Catalytic Converter Theft Is Still An Expensive Problem But Congress Wants To Do Something About It

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Catalytic converters aren't being stolen astatine nan aforesaid staggering rates arsenic nan highest twelvemonth of 2022, but they're still being sawed retired from nether vehicles by thieves who want nan precious metals that nan parts contain. For example, State Farm reported 45,000 claims successful 2022, a fig that fell to 21,000 successful 2023 and was connected way to diminution importantly successful 2024. The driblet is owed to authorities legislatures stepping successful to make it much difficult to waste nan stolen converters, and now Congress has introduced bills to create a nationalist law.

Here's Automotive News, reporting connected nan National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) backing of nan legislation:

"Catalytic converter theft is simply a important nationalist rumor for rule enforcement, businesses, and conveyance owners. Federal action is needed to combat this vulnerable criminal activity," NADA CEO Mike Stanton said successful a statement. "These thefts not only effect hardworking Americans but besides put lives astatine risk."

The Preventing Auto Recycling Theft, aliases PART, Act is designed to trim catalytic converter thefts by requiring caller vehicles to person nan VIN stamped onto nan converter. That way, rule enforcement officers tin link nan stolen parts to vehicles.

Toyota

VINs — vehicle recognition numbers — really are nan trick, arsenic some New York and California found erstwhile nan states required that nan information beryllium either engraved by dealers aliases recorded by junkyards. It was besides recommended that owners etch their vehicles' VINs into nan converters, aliases petition that constabulary departments do it for them. Protective cages were besides a projected defense against thieves; my aging Honda Element has been outfitted pinch 1 of these since its catalytic converter was filched erstwhile it was thoroughfare parked successful Brooklyn respective years ago.

Nowadays, moreover if your converter is little apt to beryllium stolen (a batch little apt successful New York City, pinch thefts plunging to less than 1,500 successful 2024 from much than 8,500 successful 2022, according to Gothamist), it remains a lucrative target, acknowledgment to nan platinum, palladium, and rhodium it tin contain. NADA's property release endorsing nan House and Senate bills, which nan statement says person bipartisan support, explained that "stolen catalytic converters tin garner anyplace from $20 to $350 connected nan achromatic market, pinch nan replacement costs to conveyance owners averaging complete $2,500."

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As Automotive News reported, nan PART Act grounded to flight nan committee process erstwhile it was antecedently rolled retired successful 2022 (Senate) and 2023 (House). This latest ace astatine a rule was introduced successful nan Senate earlier this year, and nan House followed suit. Funding to uniquely place converters would travel via a $7-million assistance program, eliminating nan costs to owners.

Ultimately, if nan authorities passes and is signed into law, it will service arsenic a bully illustration of states playing their domiciled arsenic laboratories for national action. The ones that person addressed nan problem person achieved immoderate success, truthful it's really a lawsuit now of solidifying a nationalist solution and trying to forestall different activity of thefts causing victims' cars to make nan atrocious sound that anyone who has had their converter stolen recognizes (Toyota trucks person been particularly popular). Not to mention discouraging caller thefts, erstwhile criminals observe that they tin nary longer move their stolen parts.