Posted on 04/02/2022 7:30:30 AM PDT by real saxophonist
Stolen catalytic converter could be a total loss after insurance claim
by: Rogelio Mares
Posted: Apr 1, 2022
DENVER (KDVR) — Thieves are targeting catalytic converters at an alarming rate.
FOX31 spoke with a woman who had hers stolen. She said she might lose her vehicle if she files a claim.
Clothilde Syndor lives in an apartment building in Cherry Creek and said when she got her insurer involved after having her catalytic converter stolen, she was told her only means of transportation, her SUV, might be declared a total loss.
Sydnor is somewhat of a pioneer in Colorado.
“My dad and mom lived on a farm, so I started driving a tractor when I was 7 years old,” Sydnor said. She was recognized for being one of the first women to operate heavy machinery in the state.
Driving a car to her doctor’s appointment is no sweat for her.
“I started my car and it was making all this noise. I almost jumped out, I didn’t know what was wrong,” Sydnor said.
That noise happened to be the effect of having her catalytic converter stolen. She even has photos from security camera video of the theft.
Aside from this thievery, Sydnor has a warning for Colorado drivers about their insurance coverage.
“Be sure that they know what their insurance will pay for,” Sydnor said.
After she called her insurer to report the theft, they told her it could be a total loss.
“They’re debating whether they’re going to pay the guy to fix it or whether they’re going to get rid of it,” Sydnor said.
AAA Colorado said drivers should have a transparent relationship with their insurers. Ask them questions about your coverage often, even after something happens.
“If your vehicle’s older, then this could be a total loss. Talk to your insurance agent, talk to your adjuster before you file the claim if it’s really important that that vehicle is not totaled,” Skyler McKinley, with AAA Colorado, said.
Unfortunately for Sydnor, this isn’t the first time her car was targeted. Back in January, she said thieves stole another catalytic converter from her vehicle. She paid for that one out of pocket.
“At my age, I need a car for going back and forth to the doctor,” she said.
AAA said there are legal, after-market, catalytic converters available for folks who choose to get their vehicles fixed without filing an insurance claim, but some of those can be costly.
That’s a good question. Years ago I had to replace several cats on my 2005 Nissan Xterra. It was well over 1000 bucks.
I just googled replacing cats on a RAV4 and this is what I got.
The average cost for a Toyota RAV4 catalytic converter replacement is between $1,323 and $1,374. Labor costs are estimated between $160 and $202 while parts are priced between $1,162 and $1,171.
I know this seems like a lot of money, but with the average cost of a used car today and the average cost of normal repairs, this is nothing.
Sure they might. And they also might raise your rates if not outright cancel you.
It’s gonna suck, and it’s gonna piss you off, but don’t let them control things.
What’s going on? Do they know they could make more paying out the required figure to their customer, then putting a CC in and selling the vehicle in this crazy market?
No, they don’t. And you will not get rid of the check engine light either. For what it’s worth.
I think that's what USAA was planning to do.
Don’t you know that somewhere some EV owners are smuggly smirking; “Stealing catalytic converters? Not my problem.”
Some mentioned buying used CATs on eBay...Is this where the stolen ones are being marketed?
Living in Wisconsin, where the roadsides are littered with deer carcasses, I thought everyone carried comp.
Being upside down on coverage should be addressed, though, for sure. Insurance companies are no angels, but the crime sweeping the country is at the root, and spreading like crabgrass. SMH.
8~)
I did a quick check, there are currently 4100 used cats on eBay.
But it looked like almost all are unbolted, not sawed off.
I doubt it. They just give a very throaty rumble. They were the rage when I was in high school.
Yep...a nice rumble. I’m in an inspection required state (NC), unless it’s a certain age. I definitely could not substitute a glass pass for a catalytic converter. But probably could substitute for the muffler part of the system..
I did a quick check, there are currently 4100 used cats on eBay.
But it looked like almost all are unbolted, not sawed off.
So it would seem it is likely unscrupulous junk yards that area buying off the sawed off ones and either reselling or having them melted down for the metal.
If so, seems they are providing the market for the thefts...So why would it not be illegal to buy stolen CATs?
Very possible. I recently replaced a worn out catalytic converter, nearly half the car's book value, after shopping around.
Did it anyway, I like my old Subaru, the seat has shaped to fit my butt...
I think state laws on this are all over the place.
And of course cats are typically cut off for recycling at a car junkyard before crushing the body, because that’s the fast way to do it.
So it’s probably difficult to monitor.
Glass Packs... I had Cherry Bombs on my 69 GTO.. sounded awesome !!
It would appear a lot of folks are worried about emission test/inspections 🤣🤣🤣
I was worried about my truck when I retired in Georgia... It’s lifted, loud but looks like it came off the showroom floor. Talked to the local sheriff and asked about vehicle inspections.. he laughed and said look around, we have no inspections!!
Ebay... Converter... $60?
Probably one that was stolen from someone’s truck and hawked via ebay.
Good points.
However, now states make it difficult to do many things due to monitoring, perhaps they should look into this—
Example...they monitor how much Claritin-D I can purchase per month w/o doc prescription—some states a prescription is required for purchase.
Thanks. I got the old familiar catalytic converter smell the other day , so gonna need one soon likely. Not looking forward to,it.
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