Joseph Law

Bumper Content Writer

Alastair Shephard

Content Writer

Catalytic converter theft is a growing problem across the UK, and as 

 increase in popularity (which are a target for cat theft), the problem isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon. 

With nearly 100 thefts per day being reported across the UK, what can you do to protect your catalytic converter from being stolen? Scroll down to learn the top 4 ways to prevent catalytic converter theft. 

, the catalytic converter uses precious metals such as Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium to convert the more harmful emissions into less harmful gases and water vapour. 

What Does A Catalytic Converter Look Like?

From underneath, the catalytic converter looks very similar to any other part of the 

, a slightly larger box than the main pipe, that is usually located underneath the car, just behind the front wheels. 

Whilst the actual converter is a relatively small box (usually around the size of a shoe box) a replacement one usually comes with a section of exhaust, including things like exhaust mounts and other silencer boxes. 

Why Are Catalytic Converters Being Stolen? 

Catalytic converters are stolen for the precious metals, platinum, palladium, and rhodium that are inside them. Even though they are under the car, and welded into the exhaust system, thieves can steal one with nothing more than a car jack and power tool in less than 5 minutes. 

Hybrid vehicles, with their engines turning on and off regularly, use catalytic converters with higher precious metal content than regular vehicles, to keep the harmful 

. This means cars such as Toyota Prius see the worst levels of cat theft. 

How to Prevent Catalytic Converter Theft 

, particularly a hybrid or Japanese brand such as Toyota or Honda, it would be a good idea to take some steps to prevent your catalytic converter from being stolen. 

Catalytic converter thefts happen when parked, so parking strategically is the best way to prevent the theft. 

4. Be Aware and Report Any Suspicious Activity 

Does Insurance Cover A Catalytic Converter Theft? 

 will cover the theft of your catalytic converter. This will usually apply if you have either comprehensive or third-party fire and theft. Be sure to check with your insurer for your specific car and area though. 

How to Claim on Your Insurance For a Stolen Catalytic Converter 

As soon as you find out your catalytic converter has been stolen, you should phone your insurer to make a claim. This ensures there are no delays in getting the coverage to pay for the repair, but you may be entitled to recovery or expenses to get home due to the theft. 

As well as your insurer, also phone the police to report the theft, this will be useful when discussing the insurance claim later on, as you will have a crime reference number to refer to. 

What Happens If Your Catalytic Converter Is Removed? 

If your catalytic converter has been stolen, you’ll need to get the car towed to a garage to have it replaced. The converter forms part of the exhaust system, and without it, the car will be extremely loud, and run poorly and exhaust fumes will enter the cabin whilst driving. 

Does Not Having a Catalytic Converter Damage Your Car? 

Not always, your car will still drive as normal without the catalytic converter, but if any part of the exhaust is hanging down, catching this on the floor or a speed bump could cause major damage. 

It’s also extremely likely you’ll get 

 on the dash, poor performance, and an extremely loud exhaust noise. 

We’d recommend not driving your car if the cat has been stolen unless you’re 100% sure the rest of the exhaust is still secure. 

Some cars have their catalytic converters intentionally removed, e.g. racing cars, but these are not suitable for road use, and the cat is replaced by a piece of pipe, retaining the exhaust's purpose of routing the fumes to the rear of the car. 

How Much Does Replacing A Catalytic Converter Cost? 

If your catalytic converter has been stolen, expect to pay between £600 - £1,200 to have it replaced. 

Not only are the converters themselves expensive due to the exotic materials used inside, but many cars have them built into a larger exhaust section that adds to the cost. 

Labour times to replace a catalytic converter are usually minimal, most cars only require one hour of labour to change, but lead times on replacement parts may be up to a week. 

Other Costs Of Catalytic Converter Theft 

Whilst the new part plus fitting will set you back a hefty chunk of money, there may well be more costs involved. As we’ve discussed, you shouldn’t drive a car that has had its catalytic converter stolen, so you’ll likely need to pay for a recovery truck too. 

Depending on the type of policy you have, claiming for the cost back through your insurance may also affect your no-claims discount, causing your premiums to rise. 

