Converters may also combine hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) to create water vapor (H2O). She is a storyteller who believes in the power of words. Insurance payouts are stacking up, but many other theft victims don't have coverage. If you have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy, then you're typically covered against 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Does car insurance cover catalytic converter theft? We offer insurance by phone, online and through independent agents. SmartFinancial Insurance is a digital insurance Catalytic converters are essential and have the.
If you get under your car and see that there are missing pieces, often indicated by open holes, broken pipes, or missing bolts, you are the victim of theft. Here are some ways to protect yourself and prevent theft: Paint your catalytic converter orange to make it more visible or place a cage around it, Park in a well-lit area with the exhaust pipe as close to a wall as possible to make it less easy to gain access to, Engrave your VIN (vehicle identification number) or license plate number on the catalytic converter, Ensure that your alarm or anti-theft device is set to respond to vibrations, Install motion-sensitive sensors and cameras in your driveway. Your insurance should cover all of this cost after you pay your deductible. Christopher is an internet technology expert and mechanical engineer. How Does a Catalytic Converter Get Stolen? Thieves can get under the car and saw through the exhaust system or remove the bolts holding the converter to your car. With identity theft becoming more common and costly, having Farmers Identity Shield may give you some peace of mind for only pennies a day. Life insurance teamMonday-Thursday 9am-10pm ETFriday-Sunday 9am-8pm ET, Home & auto insurance teamMonday-Friday 9am-9pm ET, Disability insurance teamMonday-Friday 9am-6pm ET, 555 S. Mangum St., 6th FlDurham, NC 27701. Does home insurance cover damage from fallen trees? If you have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy, then you're typically covered against catalytic converter theft. In short, if your catalytic converter is stolen, youll likely be covered under comprehensive auto insurance but not collision insurance. The Growing Problem of Catalytic Converter Theft, How to Check if Your Catalytic Converter Has Been Stolen, How to File a Claim for Catalytic Converter Theft, How to Protect Your Cars Catalytic Converter From Theft, from 652 in January 2020 to 2,347 by December of the same year, The Importance of Meeting Insurance Requirements for Financed Cars, The Most Dangerous Times to Drive in Every U.S. State, Be Your Own Pit Crew: Maintenance Tasks to Keep Your Car Running, Do Not Sell nor Share My Personal Information. Contact your insurer to ask about catalytic converter coverage or to make a claim for catalytic converter theft. This is accomplished with a catalyst, which is often made of a rare metal like platinum, rhodium, or palladium. Get a catalytic converter lock: There are several types of cage-like locks that fit around your catalytic converter, making it more difficult and time consuming for a thief to try to steal it.. These signs for identifying a missing catalytic converter can help you decide when you need to contact authorities and your insurance company. What Is CarMaxs Gap Insurance? Vandalism, weather damage, theft, and damage from falling trees and Look for catalytic converter protection devices online or in stores. In TX: insurance is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, Mid-Century Insurance Company, Farmers Texas County Mutual Insurance . If you have full coverage car insurance, then you should be able to make a claim after your catalytic converter is 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. The Bottom Line: Does insurance cover catalytic converter theft? 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. By 2020, however, catalytic converter thefts hit a new record at 1,203 per month. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Comprehensive car insurance covers theft-related problems, including stolen cars and stolen car parts (like a catalytic converter). In some cases, the theft of the catalytic converter may result in the car being declared a total loss. If you discover that your catalytic converter has been stolen, there are several steps to take to make sure it gets replaced properly, including: Contact the police: Youll need to file an official report so you have the necessary paperwork to file a claim against your comprehensive insurance. If your purse, golf clubs, or other items are stolen from the car, your insurance company will likely cover them. Rod Knock: Understanding the Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions. These large repair bills can be impossible for some motorists to meet. Can someone drive my car and be covered on my insurance? In these events, comprehensive coverage will pay to replace the converter, as well as any associated damaged caused by the hasty removal of the converter. Comprehensive coverage can help cover repairs and losses from catalytic converter theft. Since the cost of fixing a vehicle after catalytic converter theft without your insurance companys assistance can, easily be more than several thousand dollars. Is long-term disability insurance worth it. Get a personalized Home Insurance quote now. Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. The additional and inexpensive cost of comprehensive coverage can save car owners discomfort and stress. There are several reasons why people steal catalytic converters, including: They are valuable: There are extremely valuable metals, like platinum, rhodium, and palladium, inside a catalytic converter.. Comprehensive insurance covers your car against loss or damage that was not the result of a collision. Email us ateditorial@policygenius.com. The idea is that a thief who sees the etching moves on to an . Content provided by Insurance Panda is for consumer education purposes, and is not intended to suggest any relationship with the brands or products compared herein. Whats the Minimum Insurance Coverage for a Financed Car? Additionally, your check engine light coming on is one of the most obvious signs your catalytic converter is missing. This means that if you do not have comprehensive coverage, you must pay out of pocket for the entire cost of replacement. This combination makes catalytic converters a popular target for thieves. Why do people steal catalytic converters? If you have a car alarm, set it to react to vibration. According to the Congressional Research Service, 14,433 catalytic converters were stolen in 2020. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about catalytic converter theft and how insurance covers it. There are steps you can take to protect your vehicle from catalytic converter theft. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. And for good reason, converters are extremely expensive to replace. Some examples include electric cars, cars made before 1974, diesel catalytic converters, Subaru, Ford, Hyundai, Dodge, Mazda, Nissan sedans and minivans. Why Do People Steal Catalytic Converters? 