Covered incidents include vandalism, damage from falling trees or objects, weather damage, and theft. You will need your license, registration, and insurance card. Catalytic converters are essential and have the primary function of controlling harmful emissions from polluting the atmosphere. Tell your insurance agent as soon as possible that your catalytic converter has been stolen and that youve filed a police report. This includes replacement of a stolen catalytic converter. Our opinions are our own. Not only do you have to worry about replacing the expensive part, but you also need to find out if your insurance plan will cover such an expense. Depending on the size and type of a catalytic converter, it can cost anywhere from$1,500 to $3,000to replace. Calculate how much you can afford. 4. Copyright Ocean Finance 2001-2023. Are all Farmers Insurance policies available in every state? The most obvious sign of an unresponsive vehicle due to a lost catalytic converter will be slow acceleration. Does farmers Identity Shield cover identity theft? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts. What happens to your car if someone steals your catalytic converter? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Does my car insurance cover personal injury claims? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. When in doubt, look under your vehicle near the muffler and see if you spot a hole. Your check engine light may come on if your catalytic converter is missing. Does renters insurance cover theft from cars? According to the NICB, a new catalytic converter can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000. 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. Torque is the rotational force often associated with tasks like towing, hauling, or climbing. How Much Does It Cost To Refinance A Home? Published 17 August 2021. It's no wonder that theft has surged dramatically in recent years increasing by over 400% in 2021 alone. File a claim with your insurance: If you have comprehensive insurance coverage, you can file a comprehensive claim with your insurance company to cover the damage. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call 1-855-695-2255 for assistance. It consists of a ceramic honeycomb coated in metals (typically platinum, rhodium, and palladium) that allows dangerous substances in the car's exhaust to recombine and convert into safer gases. Full coverage car insurance includes liability coverage, comprehensive coverage, and collision coverage. Your insurance company will cover the cost of replacing the stolen converter and any These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. We are not responsible for the content of any third-party sites linked from this page. A catalytic converter is part of your cars exhaust system that recombines gasses to reduce harmful emissions - for example, mixing carbon monoxide with oxygen so it becomes carbon dioxide before it's expelled.
Your insurance company should cover the cost of replacing your catalytic converter, assuming you have comprehensive coverage. Your insurance should cover all of this cost after you pay your deductible.
We offer insurance by phone, online and through independent agents. A vehicle identification number is a number or code assigned to every automobile during manufacturing. Descriptions of all coverages and other features are necessarily brief; in order to fully understand the coverages and other features of a specific insurance policy, we encourage you to read the applicable policy and/or speak to an insurance representative. They will check local security cameras and work to see if they can help catch the person who stole your converter. In short, if your catalytic converter is stolen, youll likely be covered under comprehensive auto insurance but not collision insurance. Theyre found underneath the car with the exhaust system and are designed to help reduce harmful emissions from the car engine. In general, comprehensive insurance coverage protects against damage to your vehicle caused by non-collision events. Thankfully, there are several ways to protect your vehicle from catalytic converter thieves. Does home insurance cover damage from fallen trees? According to the Congressional Research Service, 14,433 catalytic converters were stolen in 2020. Does insurance cover catalytic converter theft? Thieves also like being able to get under the car easily, which puts SUVs and trucks at particular risk. If your purse, golf clubs, or other items are stolen from the car, your insurance company will likely cover them. They contain rhodium, palladium, and platinum, and its the value of these metals that are making them attractive to thieves - theyre all precious metals that are more valuable than gold. Will My Insurance Premiums Rise After a Catalytic Converter Insurance Claims? Any gas-powered car made after 1975 can be a target, but the top vehicles for catalytic converter theft tend to be older cars because they have a larger amount of valuable metals in their catalytic converters. . Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own insurance. Unfortunately, no. Insurance doesn't have to be complicated. Get quick tips for navigating life, from car- and home-ownership to going on adventures. Because hybrids are partly powered by electricity, the converters found on hybrid cars are usually in better condition than on non-hybrid cars. Plus, you wouldn't be able to pass safety and emissions inspections without a catalytic converter. Assurance IQ, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. Assurance IQ, LLC is not affiliated with Assurance Agency, Ltd., nor any government agency. How does long-term disability insurance work? Yes. Generally speaking, if you have comprehensive auto insurance, you will be covered for catalytic converter theft. Even vehicles shipped from overseas must have a compliant catalytic converter; if it lacks one, a new one is usually installed before sale. Filing this report will also help when you reach out to your insurance company for more information on the next steps in the process. Contact us for answers. Sometimes, it can be challenging to know which situations get covered under insurance. Policygenius content follows strict guidelines for editorial accuracy and integrity. Catalytic converter theft is on the rise and may continue to rise. If thieves steal your catalytic converter, then you should be able to make a claim under your comprehensive coverage. The United States has required catalytic converters on all gas-powered vehicles since 1975. or