What To Do If Your Catalytic Converter Has Been Stolen 

If you return to your car to find that your catalytic converter has been stolen, follow these steps for the easiest solution: 

Call the non-emergency number to file a report, describing what has happened, when and where the car was parked, and more. This step is not necessarily for the recovery of the stolen converter, but to bolster any insurance claim you may want to make. 

If you or your car is in a dangerous situation, let the operator know during the call. 

 will cover catalytic converter theft, and as such you should ask them to start a claim. Another reason for calling immediately, though, is that you may have breakdown or recovery cover included in your policy. 

This could save you money on recovering the vehicle, and calling to report the theft straight away is always recommended to help the claims process along. 

Depending on the outcome of the insurance and police phone calls, it may now be up to you to get your car somewhere it can be repaired. Whilst on the phone to your insurer, check what garage you should take the car to. 

Arrange for a tow truck or recovery vehicle to collect the car, Google is the best tool to search for local service providers, so make sure to get an estimate of the cost before committing. 

Signs Your Catalytic Converter Has Been Stolen 

If you’re worried your catalytic converter has been stolen and you don’t fancy getting under your car to have a look, there are a few symptoms you can try to spot. 

This is the biggest indicator, your car will now be 

 when the engine is running and will get louder when you rev the engine or drive. This is because the exhaust gases are now no longer passing through the silencers as they should. 

Whilst there isn’t a dedicated light for catalytic converter issues on most cars, the lack of this section of your exhaust is likely to cause an Engine 

 on the dash, as the exhaust sensors will be reporting very different values to normal. 

Have a look under the car, if you can see open-ended pipes hanging down from the underside of the car, that’s where your catalytic converter should be. 

There may also be some damage to the underside of the car, caused by the thieves' power tools, but this won’t be easy to see without jacking the car up. 

If you’re having to foot the bill of your catalytic converter theft on your own, 

 can help. We offer zero-percent interest financing on car repairs, carried out at our many approved 

 has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

How To Stop Your Catalytic Converter Being Stolen

 are extremely popular at the minute, with many people valuing the fuel efficiency of an 

 combined with the range and convenience of an internal combustion engine. 

But as with any car, problems can arise. So what are some of the common problems found in hybrids? We take a look at the top 7 below. 

As one of the defining parts of a hybrid vehicle, 

 is something every owner should be aware of. Over time, the cells can break down and reduce its performance, this happens through excessive usage, heat and general wear and tear. 

Hybrid batteries can be repaired, but the most cost-effective solution is usually to 

 with an off-the-shelf replacement, either new or reconditioned. This can rejuvenate a tired hybrid back to peak efficiency and performance. 

Whilst not a mechanical failure per se, those who have fallen victim to this crime would argue manufacturers of 

 should be doing more to protect the catalytic converter from theft. 

The converters in hybrids are more valuable than traditional 

, as they contain higher amounts of precious metals. This is the reason for certain hybrid cars being targeted. Catalytic converter theft can cost over £1,500 to fix, for more information read our guide to preventing catalytic converter theft. 

Cars are already very complex, with most using two or three 

 to control everything from the engine to the audio system. These systems use a multitude of sensors which can fail and throw up error messages, even if the car functions normally. 

Hybrid powertrains usually add in another one or two control units, one to manage the powertrain, and one to monitor the batteries. Again these use various sensors for temperature, speed and more. 

Any deviation in these sensor readings can cause dire warning messages on the dash, causing any driver to worry and spend time and money getting their car inspected. 

Hybrid cars contain all of the usual components of a 

, in addition to a heavy electric motor and battery. More weight in a car means higher forces and wear and tear on components such as brakes and tyres. 

Some of this problem is negated by manufacturers specifying higher load rating tyres, and utilising regenerative braking to reduce 

 wear, but it is still a consideration to make. 

The aforementioned increase in weight not only affects brake and tyre wear but also vehicle dynamics and handling. Whilst this isn’t a problem 95% of the time, it can have an effect on the stability and safety of a car in an emergency situation. 

