Catalytic converter theft: how to protect your car

Catalytic converter theft from cars isn’t a new crime, but it has increased significantly in recent times.

Police forces around the UK, including those in West Yorkshire, London and Suffolk, are advising owners of any car fitted with a catalytic converter to take precautions.

Any car fitted with a catalytic converter could be at risk. In Toyota’s case it is second and third-generation Prius models (2004-2009 and 2009-2016 respectively) and second-generation Auris Hybrids (2012-2018) which have been particular targets for thieves.

Below we’ve gathered the best advice for Toyota owners who may be concerned.

What is a catalytic converter? 

The catalytic converter is part of the car’s emissions control system. It cleans up the exhaust gases before they are expelled from the car through the exhaust pipe. Its internal elements react with the gases, breaking them down into less harmful substances and water vapour. All cars sold in Europe since 1993 have had to be fitted with catalytic converter by law.

Why are they a target for thieves?

Clearly the police are best placed to offer advice on the motives behind this crime, but we understand that in the main, the value of the catalytic converter for recycling is the main attraction to thieves, because they contain precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium.

What is Toyota doing to stop its cars being targeted?

In May 2021, Toyota (GB) announced that it would be covertly marking more than 100,000 catalytic converters in order to combat theft. By working with police and Smartwater, catalytic converters can be tagged with an invisible yet traceable marking, meaning that a stolen catalytic converter can be traced to a specific crime, helping police in their attempts to fight the organised gangs responsible. It also raises the risk to all those handling the devices along the criminal chain, from theft to eventual disposal and recycling.

It is free to get the catalytic converter marked, all customers need to do is call their local Toyota or Lexus retailer to arrange a visit.

In addition to this, Toyota has issued 20,000 Smartwater kits to police to support their local anti-catalyst theft initiatives. The company is also working with the AA, Toyota’s roadside partner, so its patrols can point customers to where they can get a free kit.

We have also developed and reduced the price of a ‘Catloc’ device which can deter theft and make it more difficult. Toyota teams in the UK and other countries are urgently exploring new technical possibilities to deter criminals as well.

We are working with the police, as well as talking to government about changes in the law around scrap metal sales that would make it harder for criminals to sell stolen catalysts for cash.

However, these are criminal operations and our scope is therefore limited. A number of police forces are taking action and some forces, such as Nottinghamshire, are also starting awareness campaigns. It is vitally important for anyone who is a victim of this crime to report it to their local police force as quickly as possible.

In the main, it remains older cars that are targeted because advances in efficiency and technology mean the latest generations of Toyota catalytic converters contain vastly lower amounts of precious metals, whilst still doing their job just as well or even better; this means their value for recycling is very low and they are not attractive to thieves.

Does a Catloc give my car 100% protection from thieves?

Sadly not. It can make theft more difficult but thieves are using high-powered cutting tools to remove catalytic converters and because of this it is not possible to make catalytic converters ‘unstealable’. A Catloc makes it harder to steal a catalytic converter, slowing thieves down and acting as a deterrent. As mentioned above, we’re doing all we can to seek further technical options for customers.

Is Catloc available for my Toyota?

Catloc devices are available for a growing proportion of our range, but not all. We recommend speaking to your local Toyota centre.

How much does it cost to replace a catalytic converter?

Toyota’s first priority is to do all we can to support our customers who have been victims of crime.

We have moved to reduce the prices of replacement catalytic converters and Catlocs to a level where Toyota GB does not make any profit from supplying them to customers.

Your nearest Toyota centre can advise on exact costs after inspecting your vehicle.

Is it true that there is a long wait for replacement catalytic converter parts for Toyota cars?

The rapid rise in this crime in 2019 is one we could not have envisaged, set against many years of low incidence of catalytic converter theft. This initially impacted our ability to source enough of the parts we needed in some cases, for which we sincerely apologise.

Toyota has restarted production lines in Japan and France that made catalysts for many of the older models targeted in order to supply affected owners, developed a Catloc security device which helps deter theft (and has been granted a “Sold Secure with Gold Status” security ranking) and ensured it makes no profit at all from the sale of replacement catalysts or from Catlocs, providing them at cost.

If I’m worried about my Toyota model, what should I do?

If you are worried about potential catalytic converter theft from your Toyota, we recommend you use our locator tool to find your nearest Toyota centre and contact them to discuss the best way to protect your car.

This article was last updated on 13 May 2021, so some of the responses to reader comments below have been superseded by more recent information.

2,390 comments

  1. I had a Prius Mk 2 from new on a 12 plate. I adored my car. It was never any problem. Not once did it go wrong. Then in 2019 my cat got stolen. Three more thefts later, and huge increase in insurance, my insurance company would no longer pay out and they bought the car from me. There was nothing wrong with the car, and it only had just over 78,000 on the clock.

