed method of preventing theft, the goal is to make your car an unattractive target. This leads into answers to your questions: MillerCAT shields arent just a lets throw a piece of metal under there kinda thing. Also made of durable and corrosion-resistant aluminum, this shield is ideal for older Priuses with the 1.5L engine. Home Tools, Gear & Equipment Tools & Supplies Automotive Tools & Supplies. Influence-free. A professional will know what to look for, the casual thief thinking he can make a few extra bucks wont know until its already stolen from your vehicle. But also, one of the links you have mentions spray painting your catalytic converter a bright red or blue with some high-temperature BBQ spray paint. According to a recent article in Waste Advantage magazine, a typical catalytic converter contains 3to 7grams of platinum, 2to 7grams of palladium, and 1to 2grams of rhodium. Thanks. The GMC dealer has nothing to offer me as far as protection from it happening again. Many people have fit aftermarket on after originals were stolen only to become a victim again. Generally speaking, comprehensive auto insurance policies may cover the cost of replacing a stolen catalytic converter. Residents must choose a designated sign-up time to participate. Theft of this pricey part rose 325 percent nationwide between 2019 and 2020, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). I dont have experience with the older VW catalytic converters. From what were seeing, theres been a huge increase in cat converter theft on pickup trucks and vans like your Ford E-250. What Should You Do If Your Catalytic Converter Is Stolen? I called Hyundai and could not get any help from them. Ill try all 3. The Cat Clamp is a unique device that uses a combination of clamps and cables to create a type of catalytic converter cage. Alarm 2-Pack It seems that there are some resourceful people out there coming up with their own DIY solutions. My older model Prius had its 2nd cat stolen even though it had a Miller cat shield. I heard the saw noise and they were gone, that fast. Maybe a reader will see this and comment on Jetta specifics. That may block some areas that would be ideal to wrap the cable around. Think about when you have your hand covering your mobile phone speaker. Catalytic converter theft prevention is a multilayered task. Thanks for your time. Other alarms are designed to be activated when the car is tilted, such as when it's jacked up. This should make it much more visible to passersby and surrounding properties, acting as a deterrent to potential thieves. Park in well-lit areas close to public entrances, regularly move your cars spot or use a closed garage. Good Luck. Statistics can help legislators pass laws that make it tougher for thieves to sell stolen parts. The catalytic converter is an exhaust system part thats necessary for your car to pass safety and emissions inspections in many states. Secure parking: Park overnight in a locked garage, or in a well-lit, enclosed lot if you can. Ask your mechanic if driving your car without the catalytic converter will further damage it. I have a 2019 Kia Sorento. Talk with a trusted mechanic to see what they recommend for your vehicle. The office of D.A. The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us. Just wondering why car manufacturers do not automatically install protection, even if was an optional thing I would be worth it especially on a Hybrid. Consider replacing it with a theft-resistant catalytic converter. The good news is that due to its location under the hood its not an easy theft target. Id say Cat Clamp! As we said above, unless you're a Prius owner most cat shields won't work for your vehicle. Sorry to hear your Prius got hit..twice! Unfortunately, this is one of those things that we dont think about until it happens to us. Some vehicles have more than one, and the NICB says replacing stolen converters can cost as much as $1,500 to $3,000. If your Sorento was anything like the 2019 im familiar with 4cyl, AWD, the expensive cat is up near the engine, and theres a secondary one underneath. Ive come to find out thats not so true anymore. However, due to environmental protection laws, you could face some hefty fines if youre caught driving a vehicle without one. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539, NMLS Consumer Access|Licenses and Disclosures, California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812, Property and Casualty insurance services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no. How do I know? Heres a MillerCAT Cat Shield on a Prius V. Notice the louvers to promote airflow to reduce heat buildup. Why are thieves targeting catalytic converters? Things, go for it ideal to wrap the cable around heat buildup differences, but pretty! 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