The “moose test” is a type of vehicle test popularised by a Swedish car magazine, in which a car is swerved violently from side to side, as if avoiding an animal in the road. Most cars pass this test, but many 

 and in particular hybrid SUVs fail, with the sheer weight of them being the main factor. 

Another consequence of hybrid cars being heavier is more suspension wear, components such as bushes, joints and track rod ends take more load the heavier the car is. This can result in them needing more frequent changes compared to the 

Fuel efficiency is often one of the most touted benefits of a 

, but official MPG figures are quoted as a mix of motorway and city driving. The latter hybrids are quite good at, as they do not waste fuel whilst idling, and the inefficiencies of regular braking are reduced by the use of regenerative braking technology. 

However, on longer journeys, the hybrid battery can quickly become depleted, as less braking equals less regenerative charging, once the hybrid system is not being used, the petrol or diesel engine is then no better than a normal car, with the added weight fuel efficiency can actually be worse than a modern diesel. 

Choose Bumper For Interest-Free Car Repairs 

If your car, hybrid, petrol or diesel, needs work doing, Bumper offers zero-interest car repairs from one of its many approved garages across the UK. To get started, find a 

7 häufige Probleme mit Hybridautos

We take our cars to a garage to get them fixed or at least diagnosed, the last thing anyone wants is for the problem to get worse, or a completely new issue to arise. Unfortunately, that can sometimes happen, be that by 

In this blog, we’ll explore what your best course of action is in this situation, including how to approach the mechanic or garage, and what your legal rights are. 

Depending on the type of both the initial problem, and the new one, there are many reasons why your car feels, 

 or appears worse after a mechanic has done work on it. 

Without any error on the mechanic’s part, repairing one component can worsen or create a problem with another. This is most likely to happen if your car has done 

A great example of this is when working with the 

 on an older or high mileage car, the bolts that are used to hold everything together are subject to near-constant dirt, water, and road salt in the UK. 

So then, when removing a suspension arm bolt to change a 

 or bush, the bolt could snap, resulting in; the cost of a new bolt at best, or a new hub or suspension arm if the broken bolt cannot be removed. 

1. Fixing One Problem Highlighted A Different One 

Mechanical components on cars wear reasonably uniformly, with

 all taking a hit every time you drive, especially with the state of many of the UK’s roads. 

In some cases, changing worn-out parts can highlight other problems that were already there, but were not easily noticed. 

Whilst the first few points we’ve mentioned are physical or mechanical consequences of the complexity of modern cars, it is also possible that the mechanic simply messed up the job. 

Whether it be through pressure to work quickly, or complacency, something as simple as a spring clip being forgotten when changing brakes, can have serious ramifications. 

At the end of the day, mechanics are human, and we can all make mistakes, but this is not to say that they should be ignored or not made-good by the garage or mechanic. 

It is possible that shortly after your car was repaired, something completely unrelated also broke, stranger things have happened, and as we’ve mentioned, replacing parts can put stress on the other worn components in the system. 

Consider the nature and physical location of the problem, if you have just had new 

, and now your engine is refusing to start, there’s probably no correlation. 

If however you notice a lack of braking power, or a strange grinding noise, it’s fair to suspect the garage’s workmanship.

Your Consumer Rights When Having Your Car Repaired 

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the garage has 

“an obligation to use reasonable care and skill when completing any repairs, servicing or investigations on your car”

. What constitutes unreasonable care or skill will depend on the fault and situation in general. 

The law isn’t too specific on what constitutes poor service, but we’d consider the following to be grounds for concern: 

What To Do When A Mechanic Makes Your Car Worse 

Ideally, before the car is sent in for repair, make some notes, pictures or video footage of the nature of the problem. Some garages will offer free checks of 

, suspension etc, which come with a report, this could be useful in diagnosing the issue, even if you take the car elsewhere to be fixed. 

Step 2: Don’t Jump To Accusations or Threats 

The garage or mechanic will be much more likely to help if you’re courteous and cooperative, rather than combative and threatening, even if you’re sure the problem was caused by them. 

Ask them to have another look, as you’ve noticed something new with the car, offering some ideas and information about when the noise or feeling is worse can help the mechanic diagnose the new problem. 

