If you drive an Audi A3, you can rest a bit easier knowing that you’re not a prime target for catalytic converter theft—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions to prevent it. Luckily, most of your options are simple, many, like anti-theft shields, are quite affordable, and some, like parking in locked or well-light areas, won’t cost you a penny.

Just because your Audi A3 isn’t on the list of

cars most targeted by catalytic converter thieves

, doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Thieves aren’t likely to target your A3, but that doesn’t mean they won’t still take advantage of an opportunity to pocket some quick cash if an opportunity presents itself.

To make sure your A3 is the least-enticing option for cat burglars, we’ve prepared this guide to explain not only what you can do to protect your catalytic converter, but also why it’s such a hot commodity. Plus, we’ll let you know what type of

car repairs

you’ll need if you do fall prey to a cat burglar—and what

car insurance

will help foot the bill for a replacement.

MORE:

How to lower Audi A3 insurance costs

Is it easy to steal the catalytic converter from an Audi A3?

No, but the ease of theft isn’t all that matters when it comes to whether your car’s catalytic converter will be targeted. It may not be easy to shimmy under an A3 to snag your converter, but that doesn’t mean a thief won’t go to the trouble.

Top Audi A3 years that catalytic converter thieves target

With some makes and models, there are particular years that are targeted by thieves, but this is not the case with the Audi A3. Whether you drive a 2006 A3 2.0T or a 2022

A3 Prestige

, you’re just as likely—and unlikely—to be targeted for theft.

Why are Audi A3 catalytic converters stolen?

No matter what car you’re driving, your catalytic converter is a target for theft for the same reason—the precious metals it contains.

Time for a mechanics lesson: your car’s catalytic converter performs the important task of filtering out harmful emissions from your exhaust. What makes it a target for thieves is the method by which it does this—to filter out these toxins, your catalytic converter sends the fumes from your A3’s exhaust through a fine honeycomb of rhodium, platinum, and palladium. Each of these metals is worth thousands of dollars per ounce.

Since most car’s catalytic converters are conveniently located underneath the car, all a thief has to do to get yours is scoot under there, cut out the converter, and sell it to a buyer for the metals it contains.

As of January 2023, here’s what each of the metals in your A3’s catalytic converter is worth:

Platinum: $1,090 per ounce

Palladium: $1,739 per ounce

Rhodium: $12,400 per ounce

There’s nowhere near an ounce of any one of these metals in your A3’s cat, but even a few grams—especially of rhodium—can equal a pretty solid payday for a determined thief. Luckily, your A3’s cat will only bring about $100, which is why it’s less of a target than, for example, a hybrid vehicle.

And this brings us to the second factor driving catalytic converter theft—ease of access. Your A3 has pretty low ground clearance, which makes getting under it to cut out your cat quite the task. Given the choice between your car and the hybrid down the line that can earn them a $1,000 payday, the thief will likely go for the hybrid and its precious, metal-laden cat.

So, now you know your A3 is neither the most lucrative nor the most convenient target for thieves, but again, that doesn’t mean you can’t still wind up the victim of cat burglary. That’s why it’s still important that you take the necessary steps to protect it. A thief might only get $100 for it, but you’ll pay much more than that to replace it!

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Audi catalytic converter replacement cost

We’ll be blunt: Catalytic converters are expensive to replace. According to

Repair Pal

, if your converter gets swiped, you’ll be looking at a repair bill of well over $2,000 to get it replaced. Repair Pal’s experts estimate you’ll pay anywhere from $211 to $266 for labor and parts will run you close to $2,000.

Most of us don’t have a few grand just laying around (and even if we do, we probably don’t want to spend it on preventable car repairs!), so let’s consider some simple things we can do to make our cat less enticing to thieves.

MORE:

How to fix a catalytic converter without replacing it

How to prevent catalytic converter theft from an Audi A3

Protecting your Audi A3’s catalytic converter, or a cat on any car, is much simpler and more affordable than you may think. Here are a few things you can do to keep yours safe.

Park in a secure area

The easiest and least expensive way to keep your cat safe is to park your car in a locked garage. Not an option? Install motion-sensor lights to deter thieves from your driveway.

If you live in an apartment or you just have to park on the street regularly, look for a well-lit area to park in. Better yet, find an area that’s not only well-lit but also under video surveillance. That way, if a thief does steal your converter, you’ll have video evidence that law enforcement could use to catch them.

MORE:

How to tell if a parking garage is liable for a stolen or damaged vehicle

Buy a catalytic converter shield

Even if you have a locked garage at home, your cat is still vulnerable anytime you’re out and about. In addition to taking precautions by parking in well-lit areas under video surveillance, you can take the additional step of installing a catalytic converter anti-theft shield to keep your converter safe when you’re on the go.

Devices like the

Cat Shield™ from MILLERCAT

may not stop a cat thief, but they’ll certainly slow them down—a lot!

Cat Security™

also has a lot of great options, and you can even find some on Amazon.

These low-cost options are easy to install, so you probably won’t need the help of a mechanic. Plus, your insurance provider may offer you a discount on

comprehensive coverage

for installing one!

MORE:

The best anti-theft devices to keep your vehicle safe

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Put your VIN on the catalytic converter

For a final layer of protection, have your vehicle’s VIN etched onto your catalytic converter. A catalytic converter with your VIN etched onto it cannot be sold on the black market. You can have this done at your local muffler shop, or check with your local police department to see if they’ll be holding any etching events.

MORE:

How to check and decode a Audi VIN

Invest in comprehensive insurance

Will

comprehensive coverage

stop a thief from taking your catalytic converter? No. But it will help you pay to get it replaced after it’s stolen.

Unless you carry a car insurance policy that includes comprehensive coverage, you’ll be responsible for the full cost of replacing your cat. But if you do have this coverage, you’ll only be responsible for your deductible.

What to do if your Audi A3’s catalytic converter is stolen

If you know that your catalytic converter was stolen

, the first thing you should do is contact the authorities. They may be able to catch the cat burglar, and they’ll be able to generate the police report you’ll need to file with your insurance company to create a comprehensive claim.

Once you finish reporting the theft to the authorities, it’s time to report it to your insurance provider. You’ll only be charged the deductible on your policy, and your provider will handle all the legwork of getting your cat replaced.

If you don’t carry comprehensive coverage, your next step will still be to get your converter replaced, but you’ll be on your own to do it. Plus, you’ll be out the full cost of replacement.

Can you drive an Audi A3 without a catalytic converter?

Technically, yes. It is safe to drive a vehicle without a catalytic converter, but it’s not good for the environment, and it’s not practical in the long run. If you live in a state that requires smog checks for

vehicle registration

, you’ll definitely have to get your cat replaced at some point, as it won’t pass emissions testing without one.

Aside from this highly practical issue, there’s also the issue of pollution—both noise pollution and actual pollution from the fumes that are no longer being filtered out by your A3’s cat.