Which Cars Are Most Targeted for Catalytic Converter Theft? What happens to your car if someone steals your catalytic converter? Contact your insurer to ask about catalytic converter coverage or to make a claim for catalytic converter theft. Write an appeal letter The letter should outline why you disagree with your insurance providers decision. While your car can run just fine without a catalytic converter, you would still need to replace it since it filters the exhaust. Catalytic converter thefts have been growing steadily over the past few years. A bonus with installing an alarm is that some insurance companies may offer a car alarm insurance discount. Hybrid cars can also be a favorite for thieves because their catalytic converters see much less use than standard cars, resulting in metal that's easier to salvage. Even vehicles shipped from overseas must have a compliant catalytic converter; if it lacks one, a new one is usually installed before sale. Three ways to protect against catalytic converter theft. It has been a requirement for all vehicles since 1975 and is made up of a metal honeycomb that filters and transforms hazardous compounds in the exhaust into a safer gas. Unfortunately, it is an essential component of your vehicle and would need to be replaced fairly quickly after a theft. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported catalytic converter thefts increased from roughly 1,300 in 2018, tomore than 52,000 in 2021. Although all catalytic converters are valuable to thieves, they target some car makes and modelsmore than others. Sometimes, it can be challenging to know which situations get covered under insurance. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The vehicle will also seem less responsive than usual and will lack acceleration. Steps to Take After Catalytic Converter Theft. Thieves use a saw or wrench to remove your catalytic converter. Please note that information published on this website does not constitute financial advice, and we arent responsible for the content of any external sites. Any car with a catalytic converter can be targeted, but some cars are more common targets than others. The same is true of hybrid vehicles, which may retain more precious metals since they burn less gasoline over time, wearing down the catalytic converter more slowly. Yes, Catalytic converter theft is usually covered by comprehensive auto insurance if the insurance package you have is an all-inclusive comprehensive plan. What Are the Best Auto Insurance Companies for Seniors? The additional and inexpensive cost of comprehensive coverage can save car owners discomfort and stress. Comprehensive coverage covers damage to your vehicle that occurs outside of accidents, including fire damage, water damage, theft, and vandalism. Thievesusually work by jackingup the car to access the catalytic converter,enabling them to cut it out-and it doesnt take longto do. Our fact-checked articles are intended to educate insurance shoppers so they can make the right buying decisions. Yes. Car insurer Admiral said theaverage cost of a claim was 1,500. As long as your insurance is up to par, then you dont have to worry about the cost of repairs. Descriptions of all coverages and other features are necessarily brief; in order to fully understand the coverages and other features of a specific insurance policy, we encourage you to read the applicable policy and/or speak to an insurance representative. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Your insurance should cover all of this cost after you pay your deductible. If you are driving with your windows down and start to experience these symptoms, your catalytic converter may be missing. Lets get into this! Contact your states insurance commissioner Most states will have a special unit to deal with issues such as unfairly denied insurance claims, or a mediation program that will help policyholders negotiate a disputed claim with their insurance provider. Copyright 2012-2023 Insurance Panda. A car with a missing or defunct catalytic converter also doesnt filter exhaust properly, which means it wont pass inspection. A vehicle identification number is a number or code assigned to every automobile during manufacturing. How Much Is Car Insurance for 24-Year-Olds? Are 2-Door Cars More Expensive to Insure? Call your insurance agent. Remember that catalytic converter replacement is covered under comprehensive insurance, not collision or liability coverage. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, 1,298 Americans told their insurance company that their cars catalytic converter had been stolen in 2018. Itll depend on your insurance policy but if the theftiscovered by your insurance,youll need to consider the excess thats payable. CarInsuranceCompanies.com was created to provide an online resource for drivers to learn car insurance, find car insurance companies, read reviews of car insurance providers and get fast online auto insurance quotes without being subject to the pressure of stereotypical insurance agent. Your email address will not be published. Catalytic converter theft is on the rise and to a shocking degree. Copyright Ocean Finance 2001-2023. Confirm with your insurance company about whether your auto insurance policy has catalytic converter theft coverage. But as well as the cost of replacing the converter you may have to fix any damage done to your car during the theft. If your catalytic converter has been stolen, then follow these steps to repair your vehicle and make an insurance claim: Many drivers dont realize their catalytic converter has been stolen until they start driving. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. However, you should keep in mind that Collision Coverage does not cover you in the even of an auto accident involving an animal. Your insurance company can explain the next steps to take like visiting a local repair shop and paying your deductible. Web3. If your car is an older model, it may be As such, more and more precious metals have been incorporated into the creation of catalytic converters, leaving thieves more inclined to steal them. This vital component was added to vehicle manufacturing in the 1970s and has become a mandatory part of the automobile industry. report a claim Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published. Copyright 1995 - 2023. SmartFinancial can help you view free car insurance quotes in just minutes after you enter your zip code below and fill out a brief questionnaire. You may receive a check from your insurance company for the replacement cost, or it may send the payment directly to the shop. You will need your license, registration, and insurance card. Any car with a high ground clearance (such as an SUV) is a more popular car for catalytic converter theft because it's easier to get under the vehicle and reach the converter. Thieves can get under the car and saw through the exhaust system or remove the bolts holding the converter to your car. You may also want to look for abrasions and other evidence of tampering. Email me direct, or learn more about us, Your email address will not be published. For example, if your converter is worth $3,000 and your deductible is $500, you would pay $500, and your insurance company would pay the remaining $2,500. How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Stolen Catalytic Converter? Assurances license information can be foundhere. Then we will figure out what it takes for your insurance provider to help in such cases. In TX: insurance is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, Mid-Century Insurance Company, Farmers Texas County Mutual Insurance . Few people check their catalytic converter before starting their vehicle. For more information on how we use your data, please see our privacy policy. Not to mention an extremely important part of your vehicle. Torque is the rotational force often associated with tasks like towing, hauling, or climbing. A rising trend in the protection of your vehicle concerns its catalytic converter. