Why Your Repair Bill Might Be Higher Than You Expect
If you’re dealing with a failed or stolen catalytic converter, you’ve probably noticed something: the cost is way higher than it used to be. What used to be a repair in the hundreds of dollars range is now often in the thousands. Repair shops are seeing sharp increases in the cost of replacing catalytic converters. For example, one garage reported that the list price for the converter in a 2004-2009 Toyota Prius jumped from about $2,466 to $3,038 in ten months from Toyota dealerships. San Francisco Chronicle
Here’s what’s going on:
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The metals inside a catalytic converter (things like platinum and palladium) are at multi-year highs. For example, platinum has jumped about 44% this year alone. MarketWatch
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Supply of those metals is tight, and global trade, mining, and material costs are all under pressure. MetalMiner+1
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Because the parts are more expensive to make and ship, the price you pay for a full replacement is going up.
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On top of that, theft of these parts is still a big issue—shops report frequent calls for stolen converters even now. For instance:
“I personally got three calls today already for stolen converters,” said an employee at a shop in San Francisco. Currently+1
What This Means for You as an Owner
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Higher repair bills: If your converter is damaged or stolen, brace for a large invoice.
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Risk of total loss: For older or low-value vehicles, the cost of fixing the converter (plus any other damage) may exceed what the car is worth. That means your insurer might declare the car a total. *With the average cost of a new car being over $40,000, you will want to consider ways to prevent this with a converter theft deterrent device.
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Increased theft risk: With metals so valuable, thieves are more motivated. Research shows a strong correlation between rising metal prices and converter thefts. One study found that a 10% increase in precious-metal value corresponded to roughly a 20% increase in thefts. Newswise+1
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Longer wait time: Because of supply bottlenecks, replacement parts may take longer to arrive, so you could be without your car longer.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
- Install theft protection: Consider a shield for your converter. It might add cost upfront, but it could save thousands and save you from having to buy a new vehicle.
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Check if repair makes sense: If your car is older and repair cost is high, discuss whether it’s better as a total.
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Check insurance: Make sure your policy covers converter theft and understand how your insurer treats repair vs total loss in this scenario.
Final Take-Away
Because precious-metal prices are so high and supply is tight, the cost to replace a catalytic converter is steep — and the theft risk is high. For many owners it’s no longer a minor, routine repair. It can be a major expense or the trigger for a total-loss decision.