    I can’t blame legislation, because saving the planet is a pretty important aim, which is why I bought the car in the first place, but I do blame the design on some level.

    In the main, I blame the scum scrap metal people who will buy the cat which they know will be stolen. I don’t even blame the council or police.

    On one occasion, I was informed that the thieves who took my cat stopped the traffic to get under the car.

    1. Hi Gary,
      Thanks for your comment. We’re so sorry to hear that thieves have targeted your vehicle.
      We have been working with many different parties such as the Home Office and the National Lead for Vehicle Crime to raise the profile of this crime and identify issues with existing legislation to tighten loopholes that allow this to happen. We have produced theft deterrent devices to try and protect customers from further attacks, and there is a CatLoc available for the Prius. This can be purchased through your nearest Toyota Centre.
      Once again, we are so sorry that you have been a victim of this crime.
      Thanks.

      1. Hi Anwar,
        We’re really sorry to hear this.
        We recommend reporting this to the Police as this is the first step with all crimes.
        Your nearest Toyota Centre will be able to order replacement parts and discuss preventative measures with you.
        We hope you are back on the road soon and are so sorry that you have been a victim of this horrible crime.
        Thanks.

      2. Hi Isabel,
        Thanks for contacting us. We’re so sorry to hear this.
        Please report this to the Police if you haven’t already done so, as this is the first step with all criminal activity.
        Your nearest Toyota Centre will be able to supply replacement parts and discuss preventative measures with you.
        Once again, we are truly sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by these brazen thieves.
        Thanks.

  2. Hi, I went to Toyota garage Derby and has a catlock installed. I was told the replacement of catalytic converter mounted by insurance company is not a genuine Toyota part. I am really unhappy with that. I’ll talk to my insurance company and the garage which did the fix tomorrow. Does this non genuine part have the same functions as the original one? thanks.

    1. Hi Mark,
      Thanks for getting in touch.
      Sorry, we can’t comment on the decisions made by your insurance company, so we’d recommend taking up your complaint about the choice of part with them.
      Any catalytic converter will work in a similar way, but an aftermarket part might not be as effective as filtering out of emissions as an official Toyota part.
      Thanks.

  3. I bought a car on the 23rd feb. Its not been 10 days yet and i have had my catalytic converter stolen from the car. Toyota did not warn me that the converter has no protection and there is alot of catalytic converters being stolen. I went to toyota garage and they were of no help. Toyota should give some sort of temporary protection for this or even when buying let me know that this could happen and they can offer me protection however they did not. I have been a toyota customer from the start of my driving hence why i chose to stay with toyota and buy my new family/work car with them however i have been let down now. I am very upset and disappointed. I am requesting some sort of help from toyota asap as i have just had a new baby and with current covid situation need to get back to work soon.

    1. Hi Abdul,
      Thanks for your comment. We’re so sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by criminals. We’d recommend reporting this to the police and your insurance company.
      Your nearest Toyota Centre will be able to order replacement parts and talk you through the available protective measures, such as CatLocs, bolt caps and tilt sensors.
      Thanks.

  4. I think it so dumb that you Toyota as a big company can’t design a exhaust where the cat is hidden abs hard to remove I have a Lexus rx450 2021 model and since 2015 car design to now you lot haven’t done anythink to solve this issue is pathetic,
    Just becasue of this issue I had to chase and fight some guys over them trying to steal this cat last night,
    Today il be chopping in this Toyota model and buying a bmw, bye Toyota hi bmw terrible work toyota

    1. Hi T Ibrahim,
      Thanks for your comment. We’re truly sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves.
      Due to the nature of this part, we are limited on where the catalytic converter can be located. It must be between the engine and the exhaust.
      Any car from any manufacturer, fitted with a catalytic converter is technically at risk.
      We have reduced the precious metal content in our newer models by up to 84%, therefore making these less attractive to thieves.
      For our older models, we have developed CatLocs, tilt sensors, bolt caps and component etching in order to try and protect customers from further attacks, but determined criminals with high-grade power tools are very difficult to stop.
      We’re sorry to see you leaving and wish you the best in the future.
      Thanks.

      1. How about as Toyota not offering catlock till sensor free .its clearly toyota folt.i regret now bought Toyota auris recently. Very sad

      2. Hi Abdul,

        We are sorry your vehicle has been targeted by thieves. This crime is being perpertared by organised criminal gangs using power tools, and we are working with the police and various other agencies to put a stop to it. We have developed theft prevention devices for our customers and these are available from Toyota centres. We hope you are back on the road soon.