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For instance, carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, enters the converter, mixes with oxygen, and exits as carbon dioxide. The most commonly targeted cars within the last three years are: Many thieves target tall cars like SUVs and trucks since they are easier to access. If you want confirmation that your insurance will cover your car in the event of catalytic converter theft, call them and ask directly. Comparison shopping should be easy. However, suppose your converter is worth $1,500 and your deductible is $1,000. This means that if you do not have comprehensive coverage, you must pay out of pocket for the entire cost of replacement. Insurance payouts are stacking up, but many other theft victims don't have coverage. Be sure to send photocopies with your resubmitted claim and not the originals. Get a personalized Auto Insurance quote now. Depending on your coverage options, you may receive compensation for catalytic converter theft from your insurer. Does renters insurance cover theft from cars? Having your converter stolen is a horrible feeling. Additionally, catalytic converters are relatively easy to steal for experienced thieves and it is impossible to track them if they are stolen. According to theNational Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the average number of monthly thefts in 2018 was 108, which more than doubled to 282 in 2019. Written by May car owners would agree that vehicle protections take much thought. Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. According to the Congressional Research Service, 14,433 catalytic converters were stolen in 2020. Report a new claim or view the status of an existing claim, Continue as a guest to Yes, a car can run without a catalytic converter, but in most states it is illegal and your car wont pass inspection without one. Wait for the technician to repair your vehicle, allow your insurance to pay for repairs (minus your deductible), and continue driving as normal. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Can I Drive Without a Catalytic Converter? Most insurance companies will not raise premiums after a single comprehensive coverage insurance claim. SmartFinancial Insurance is a digital insurance Rhodium a metal ten times more profitable than platinum makes the theft of a cars catalytic converter worth the risk for many thieves since just an ounce of these metals can produce a cumulative of around $30,000 per ounce. Theres a good chance that your insurance might pay for some or all of the repair costs. Learn More. If youre able to claim on your insurance, bear in mind that your insurance premiums will probably increase as a result. However, while comprehensive policies are generally similar, they are not required to offer a standard set of coverages. List of all insurers at farmers.com. Chat now to ask Flo anything or explore commonly asked questions. Contact your states insurance commissioner Most states will have a special unit to deal with issues such as unfairly denied insurance claims, or a mediation program that will help policyholders negotiate a disputed claim with their insurance provider. Comprehensive insurance coverage normally covers the cost of replacing the catalytic converter stolen and any Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save. If approved, your insurer covers the cost of the new converter minus the deductible, which you pay out of pocket. Do Car Dealerships Offer Temporary Insurance? How Credit Affects Auto Insurance: A Study, Presidents Day 2023 Car Deals & How To Save on Insurance, Road Rage and Aggressive Driving in the U.S: A Study. Collision insurance, on the other hand, will not cover catalytic converter theft. Your comprehensive deductible will apply to the claim, so if you have a $1,000 deductible and it costs $1,500 to replace the catalytic converter, the insurance company will write you a check for $500 and you will be expected to pay the rest out of pocket. Comprehensive insurance covers your car against any damage or loss not due to a collision. Between key fobs and security alarms, car protection can seem like a lot to handle for many drivers. Is catalytic converter theft covered by insurance? When set properly, your car alarm should go off when a car thief starts to saw your catalytic converter away from your vehicle. In some cases,and especially on older cars, the repair will cost more than the car is worth. With identity theft becoming more common and costly, having Farmers Identity Shield may give you some peace of mind for only pennies a day. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. It costs approximately $1,100 to $2,600 to replace a catalytic converter on an average vehicle, including parts and labor. Its against the law to remove the catalytic converter from your vehicle in every state. Park close to a wall with the exhaust pipe closest to the wall. What Is a Catalytic Insurance doesn't have to be complicated. Look for catalytic converter protection devices online or in stores. This includes replacement of a stolen catalytic converter. Drivers who dont have comprehensive insurance wont be covered for any kind of car theft and will have to pay out of pocket to get a replacement. Catalytic converters are essential and have the. 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The car wont drive smoothly, it will accelerate loudly, and it will generally sputter and jolt as you speed up while driving.. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic.com, as well as an associate writer at The Dodo. Our goal is to give you back your freedom and peace of mind to drive and park your vehicle anywhere you want. Because, until you hit the deductible amount, you and only you are responsible for covering repair costs on your vehicle. But there comes a situation in which they still have to pay for Catalytic converters are an essential element to your car's exhaust system that minimizes dangerous emissions to make your vehicle more environmentally friendly and less pollutant. Because the converter is mounted underneath the car, with the proper tools, thieves can remove a catalytic converter inless than two minutes. If you have a car alarm, set it to react to vibration. You can opt out at anytime using the link provided in our emails. 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