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. Copyright 1995 - 2023. Catalytic converters typically turn vehicle exhaust white or pale gray. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, 1,298 Americans told their insurance company that their cars catalytic converter had been stolen in 2018. Catalytic converters use all kinds of rare and valuable metals, including palladium, rhodium, and platinum. Catalytic Converter Theft - Full Coverage Car Insurance. If you notice that your car exhaust is now black or brown, it may indicate that your catalytic converter is missing. A comprehensive car insurance coverage typically covers the cost of replacing the catalytic converter stolen and any damage that may have occurred from the removal by the thief. And if the claimisfor more than your cars worth then the insurance company will write it off. Generally, converter theft is covered under comprehensive auto insurance. The large hole of a missing catalytic converter will contribute to both the noise and the smell. Park your car in a well-lit area, or install motion-sensitive lights around your house to deter thieves. 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. Steps to Take After Catalytic Converter Theft. Be sure to send photocopies with your resubmitted claim and not the originals. Discovering which coverage is the best for protection against catalytic converter theft, what coverage costs are, and how to spot a tampered catalytic converter is at your fingertips. How Does a Catalytic Converter Get Stolen? Other designs resemble a cage or armor plating. Car insurance companies have put in provisions across the board to handle the rising threat of catalytic converter thieves and offer advice on spotting tampering or theft. 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. Rachael Brennan Sign up for tips on how to improve your credit score, offers and deals to help you save money, exclusive competitions and exciting products! Your insurance company can explain the next steps to take like visiting a local repair shop and paying your deductible. You may also notice a foul odor from the unclean exhaust now exiting the vehicle. Compare quotes from several insurance carriers to ensure that you get the best deal on your auto insurance overall. How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Stolen Catalytic Converter? Chat now to ask Flo anything or explore commonly asked questions. An original manufacturer converter will cost you more than a generic model,so if this happens to you its worth shopping around to get the best price. How Insurance Covers Catalytic Converter Theft, Comprehensive Coverage Should Cover Catalytic Converter Theft. The metal inside the converter is valuable, making it easy to resell these devices to scrap yards or other buyers. Catalytic converters are essential and have the primary function of controlling harmful emissions These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. May car owners would agree that vehicle protections take much thought. This Catalytic converters convert exhaust into less harmful gases and any vehicle made after 1974 must have one installed. Few people check their catalytic converter before starting their vehicle. Truth is, having your catalytic converter stolen is one of the most frustrating experiences a car owner can go through. Comprehensive insurance covers your car against loss or damage that was not the result of a collision. Itll depend on your insurance policy but if the theftiscovered by your insurance,youll need to consider the excess thats payable. These signs for identifying a missing catalytic converter can help you decide when you need to contact authorities and your insurance company. Cars with a high ground clearance making access easier are also targeted, including vans and 4x4s. Park close to a wall with the exhaust pipe closest to the wall. This code holds a lot of information, including who your. Any car with a high ground clearance (such as an SUV) is a more popular car for catalytic converter theft because it's easier to get under the vehicle and reach the converter. With identity theft becoming more common and costly, having Farmers Identity Shield may give you some peace of mind for only pennies a day. Yes, catalytic converter theft is covered by car insurance, as long as you have comprehensive coverage. 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. An original manufacturer converter will cost you more than a generic model,so if this happens to you its worth shopping around to get the best price. The difference in price is primarily around parts, as labor is generally a small part of the expense. comparison engine, providing real-time rates and insurance services in all 50 states through its relationships with carrier and agency partners. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Get an Online Quote The vehicle will also seem less responsive than usual and will lack acceleration. Car insurer Admiral said theaverage cost of a claim was 1,500. An annual cost of $100 to $300 ($8 to $25 a month) can As a result, toxic gases are no longer being converted into less dangerous alternatives. If you happen to own any of these cars, you may want to read on to learn how to take extra precautions to keep your car safe. 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. A rising trend in the protection of your vehicle concerns its catalytic converter. The vehicle identification number is near the outside base of the drivers side windshield or inside the drivers door jam. If approved, your insurer covers the cost of the new converter minus the deductible, which you pay out of pocket.
But there may still be hope that you can get a new one without any cost to you. Comparison shopping should be easy. The number of catalytic converter thefts in the United States. Partly powered by electricity, the converters found on hybrid cars are usually in better condition than on cars., if your catalytic converter stolen is one of the expense number or code assigned to every automobile during.... Doubt, look under your vehicle caused by non-collision events a collision, a new one any! Is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin are using a screen reader and are designed to reduce! Car against loss or damage that was not the originals the NICB, a new one without any cost you! Slow acceleration due to a lost catalytic converter before starting their vehicle 14,433! Truth is, having your catalytic converter can help you decide when you need to contact authorities and insurance... Like being able to get under the car engine of pocket covered by car insurance, as long you! 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does farmers insurance cover catalytic converter theft