You turn the key and the car sounds like it's trying to start a drag race. If your catalytic converter was stolen, that roar is usually the first sign: the exhaust now ends where the thief cut the pipe. What you do next comes down to one comparison, the repair bill against what the car is worth. This note from Cash for Junk Cars West Gary covers the first steps and that decision.
What to do if your catalytic converter is stolen
Report it to the police, then call your insurer: comprehensive coverage can pay for theft damage, minus the deductible. Get a repair quote that includes the cut exhaust pipes and sensors. On an older car, if that quote is close to what the car is worth, selling it as it is can be the better call.
Keep the police report number. Take photos of the cut pipe from underneath if you can do it safely.
How to tell it's gone
- The noise. A loud, rough roar the moment the engine starts, getting louder when you press the gas.
- The gap. Look under the car between the engine and the muffler. A section of pipe cut out, with clean saw marks on each end, is the giveaway.
- Warning lights. The check engine light may come on once the car's sensors notice the change.
Some cars have more than one converter. If yours has two and only one is gone, the shop quote should say so.
Is it safe to drive?
Don't take our word or anyone's online for it: have a mechanic check it before you drive it anywhere except to the shop. The exhaust now leaves the car at the cut, not at the tailpipe, and a mechanic can tell you whether that's a problem for your particular car.
Is it worth reporting?
Yes, even if you don't plan to claim. If you do claim, your insurer will want the report number. And a report puts the theft on record, which matters if the same thing happens again on your street.
Does insurance cover it in Indiana?
The Indiana Department of Insurance lists theft among the losses comprehensive coverage pays for, and notes that a deductible may apply. So if you carry comprehensive, call your insurer and ask two things: is the converter theft covered, and what's the deductible?
If you don't carry comprehensive coverage, ask your insurer what, if anything, applies. If nothing does, the repair is on you, which makes the fix-or-sell question sharper.
What the repair usually involves
A shop quote for a stolen converter usually covers more than the converter itself:
- The converter. An aftermarket part or one from the car's maker; the quote should say which.
- The pipe sections. Thieves cut the exhaust on both sides, and those sections get replaced or welded.
- Oxygen sensors. They sit near the converter and can be damaged or cut off during the theft.
- Labor. Getting the car up, cutting out the damage and fitting the new parts.
We're not going to quote prices here. They vary by car and by shop, and a written estimate for your car is the only number that counts.
Fix it or sell it: a quick way to decide
Fix it if the car is newer, you carry comprehensive coverage, and the deductible is small next to the repair bill. The insurer does most of the paying and you keep a car you want.
Sell it if any of these are true:
- You don't carry comprehensive coverage, so the whole bill is yours.
- The repair quote is close to what the car is worth.
- The car already needed other work.
- It's been hit before, and you're tired of fixing a car that keeps getting targeted.
Selling a car with the converter missing
A car with its converter cut out is still a car we buy. We buy cars as they are in Tolleston, Brunswick, Westside and Black Oak, and we tow them, so the noise doesn't matter. Tell us the converter is gone and whether anything else was taken; the stripped cars page lists what to mention. If the car was also keyed or had a window broken in the same night, see what to do with a vandalized car.
Towing is free, you're paid at pickup, and we can often come the same day. Send the car's details to get the offer.