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Catalytic converter theft: how to protect your car

By Lexus UK

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.

2,394 comments

  1. Hi
    I have 67plate Auris and the catalytic converter was stolen 1st Feb
    Insurance repairer fitted a non genuine spare part which caused a warning light to come on
    LV agree for Toyota to fit replacement on 15th March
    Dealer is telling me their ordering system is not giving any indication of when the part will come in.
    I have had to cancel my Easter break and am now worried about my next break booked for 5 May as hiring a car for the 5 days is expensive
    Any ideas when I can expect to get my car back on the road?

    Reply

    1. Hi Jayne,

      We are very sorry to hear that your vehicle was targeted by thieves.

      Unfortunately, some catalytic converters are on back order, and there isn’t currently a date when they will be available.

      We hope that they will be available soon.

      Sorry for the delay.

      Thanks

      Reply

    2. Good morning
      Thanks for the reply
      Can you advise what issue is with supply
      Is it a fault of supply chain inefficiencies or something more
      Where are they sourced from – hopefully not poor Ukraine

      Are we talking another 3/4 weeks , 3/4 months or sometime never?

      At least mileage will be low when I try to get rid of it

      Best regards
      Jayne

      Reply

  2. I had a 2010 Prius and the CC was stolen. Had a Catloc fitted but sold the car and bought a 2018 Auris. Had the Catloc fitted within days of purchase. Parked in a big Sainsburys car park and on return, saw chips of paint under the sill near the drivers door. Looked underneath and saw a dent in the sill and where the paint had been chipped off. Assumption was some toerag jacked the car up, saw the Catloc and decided to move on. Catloc do work!
    Since then I’ve fitted my own tilt sensor and upgraded the standard (beep-beep) horns for something much louder.

    Reply

    1. Hi Mario, t

      The Prius is deemed as one of the higher risk models. Please speak to your local Toyota Centre regarding forensic marking for the component and the fitting of a Catloc.

      Thanks,

      Toyota UK

      Reply

  4. Hi,
    I bought Toyota Prius plus 2019 last December and sadly today while it was parked in the work car park multi-storey, the catalytic converters has been stolen from my car and two other Toyota hybrid cars in the car park. I really feel disappointed that It was that easy for the thief to steal three cars in a generally speaking secured hospital staff car park in the day time. I also think my car in particular are targeted and the incidence can happen again. I am wondering why Toyota couldn’t tackle this issue and make the converter more secured/fixed to deter the theft from stealing it. Alarm should be installed with the manufacturer given how easy this could be removed.

    Reply

    1. Hi Niveen,
      We are really sorry to hear that you have been affected by this crime.
      As catalytic converters contain precious metals, any car containing one is in theory at risk of theft.
      Over time, we have reduced the precious metal content of our catalytic converters by up to 84% and currently produce CatLocs for vehicles considered most at risk, but criminals are using high-grade power tools that are difficult for any manufacturer to completely protect against.
      Once again, we are sorry that your vehicle has been targeted by thieves and for the distress that this crime has caused.
      If you would like to raise your situation further, we would recommend contacting our Customer Relations team directly. You can do so here – https://www.toyota.co.uk/help-centre/email-us
      Thanks.

      Reply

  5. Could you confirm whether the Corolla is a high risk car, I can see from previous comments that you say it’s not, however on one of your recent comments you say you only provide catlocs for cars considered most at risk, and there is a catloc available for the Corolla, so I’m confused as to whether it is or isn’t high risk. Thanks

    Reply

      1. Could you tell me the risk of both the 1.8l and the 2.0l, as far as I can see the exhaust diagram seems similar for both. Thanks. Brian

      2. Hi Brian,
        Both engine sizes are considered low risk.
        However, a CATLOC is available for the 1.8l model.
        We hope this helps.
        Thanks.

      3. Thanks for the reply. So is the converter on the 2.0l less accessible than on the 1.8 meaning there isn’t a need for a catloc for the 2.0l? Brian

      4. Hi Brian,
        Unfortunately, we are unable to advise any further on this.
        Both vehicles are classed as low risk.
        Thanks.

  6. My husband had his catalytic converter stolen early hours of this morning. He has been told by his insurance company that as they don’t have anyone who is culpable that they can claim off he loses his no claims and has to pay the excess. This was not his fault, seems very unfair doesn’t it?

    Reply

    1. Hi Sarah,
      We are really sorry to hear that you have been affected by this crime.
      Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on the decisions that have been made by your insurance company.
      If there is anything else we can assist you with, please let us know.
      Thanks.

      Reply

      2. Hi,
        Thanks for your comment.
        The RAV4 Black Edition is classed as a low risk vehicle.
        A CATLOC is not available.
        Thanks.

    1. Hi Ryan,
      Unfortunately, we do not have any information on the Verso.
      We would recommend contacting your Toyota Centre to see what options are available to you.
      Thanks.

      Reply

  8. Hi, I have a Yaris 1.5 petrol. Can you advise whether this is a high risk model for catalytic converter theft? Many thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Andrew,
      Your Yaris is a low risk vehicle.
      Please let us know if you have any further questions.
      Thanks.

      Reply

    1. Hi Sarah,
      Your Yaris is a low risk vehicle.
      Please let us know if you have any further questions.
      Thanks.

      Reply

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