How to Prevent Toyota Highlander Catalytic Converter Theft
If you’re concerned your Toyota Highlander may be a target for catalytic converter theft, use these tips to keep your car safe.
Written by Mary Alice Morris
Reviewed by Pat Roache
Like other pickup trucks and SUVs, the Toyota Highlander is unfortunately a target for catalytic converter theft for a couple of reasons. First, the Highlander has a moderately high ground clearance, which makes it easy for thieves to shimmy under. Second, the Highlander has two and sometimes three catalytic converters.
Getting the right
car insurance
can help if your catalytic converter has been stolen. But the best course of action is to be proactive and work to prevent this type of car theft
altogether. This guide will cover the Highlander’s vulnerabilities to catalytic converter theft and will show you steps to take to prevent it.Is it easy to steal the catalytic converter from a Toyota Highlander?
While the Toyota Highlander doesn’t top the list of frequent targets, its catalytic converter is moderately accessible making it a more likely target for catalytic converter theft than many smaller models. That’s because of the
Toyota Highlander’s high ground clearance
and the fact that it has two or three catalytic converters, depending on the model and year. If you’re unaware, catalytic converters are made with valuable metals and materials that make them desirable on the resale market. Thieves target vehicles that are easy to get under or those with more than one catalytic converter.
Top Toyota Highlander years that catalytic converter thieves target
The least likely targets for catalytic converter theft are actually from the Highlander’s first generation, model years 2001-2007. Those models had a lower ground clearance than later generations, making them less practical targets for thieves. Also, the
Highlander Hybrid
wasn’t introduced until the 2006 model year. Hybrids are a bigger target because their catalytic converters have all the same precious metals and materials in them as other cars but in higher quantities. The higher concentration of these costly materials helps the hybrid keep emissions lower and assists with the frequent shutting off and turning on of the gas engine components.
That’s why later generations are more likely targets—there are more Highlander Hybrids among them, and they all have a higher ground clearance than the first generation.
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Why are Toyota Highlander catalytic converters stolen?
Catalytic converters are valuable to your vehicle because they filter emissions and help protect your car’s exhaust system. They’re valuable to thieves for another reason: the precious metals used to make them. To get an idea of how valuable these materials are, here’s what they cost as of December 2022 per ounce:
- Platinum: $1,031 per ounce
- Palladium: $1,854 per ounce
- Rhodium: $12,700 per ounce
It’s the resale value of these materials, plus how easy catalytic converters sometimes are to steal, that put vehicles at risk.
Toyota catalytic converter replacement cost
Besides making your car produce more emissions, making it louder, and potentially damaging your exhaust system, there’s another major consequence of having your catalytic converter stolen: the cost to replace it.
Getting a new catalytic converter installed on your Toyota Highlander can cost between $1,433 and $1,514.
How to prevent catalytic converter theft from a Toyota Highlander
Even if you drive a car that’s more susceptible to catalytic converter theft, there are a few things you can do to help protect your vehicle—and your pocketbook.
Park in a secure area
The best way to protect your car from theft and vandalism is by making it inaccessible. If you have a garage, park inside it. If that’s not possible, park in a space with good lighting and, if possible, video surveillance.
If you park in a driveway on your own property, consider installing motion-sensor lights. These can alert you when there’s movement near your car, and they also might scare off a potential thief.
Buy an anti-theft device
There are many catalytic converter shield options on the market today, including those made by
MILLERCAT
and Cat Security™
. These are easy to install, but they make accessing and removing a catalytic converter way more difficult. They’re a great deterrent to theft.There is also a new line of catalytic converter alarm systems, including one manufactured by
FastGuard Alarms
. These are also simple to install and can be set off by someone tampering with your catalytic converter or by remote control. Don't get ripped off!
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Put your VIN on the catalytic converter
You can take your car in to get the catalytic converter etched at your local muffler shop, or check with your local law enforcement officers to see if they plan to hold an etching event any time soon. Sometimes, this service is offered with cooperation from the
National Insurance Crime Bureau
. By etching your VIN number onto your catalytic converter, you’re making the device much less susceptible to theft. That’s because a catalytic converter that’s obviously been stolen isn’t as easy to sell, even for scrap.
If you’re not able to get your cat etched, you can get a can of high-temperature automotive exhaust spray paint. It’s fairly cheap, and you can use it to tag your catalytic converter, making it less desirable.
Invest in comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance
will not stop someone from stealing your catalytic converter. But if your car is the target of theft, comprehensive coverage will save you from a lot of expense, not to mention the headaches. With comprehensive coverage, you can
file a car insurance claim
which will help cover the cost of replacing your catalytic converter. That means you won’t have to pay for it out-of-pocket, and you won’t have to stress over your budget to get the repair done. What to do if your Toyota Highlander’s catalytic converter is stolen
If someone steals your Toyota Highlander catalytic converter, you should notify law enforcement right away. There is a chance that, with the assistance of local surveillance footage or witnesses, they could identify the thieves.
However, even if the police do find the guilty party—and that’s a big if—it doesn’t mean you’ll get your catalytic converter back, let alone the money to pay for the labor to reinstall it. But making a police report can help you recuperate the cost through your insurance coverage.
If you plan to file a claim with your comprehensive insurance to replace your catalytic converter, providing a police report will help make the process smoother and easier for everyone. Once the claim is filed, along with supporting documentation from a police report, your insurance company will get to work on getting your car fixed.
They’ll help you schedule the repair with a technician, and they’ll cover the cost of parts and labor. You’ll have to pay a
comprehensive deductible
, and the amount depends on the details of your insurance policy, but it will be much less than the outright cost of a catalytic converter replacement. If you don’t have comprehensive coverage, you’ll be stuck paying out of pocket. That means you’ll want to shop around for the best service costs and see if your mechanic can get aftermarket parts, which will cost less than original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.
Can you drive a Toyota Highlander without a catalytic converter?
Technically, you can continue driving your Toyota Highlander even if the catalytic converters are stolen. But you won’t be able to drive it for long if you can’t pass emissions testing in a state that requires them.
Further, driving long-term without a catalytic converter will make your vehicle loud and could even damage your vehicle’s exhaust system!
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