How to Prevent Land Rover Discovery Sport Catalytic Converter Theft

If you have a Land Rover Discovery Sport, your car is vulnerable to catalytic converter theft. Here’s everything you need to know about preventing it.
Written by Jasmine Kanter
Reviewed by Kaitlin May
The Land Rover Discovery Sport has two catalytic converters located on the underside of the vehicle—leaving them both vulnerable to theft. However, with secure parking spaces, anti-theft devices, or labeled catalytic converters, you can stop thieves in their tracks. 
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is one of the heaviest SUVs on the market with two equally heavy-duty catalytic converters. Due to their quality and location, these parts are a tempting target for thieves. In this guide, you’ll find all the information on how to prevent catalytic converter theft in a Land Rover Discovery Sport—and what type of
car insurance
you need to stay protected.

Is it easy to steal the catalytic converter from a Land Rover Discovery Sport?

Yes. The Land Rover Discovery Sport has two catalytic converters connecting the engine to the muffler on its underside. Due to its high ground clearance, it's one of the best Land Rover compact SUVs for off-roading, but it’s also one of the easiest to steal from. All it takes is a roll under the vehicle, a saw to get the parts, and a quick getaway to snag your converters.

Top Land Rover Discovery Sport years that catalytic converter thieves target

Every model year of the Discovery Sport from 2015 to the present is equally vulnerable to catalytic converter theft. You're even more at risk if your vehicle has a set of premium 20 or 21-inch wheels (such as those on the top-of-the-line
Sport SE
), which adds even more height to the Sport—making it easier for thieves to access the catalytic converters.
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
icon4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars
icon4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

Why are Land Rover Discovery Sport catalytic converters stolen?

Catalytic converters play an important part in managing air quality. They convert the most toxic by-products of diesel and gasoline engines into the relatively less harmful exhaust. Their filters are made of precious metals like rhodium, platinum, and palladium, which are skyrocketing in value
leading to increased catalytic converter thefts
Here’s where the prices of these metals stand as of January 2023:
  • $1,069 per ounce of platinum
  • $1,662 per ounce of palladium 
  • $12,250 per ounce of rhodium
The cat cons in your Discovery Sport contain less than an ounce of each mineral, but they’re still worth about $200 to $500 each. At the very least, you should take some precautions because of the high cost of replacement parts.

Land Rover Discovery Sport catalytic converter replacement cost

Replacing a single catalytic converter in a Land Rover Discovery Sport costs between $750 and $2,500. Most of the bill is allocated to the parts, while labor costs around $250.
Now’s the time to consider the pros and cons of buying OEM parts.
Genuine Land Rover parts
come with a 12-month/unlimited mileage warranty if they are installed by an official Land Rover mechanic. However, these parts are expensive and are at risk of being stolen again. It might be better to install an aftermarket cat con instead, which is cheaper and less likely to be stolen.

How to prevent catalytic converter theft from a Land Rover Discovery Sport

While theft is on the rise, you’re not without your defenses. Check out these strategies to help keep your Land Rover Discovery Sport safe:

Park in a secure area

To steal your catalytic converters, a thief has to access your vehicle, which makes a locked parking garage a great solution. 
Ask management about the building’s security features and whether the terms of the agreement make them
liable for a stolen or damaged car
. You can also create your own parking safety system by installing motion-sensor floodlights and security cameras

Buy a catalytic converter shield

There are several different types of catalytic converter anti-theft devices: shields, clamps, cages, and alarms. 
The aftermarket has yet to provide an easy-to-install shield for the Discovery Sport. Unless you want to pay a welder to create a custom part for you, opt for a
Catclamp®
or tripwire-triggered
Fast Guard Alarm
instead. As a bonus, installing one of these devices might get you a
car insurance discount
.

Put your VIN on the catalytic converter

Our final recommendation is the least reliable: etching your catalytic converters with your Discover Sport’s
vehicle identification number (VIN)
. This service is inexpensive and might even be free through your local police station or Land Rover dealer. Etching your VIN makes your parts easier to track and harder to sell, but there’s no guarantee a thief will spot it when they crawl underneath your car

Invest in comprehensive insurance

If you’ve got
full-coverage car insurance
, you can breathe a sigh of relief!
Comprehensive insurance
protects against theft and vandalism, so your insurance provider should help you arrange a visit to the mechanic and pay for any replacement parts—minus your
deductible
, of course. Make sure to include photos of your car and any available police reports when you file your
car insurance claim

What to do if your catalytic converters are stolen

If worse comes to worst and your catalytic converters are stolen, you should contact the police immediately. The sooner you call the cops, the sooner they can begin searching for the thief, and the better their chances of recovering your parts. Take some photos of the parking location and note any damages to your car while you wait.
With that documentation in hand, the next phone call to your insurance company will be a lot smoother. With comprehensive coverage, your insurance provider will connect you to a mechanic and cover the replacement as long as your deductible is met.
If you only have liability insurance, you’ll need to foot the bill for the replacement and repairs.

Can you drive without a catalytic converter?

No—the damage you could cause to your SUV far outweighs the
average tow cost
. Plus, you run the risk of gunking up your engine with unfiltered exhaust. You also won’t be able to pass an emissions test, which could result in penalties and fines if it’s required by your state.
Bottom line: don’t risk driving without your catalytic converter and play it safe.
Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees
icon4.717k Ratings
5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged
"My policy covers two people and four cars: a truck, SUV, convertible, and muscle car.
Jerry
helped me go from paying $308 a month to $125 a month with the same coverage. I’m loving the savings.” —Jocelyn A.
Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™
Simplify your car maintenance with Jerry.
Try GarageGuard™

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings