Preventing Subaru Impreza Catalytic Converter Theft

Catalytic converter theft is on the rise—here’s how to keep your Subaru Impreza safe from thieves.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Julian de Sevilla
The Subaru Impreza may not be one of the most common targets for catalytic converter thieves but it’s still at risk. Things like installing an anti-theft device and etching your VIN on your cat can help keep your chances of theft as low as possible.
In the past few years, catalytic converter theft has gone from something most people didn’t even know was a thing to something that just about everyone who owns a car is concerned about. Here’s what you can take to reduce your risk and what to do if yours gets stolen: 
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

Is it easy to steal the catalytic converter from a Subaru Impreza? 

Subaru Impreza is not one of the easier vehicles to steal a catalytic converter from. The best targets are large vehicles that are easy to slide under, like SUVs and full-size pickup trucks. As a compact car, the Impreza sits pretty low to the ground. This means that a thief would need to take the time to jack the car up to access the catalytic converter.
But just because it’s not the easiest mark doesn’t mean it’s safe, especially as thieves get more experienced and brazen. 

Are any Subaru Imprezas more of a target for thieves?

In general, no. But there have been recent reports that some models like the
Subaru Forester
  are becoming a more popular target for thieves. One of the nice things about
Subarus
is their fuel efficiency, but that also makes their catalytic converters more valuable.

Why are catalytic converters stolen?

The catalytic converter is an integral part of any internal combustion vehicle’s exhaust system, and it’s been a legal requirement in the US since 1975. Before it leaves the tailpipe, the car’s exhaust is filtered through a matrix of rare metals in the catalytic converter, which makes the emissions less polluting. The cost of these rare metals has increased dramatically in the past few years, which makes catalytic converters a hot commodity on the black market.
Just how valuable are these metals, my precious? As of December 2022, the cost per ounce of the three metals found in a catalytic converter was:
  • Platinum: $1,020 per ounce 
  • Palladium: $1,794 per ounce 
  • Rhodium: $12,700 per ounce 
Keep in mind, there’s way less than an ounce of these in any given cat. But when you figure that a skilled thief can steal one in a matter of minutes, trafficking and selling catalytic converters is unfortunately a lucrative business. Low-emission vehicles tend to have higher concentrations of these metals, making their catalytic converters more valuable.

Subaru Impreza catalytic converter replacement cost

It costs between $1,400 and $1,800 to replace a Subaru Impreza catalytic converter. You might be able to reduce your replacement costs a bit by going with an aftermarket cat, but they’re pricey parts no matter what—and you’ll also need to pay for labor costs to have it installed.

How to prevent catalytic converter theft from a Subaru Impreza

There are a few things that you can do to reduce your chances of being a victim of catalytic converter theft:

Park in a secure area

The harder it is for a thief to steal your catalytic converter unseen, the less likely they are to try. Park your Impreza in secure, well-lit areas. If you don’t have a garage at home, installing a motion-activated flood light in your driveway can help to deter thieves. 

Buy a catalytic converter shield or strap

There are a few different catalytic converter anti-theft devices on the market. Investing in one is a good way to protect yours.
Devices like the
CatClamp
or the
Catstrap
can often be installed at home, and they have options that fit most vehicles. These devices secure your catalytic converter to your chassis, making it next to impossible to remove. If you like, there are also alarms you can purchase that go off if someone is bold enough to give it a try. 
If you have
comprehensive insurance
, your insurer might give you a discount for having an anti-theft device on your catalytic converter

Put your VIN on the catalytic converter

If your catalytic converter has your VIN permanently and prominently marked on it, it will be much more difficult to sell and is less likely to be targeted by thieves. Some local law enforcement agencies hold VIN etching events that are open to the public, so check and see if there are any in your area. If not, a muffler shop can get the job done. 

Invest in comprehensive insurance

This one won’t prevent your catalytic converter from being stolen, but it will prevent you from having to foot the entire bill for a replacement if it does happen. With comprehensive insurance, you can submit a claim to have it replaced. While you’ll still have to pay your deductible, it’ll likely cost less than the cost of a new catalytic converter. 
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

What to do if your Subaru Impreza’s catalytic converter is stolen

The first thing you should do is to contact the appropriate law enforcement officials. Depending on where you were parked when the theft occurred, they might be able to access some security camera footage of the thief. Take some pictures of the area and the missing space where your cat converter used to be. 
Most likely, the police won’t be able to do too much. But make sure that they file a police report, because you need the report number when you contact your insurance company. Depending on the amount of your deductible and the cost of a replacement, it may be well worthwhile to file a claim. 
If you don’t have comprehensive coverage, you’re on your own when it comes to getting a new catalytic converter. Be sure to shop around, as costs can range quite a lot between different mechanics. If it’s possible to do so, an aftermarket part is likely to be less expensive than an OEM one. 

Can you drive a Subaru Impreza without a catalytic converter?

But what do you do in the meantime? Can you still drive your Impreza without a catalytic converter? Technically, yes. In general, a car can still run without a catalytic converter.
However,
driving without a catalytic converter
is a bad idea, and it’s definitely not a long-term solution. Your Impreza will be louder and your drive will be rougher than usual, not to mention the fact that you’ll be polluting like nobody’s business. You most definitely won’t be able to pass emissions testing without a catalytic converter! 
On top of that, it might be illegal to drive without one. Some state and local governments mandate that all vehicles have a working catalytic converter, so check the laws in your area before you attempt to drive without one! 
“After signing up with
Jerry
, I went from $199/month to $97/month for my car insurance. My 2019 Subaru Forester now has full coverage for a great price!” —Rhonda H.
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