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. Your car insurance policy may cover catalytic converter theft if you purchased comprehensive coverage for your car. If your converter is stolen, your insurance may cover the theft, depending on the circumstances and the type of policy youve purchased. By Sarah Beresford Plus, you wouldn't be able to pass safety and emissions inspections without a catalytic converter. Confirm with your insurance company about whether your auto insurance policy has catalytic converter theft coverage. When hes not at the local autocross event, he can often be found working on one of his cars. You may be asked to provide the case number of the report so the agent can follow up. Popular vehicles include the Toyota Prius, the Chrysler 200, the Honda CR-V, the Chevrolet Silverado, and the Ford Econoline series of vans. What to do if your catalytic converter is stolen. Catalytic converter theft may leave some owners panicked for answers with their insurance companies, but drivers can rest assured that there are many options. Thieves then sell it to a scrap metal yard, which will then sell it to someone else who can remove and recycle the precious metals. 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. Many vehicles come from the factory with security systems inside, but older models may not have this feature. Rhodium . You can find your catalytic converter on the underside of your vehicle. Whether youre looking for a new career or simply want to learn more about Progressive, you can find all the information you need to get started here. So knowing how you can protect your vehicle can be key. Even if you own your car outright, it's never a bad idea to consider additional protection, especially if you can't spare $1K to replace your catalytic converter. Yes. Usually, it kicks in once you have paid the deductible portion. This type of insurance is an optional add-on to standard liability insurance, which covers your vehicle in the case of an accident. Yes, we have to include some legalese down here. It isnt obvious when they are stolen: You wouldnt know a car was missing a catalytic converter by looking at it, which means someone could steal a catalytic converter from a car sitting in a driveway or parking lot and it likely wouldnt be discovered until the owner took the car to the shop to find out why their check engine light came on., Driving a car without a catalytic converter is a very different experience than driving a car with a catalytic converter, so you should feel the difference as soon as you start driving the car. Catalytic converters are essential and have the primary function of controlling harmful emissions Since the catalytic converter is located at the back of the car, near the muffler, parking with the vehicles rear close to a wall will make your car harder prey. 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. It's been a mandatory part of all gas-powered cars since the 1975 model year, and it's located between the engine and the muffler on the underside of the vehicle. A Guide to Understanding Insurance Risks, Understanding The Role of Insurance Limits in Your Policy, Personal Liability Insurance: Protecting Yourself From Unforeseen Legal Costs, Loss of Use Coverage: What to Know Before You Need It, Understanding The Different Types of Home Insurance Riders. In some cases, such as with leased or financed vehicles, the lender may require you to purchase comprehensive coverage. 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. Catalytic converters include valuable metals that attract thieves who wish to grind down the metals and sell them for as much as $30,000 per ounce, Comprehensive coverage includes cases of theft, vandalism, and weather-related incidents that are outside of driver control, Each car insurance company has different costs for comprehensive coverage, but the average is approximately $100 to $300 annually, or $8 to $25 a month. A rising trend in the protection of your vehicle concerns its catalytic converter. . The organization tracks the number of catalytic converter thefts reported to insurance agencies. Catalytic converters in hybrids have a higher concentration of precious metals compared to gas cars. Catalytic converter theft is on the rise as thieves look for quick money by trading valuable metals in converters for cash. Catalytic converters contain precious metals palladium, platinum and rhodium that scrap metal dealers can extract and resell. You may hear sputtering noises, smell exhaust and notice spotty acceleration that may indicate that something is wrong. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking roof? Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save. If youre unsure, then call 999. Three ways to protect against catalytic converter theft. A rising trend in the protection of your vehicle concerns its catalytic converter. Depending on the replacement cost, you can determine if using your comprehensive insurance makes sense or if you want to pay out of pocket. Learn More. This code holds a lot of information, including who your previous auto insurance company was, any history of car theft, or your cars manufacturing or recall information. Full coverage car insurance includes liability coverage, comprehensive coverage, and collision coverage. While your car will not break down without a converter, you may face fines for driving without one installed. Understanding The Different Life Insurance Options. Does insurance cover catalytic converter theft? Between key fobs and security alarms, car protection can seem like a lot to handle for many drivers. 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. It all depends on your policy. Between key fobs and security alarms, car protection can seem like a lot to handle for many drivers. Reduction catalysts break up nitrogen oxide (NO) into nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) gases, which are harmless on their own. The number of catalytic converter thefts in the United States. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. In states like California, Texas, and Illinois, the average number of thefts per month rosefrom 652 in January 2020 to 2,347 by December of the same year. Are all Farmers Insurance policies available in every state? GMC Check Engine Light. 124 Local Experts Are Waiting to Hear From You To learn more about auto insurance policies, contact our experts at 1-800-615-5897 or get a quote online in 5 minutes!
Consider having your converter engraved with the car's VIN so it's easier to trace.
Fast auto insurance quote comparison.See rates instantly. No matter what type of vehicle you drive, however, there are ways to reduce the risk of catalytic converter theft: Invitations for applications for insurance on assurance.com are made through Assurance IQ, LLC, only where licensed and appointed. Write an appeal letter The letter should outline why you disagree with your insurance providers decision. Learn about our editorial standards and how we make money. As such, more and more precious metals have been incorporated into the creation of catalytic converters, leaving thieves more inclined to steal them. The additional and inexpensive cost of comprehensive coverage can save car owners discomfort and stress. If your vehicle has had multiple replacements of catalytic converters or is an older vehicle, your insurance may not fix it and opt to give you the value of the car instead. Plan for your familys future. Yes, Catalytic converter theft is usually covered by comprehensive auto insurance if the insurance package you have is an all-inclusive comprehensive plan. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company. This cage-like device is installed around the converter, making it more challenging and time-consuming to access and steal. 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. Read our editorial standards for Answers content.
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