        Thanks

      3. Reading your posts with interest: I purchased an Auris from Bristol North Toyota main dealer in December and two days ago the catalytic converter was stolen while the car was was on my driveway.
        As this main article was posted in 2019, why did the dealer neither make me aware of the risk nor offer the enhanced security features described when I purchased the vehicle less than three months ago?

      4. Hi Richard,

        We are very sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by criminals. We recommend contacting the police to report the theft. Your Toyota centre is best placed to advise on your next steps, including the theft prevention measures available for your vehicle. We hope you are back on the road soon.

        Thanks

  5. Just had the cat stolen from my 67 plate Auris caught the thief’s just as they had finished removing the cat. I was threatened with an iron bar by one of them before they drove off. Its a shame that a toyota design fault caused my life to be threatened and I now have to find £500 plus to have my arse repaired

    1. Hi Bryan,

      We are very sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by criminals. Technically any car fitted with a catalytic converter is at risk, and due to the nature of the part, it must be fitted between the engine and exhaust. We have reduced the precious metal content of catalytic converters over time, and have developed a range of theft protection devices, but ultimately it is very difficult to stop determined organise criminal gangs using power tools to commit these thefts. Again, we are very sorry that your vehicle has been targeted and hope you are back on the road soon.

      Thanks

  6. We have just had our Cat stolen yesterday afternoon in broad daylight just about in sight of our house. Like many people posting on here we were not advised that our Auris was one of the most sought after and easiest Cats to remove. From what we can establish it took them about 45 seconds with a battery powered angle grinder! How Toyota can suggest spending lots more money on a Catloc as well as replacing the Cat is going to help is beyond me. We have done the usual report to the Police (online you can’t even talk to someone for this type of theft), Insurance company (online and they will get back).

    Like some others we have previously always had Toyota the last being our RAV4 but I will certainly be advising everyone to avoid the Auris 2018 at all costs. We bought the vehicle offline after being pursued by the salesman with a reduced offer on the vehicle. We are just beyond the 14 day distance selling period for returning the vehicle but we will be seeking any possible action we can take to return this vehicle as soon as possible and it would be encouraging to hear that Toyota nationally would help.

    1. Hi,

      We are very sorry to hear that your vehicle has been targeted by criminals. If you’d like to discuss this matter with us further, we recommend contacting the customer relations team here: https://fal.cn/3dQSu

      Thanks

  7. I bought a auris few months a go but Toyota dealer did not warn me about catalytic converter how easy get stolen,they only bother about selling .big company like Toyota having so bad design,never again another Toyota for me .

  8. I know car manufacturers are trying to raise awareness, but theres alot of unregulated enablement going on. Firstly most thieves will used cloned plates which is extremely easy to find information on a car thats not ANPR sensitive. Hence most cases even if they had video/photgraphic evidence the Police cannot do anything.

    The UK needs stricter and MORE regulated rules for Number plate sellers. At present, you can buy numberplates to your own nominated reg marking with no questions asked on the Internet. Thats the USP on most websites with “No documentation needed” in the FAQ’s. After all its like Identity Theft so a database like the MOT system should be drawn up to who printed it, who requested it and where was it sent to.
    This makes it easier for the Police to actually investigate something tangible rather than have nothing at all.

    I’m extremely passionate as I have 2 Hybrid cars thats “hot property” and witnessed one myself a few doors down to a Lexus. Its now resorted to violent threats as the owner of the vehicle was at home while this happened.

    Not only unscrupulous scrapyards should be monitored, the authorities should also pay attention that catalytic converters are being “exported” to Eastern Europe as well.

  9. Hi, had mine stolen on Thursday, mark 3 Prius. Can you advise if any of this is available:
    “For our older models, we have developed CatLocs, tilt sensors, bolt caps and component etching in order to try and protect customers from further attacks, but determined criminals with high-grade power tools are very difficult to stop.” Or should I have the bolts welded? My alarm didn’t go off.

    1. Hi,

      We are very sorry to hear your vehicle has been targeted by criminals. All of those theft prevention features are available for your vehicle. Please contact your nearest Toyota centre to get them fitted.

      Thanks

  10. I bought my Toyota 2004 Prius in July 2018 and the Catalyst Converter was stolen towards the end of October 2018. Parked in front of my house after coming back from shopping overnight. Ready to go work the next day, start the engine , bang bang there came this embarrassing noise, bent down to check , oh no the exhaust pipe on the floor!!!
    Could not get better help from toyota, the car is still in my Estate Car Park as buying just any catalyst will not pass M.O.T test.
    Therefore the car became useless here but my hope is taking it to Africa where GENERIC CATALYST CONVERTER EXHAUST is not an issue!!
    In honesty I LOVE MY PRIUS!!!

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