Why Do Catalytic Converters Get Stolen?

Quite simply: money. You see, high-quality catalytic converters such as the ones that come standard in production vehicles (as well as the replacement catalytic converters we sell on MagnaFlow.com) use platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) as metallic catalysts imbedded in a ceramic honeycomb matrix within the body of the catalytic converter itself. As noble metals, these materials are perfect for the job due to their known ability to regulate and facilitate chemical reactions, especially at high temperatures.

However, the same attributes that make these metals “noble” also make them extremely valuable. At the time of writing, platinum is currently going for over $1,000 an ounce while palladium is nearly double that, and rhodium stands around a cool $12,000 an ounce!* Luckily, the actual amount of each of these metals required in a replacement catalytic converter is fairly small, allowing manufacturers such as MagnaFlow to control costs and create highly effective converters that are also a good value for the end user.

That said, the few grams of precious metals that can be found in your average catalytic converter are enough to make it worth the miniscule time and effort required for an adept thief to slip under the exhaust system and cut out their prize with a simple Sawzall. This is especially true of vehicles with decent ground clearance.

The crime can happen in less than a couple of minutes, and by the time the victim realizes what’s happened it’s far too late. Oftentimes, victims only find out about the theft when they start their ride up and the exhaust suddenly sounds very loud due to the fact the muffler is now disconnected from the rest of the exhaust system.

Some have taken to welding rebar around their cats. Others have installed purpose-built sheet metal guards to make theft more difficult and time consuming. Even with these protective measures, catalytic converter theft is still on the rise, with over 14,000 cases in 2020 in the United States alone.*

As mentioned above, the thieves do it because there’s money in it, and it’s a relatively easy score. Unfortunately, there are also unscrupulous buyers who simply don’t care where the metals they buy come from.

This is in stark contrast to how legitimate scrappers and recyclers handle things, where the standard is to require identification and documentation before purchasing old catalytic converters for recycling. At MagnaFlow, we only use metallic catalysts from reputable sources, including our own Recycling for Refunds program where we recycle our customers’ old OEM catalytic converters in exchange for a MagnaFlow Visa® Prepaid Card valued up to $75. Like other respectable recyclers, we require documentation and proof of purchase to participate in our RFR program.

If your converter has been stolen, you can find an EPA or CARB-approved replacement on MagnaFlow.com, where you can search by year, make, model, trim level and region to find the exact replacement catalytic converter you’re looking for. Have questions about our catalytic converters or other exhaust products? Give us a call at 1-800-990-0905 and we’d be happy to help.

Sources:

 Live PGM Prices - Price of Iridium, Rhodium, Rhenium & Osmium (metalsdaily.com)

Catalytic converter thefts soar along with the price of precious metals - CBS News