Catalytic converter theft is on the rise across the country, and the Hyundai Elantra is one of many vehicles being targeted by thieves. However, there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself and your vehicle—like marking your catalytic converter with your VIN or buying an anti-theft device, like a plate that covers your catalytic converter.
If you’re concerned about the rising number of catalytic converter thefts—or if the worst has happened and your converter has already been stolen—then you’ve come to the right place for help. In this article, we’ll go over ways to prevent catalytic converter theft, tell you what to do if yours is stolen, and talk about the car insurance
you’ll need to cover it. Is it easy to steal the catalytic converter from a Hyundai Elantra?
Sadly, yes, it is easy to steal the Hyundai Elantra’s catalytic converter. Virtually all Hyundai Elantras—regardless of generation—are prone to having their catalytic converters stolen. The Elantra actually has two catalytic converters, one in the manifold and one in the exhaust system near the muffler.
The catalytic converter in the exhaust system is the one that is frequently stolen since it is easily accessible underneath the vehicle. This is why other similarly sized sedans, like the Toyota Camry
and Honda Accord
, are often targeted as well. Top Hyundai Elantra years that catalytic converter thieves target
Virtually every Hyundai Elantra manufactured between 1990 and now is at risk of having its catalytic converter stolen.
Furthermore, hybrid Elantra models are particularly at risk thanks to the higher concentration of precious metals used specifically in hybrid catalytic converters.
Why are Hyundai Elantra catalytic converters stolen?
Well, why does anything get stolen? Because it’s valuable. Catalytic converters, specifically, use a filter made of precious metals, like rhodium, platinum, and palladium, in order to remove toxic emissions from your car’s exhaust system. Over the last few years, the price of these metals has skyrocketed, making your catalytic converter more attractive than ever to a would-be thief.
Let’s take a look at what those metals in your Elantra’s catalytic converter are worth, as of March 2022:
Platinum: $1,128 per ounce
Palladium: $2,938 per ounce
Rhodium: $20,000 per ounce
Naturally, there’s much less than an ounce of each of these metals in your catalytic converter, but that is somewhat offset by the fact that they are very easily stolen. Despite the Elantra’s low ground clearance, it’s still fairly simple for a properly motivated ne’er-do-well to slide under your car, cut the pipes holding your exhaust system in place, and abscond into the night with their ill-gotten gains.
Hyundai catalytic converter replacement cost
Questionable morality aside, there’s another reason why having your catalytic converter stolen is a serious problem—RepairPal estimates that the average cost to replace a Hyundai Elantra catalytic converter is between $693 and $744. That’s pretty cheap, as far as cat replacements go, but remember that this is an average estimate. Since the Elantra has been around for so long, prices can vary widely based on your vehicle’s specific configuration (e.g. powertrain, engine size, etc.).
Otherwise, you can try to save a little money by using an aftermarket replacement part. It still won’t be cheap, though, and there’s no getting around the repair costs for this complicated replacement.
How to prevent catalytic converter theft from a Hyundai Elantra
As the rate of catalytic converter theft continues to rise across the country, it’s important to go over a few tips and tricks in order to better protect one of your vehicle’s most valuable parts:
Park in a secure area
One of the easiest but most effective ways to protect your catalytic converter is to park in a garage or a brightly lit parking lot, preferably with video surveillance. For your home, motion sensor lights above the driveway would also be a good deterrent.
Thieves, scoundrels, reprobates, and all other forms of miscreants prefer the cover of darkness to ply their abominable trade, so keep your vehicle off their radar by making sure it’s parked in a well-lit location.
Buy a theft prevention device
If you’re not averse to spending a little extra cash to protect your cat converter, you could look into the Catstrap™ anti-theft device.
The Catstrap
is a bright orange adhesive band that covers both your catalytic converter and most of your exhaust system. Inside the band are extremely durable steel cables, which are virtually impossible to cut with a power saw (the most common method of removing a cat). It’s easy to install, requires no tools, and can be completely set up in less than half an hour. If you like what you hear, the good folks at Catstrap make a few more theft-prevention devices that might interest you, including a motion-activated alarm
that blares deafening noise if it detects movement underneath your vehicle. 
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
It’s not a sure thing by any means, but marking your VIN somewhere on your catalytic converter makes it much more difficult to sell on the black market since it can be traced back to a specific vehicle.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau regularly hosts catalytic converter etching events. If there isn’t an event near you anytime soon, you can always take your Elantra to get tagged at your local muffler shop.
Invest in comprehensive insurance
While good insurance might not actively lower your risk of catalytic converter theft, it is a great way to protect yourself from out-of-pocket expenses if your converter does get stolen.
If you don’t have comprehensive insurance
, you won’t be able to file a claim for the stolen part, and paying for a replacement will be your responsibility. If you’ve already followed all of the above steps, then finish strong by adding full-coverage insurance
to your policy. What to do if your Hyundai Elantra’s catalytic converter is stolen
If you find that your Elantra’s catalytic converter has been stolen, you’ll first need to get in touch with the police. They might be able to source some security camera footage to identify the culprit, depending on where your car was parked.
Regardless of if the thief is found or not, the police will file an official report, which will be needed for the next phase of the process: contacting your insurance company. If you have comprehensive coverage, you’ll be able to file a claim for the theft—which you should definitely do given how expensive a catalytic converter is to replace!
Your insurance company will help schedule your visit to the mechanic and take care of the cost of replacement parts. Sure, you’ll need to pay a deductible before your insurance covers everything, but it will be much lower than the total cost of repair and replacement.
If your policy doesn’t include comprehensive coverage, you still have to replace your catalytic converter, but you’ll have to cover the cost yourself. You should be able to save a little money by finding a mechanic willing to use aftermarket parts, though.
Can you drive a Hyundai Elantra without a catalytic converter?
Getting your catalytic converter stolen doesn’t make your vehicle inoperable, but you definitely shouldn’t keep driving around as if nothing is wrong.
First of all, an Elantra that is missing either of its catalytic converters will not pass emissions testing. If the area where you live requires emissions testing to preserve your vehicle registration
, then you’ll definitely need a replacement cat sooner rather than later. On top of that, you’ll also have to deal with very loud road noise, rough and uneven acceleration, and the fact that you’re releasing a cocktail of noxious gasses into the atmosphere. To put it simply, you need to have those catalytic converters in your car, for the Earth’s sake as well as your own.
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