The Kia Forte may not be a prime target for catalytic converter theft, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe from so-called cat burglars. Luckily, you’ve got several options—like anti-theft shields and safer parking practices—to protect your Forte’s catalytic converter from theft.
Though it doesn’t make the list of cars most targeted by catalytic converter thieves
, Kia Forte owners do still need to take steps to prevent catalytic converter theft. We’ve created 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. Is it easy to steal the catalytic converter from a Kia Forte?
Fortunately, it’s not as easy to steal a Kia Forte’s catalytic converter as it is to steal, say. a Kia Soul’s
—but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. What makes converters on vehicles like the Soul easy targets is their ground clearance. They’re easy to get under even without a jack. The Forte only has 5.3 inches of ground clearance, making it much more difficult to access the cat. Top Kia Forte years that catalytic converter thieves target
Statistically, it doesn’t appear that any single model year of the Kia Forte is more prone to catalytic converter theft than another. This is both good news and bad news.
The good news is that Forte owners can rest easy knowing they’re no more likely to have their cat stolen based on the car’s model year. But the bad news is that actually, no Kia Forte owner can truly rest easy where cat theft is concerned. Whether you drive an old 2010 or a brand new 2023 Forte, your likelihood of getting your catalytic converter stolen has much more to do with opportunity than model year.
Why are Kia Forte catalytic converters stolen?
No matter what you drive, your catalytic converter is at risk for theft for the same reason—the precious metals it contains. You probably know the purpose of a catalytic converter, which is to filter out harmful emissions from your Forte’s exhaust. But it does this by sending those fumes through a fine honeycomb of rhodium, platinum, and palladium, all of which have skyrocketed in value in recent years—making your catalytic converter a prime target for thieves.
As of December 2022, here’s what each of the metals in your Forte’s catalytic converter are worth:
Platinum: $1,069 per ounce
Palladium: $1,682 per ounce
Rhodium: $12,250 per ounce
While there’s far less than an ounce of each of these metals in your catalytic converter, even a few grams can earn a thief several hundred if not a few thousands bucks.
Now let’s consider the second factor driving catalytic theft—ease of access. We’ve already mentioned that your Forte’s catalytic converter isn’t the easiest thing in the world to get to, so most thieves would need a bit of enticement to drag out a jack to get to your cat. Luckily, your Forte’s catalytic converter will only bring about $50 to $200—not much enticement.
The odds of a thief targeting your Forte when a Prius’s hybrid converter could get them well over $1,000 are pretty slim. Hybrid vehicles’ catalytic converters have a much higher concentration of the precious metals thieves are looking for.
This means your Forte is neither the most convenient nor the most lucrative target. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be on the lookout to keep it protected—while a thief may not be able to get much for it, you’ll pay a pretty penny to replace it.
Kia catalytic converter replacement cost
If you’re thinking your Forte’s catalytic converter will be cheap to replace based on the small concentration of precious metals inside, think again. According to Repair Pal
, the average cost to replace a Kia Forte’s catalytic converter is about $1,500! And that doesn’t include labor costs to install it. All told, you could be looking at a $2,000 fix if you're a victim of cat burglary. How to prevent catalytic converter theft from a Kia Forte
So, just because your Kia Forte isn’t a prime target for catalytic converter theft, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still take precautions to keep your cat safe. Here are a few strategies that can help you avoid both the hassle and the cost of cat burglary:
Park in a secure area
Your best-case-scenario will be to park your Forte in a locked garage or a well-lit area that’s under video surveillance. If you can’t get your Kia into your garage, motion sensor lights can go a long way toward deterring thieves who come into your driveway.
Buy a catalytic converter shield
Let’s face it—we don’t all have access to secure parking. And even if we do, cat thieves have been known to break into garages to get their hands on these lucrative prizes. In either case, an added layer of protection between your catalytic converter and a would-be thief is never a bad idea, so consider installing a catalytic converter anti-theft shield.
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 options on Amazon. The best part about these shields is that they can do a lot for just a little cash and a little work. In fact, you can easily install one on your own, so there’s no need even to hit up a mechanic and pay for labor! As an added bonus, your insurance provider may offer you a discount on comprehensive coverage
for installing one! 
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers Put your VIN on the catalytic converter
If you’re really serious about deterring cat theft, get your Forte’s VIN etched into it. A catalytic converter with your VIN etched into 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.
Invest in comprehensive insurance
While comprehensive coverage won’t stop a thief from stealing your Forte’s cat, it will help you replace it if they do. Without comprehensive coverage, you’ll be paying the full cost for a replacement cat out of your own pocket. But if you opt to carry this optional protection in your auto insurance policy, you’ll only be out the deductible.
What to do if your Kia Forte’s catalytic converter is stolen
As with any instance of theft of vandalism, the first thing you should do if you know your catalytic converter was stolen
is contact the authorities. Not only will they file a report that can come in handy with your insurance provider but they may just catch the thief who stole your cat! Once that’s done, you should do one of two things: If your car insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage, you should contact your insurance provider. They’ll not only handle all the logistics of getting your catalytic converter replaced, but they’ll also only charge you your deductible—rather than the thousands of dollars it would otherwise take to replace the part.
If you don’t carry comprehensive coverage you should contact the mechanic you want to perform your replacement. Unfortunately, you’ll be on your own with both scheduling and paying of the full replacement cost.
Can you drive a Kia Forte without a catalytic converter?
Technically, yes. Driving any vehicle without a catalytic converter is safe, but it’s neither practical nor good for the environment. Most importantly, your car will not pass an emissions test without a catalytic converter. That means if you live in a state that requires emissions testing, you won’t be able to keep your registration up to date unless you replace the stolen converter.
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 Forte’s cat.
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