If the garage doesn’t want to help, or cannot find the cause of the problem, it might be time to get a second opinion. This is vital as not only does it get another set of eyes looking at the problem, but it may help to have another professional opinion on record if you need to take further action. 

To do this, seek out a well-reviewed garage, a specialist for your particular make of car would be even better, and ask if they can look over your car, you may have to pay a small fee for this. Some garages offer free

If you have communicated the problem with the original garage and received a professional second opinion, but the mechanic still refuses to accept liability, it might be time to start seeking professional advice. 

There are a few bodies that aim to resolve disputes with car repairs, check if the garage is a member of any of the following: 

If so, contacting them should be your next step, many offer a conciliation service whereby they will take information from both parties (you and the garage) and come to an agreement. 

How To Avoid Dodgy Mechanics In The Future 

Almost all mechanics and garages do not set out to rip off or defraud customers, and many will go out of their way to help if something unexpected happens such as what we've discussed here, they have a reputation to uphold after all. 

To find these garages and avoid getting caught out again, we’d recommend the following: 

To Find an Approved Garage And Split Payments, Use Bumper 

 offers zero-percent financing on car repair payments, which can majorly help with big bills. We also have 

 all over the UK, so you know your vehicle is in good hands. 

What To Do If A Mechanic Made Your Car Worse

¿Y si el mecánico no arregla mi coche?

Was tun, wenn die Werkstatt mein Auto nicht repariert?

Main dealer service centres often get a bad name for being expensive, but does the brand connection make them more trustworthy and professional when repairing your car? We take a look at the pros and cons of using a dealership garage for servicing. 

Dealership or Main Dealer garages are those in connection with a manufacturers car dealership, most dealerships also have a repair garage for servicing, sale preparation and major works. 

Most dealers are run by third party franchises, such as Synter Group, who are authorised dealers and repairers of 

 and many other marques. They are supported by the manufacturer with access to genuine parts and workshop/repair guides. 

The alternative to dealer garages are independents, these cater to any car brand and do not usually have an affiliation with a manufacturer. 

Yes! Dealer mechanics and service centres know everything there is about your model of car, they don’t have to guess or figure out repair procedures, and genuine parts are easily sourced internally. 

Benefits of Servicing Your Car at the Dealership 

Manufacturers don’t want their reputation tarnished by bad workmanship or poor customer experience, so the standards of service received from dealer service centres is usually good. 

Because the service centres are so closely linked to the manufacturers, genuine parts are the only thing that will be fitted to your car. This is to both ensure the work can be warranted, as well as maintaining the genuine parts supply chain for the manufacturer. Either way, it means your car is getting the best parts it can. 

Training and Expertise from The Manufacturer 

Regardless of where the vehicle was originally made, the main dealer mechanics will have access to all the information and training they need to repair them properly. 

Manufacturers create internal guides and workshop manuals that explain the best possible way for a part to be replaced, coming from the engineers that designed it. This saves time and makes sure nothing is missed or repaired improperly. 

, which for some manufacturers is now up to ten years subject to regular servicing with the main dealer, then you’ll want to make sure independent repairs do not invalidate it. 

Many manufacturers will not honour warranties at all if non-dealer mechanics have been used to replace or service the car. 

Modern cars have more computers than ever before, and manufacturers are keen to prevent un-informed or even ill-intentioned mechanics from fiddling with the software that makes them work. Dealer garages will always have the latest, most up to date software to interface with your car. 

Drawbacks to Using a Dealership Mechanic 

Because of the higher levels of training, tools and equipment and in some cases manufacturer fees, dealer garages tend to charge more per hour. This can range from £30 to £90 more per hour than independent garages. 

Whilst it’s generally a good thing that genuine parts are used, as they tend to be of a higher quality, there are some instances where reputable brands make equally as good parts at a fraction of the cost. 

Regardless of these parts’ claimed longevity or quality, main dealer garages will only fit genuine parts, driving the cost of the repair up higher. 

Dealer garages will sell cars every week that need 

 for the next 6-10 years, they also handle any recalls that may crop up. This means a steady stream of work for the mechanics, but it makes it harder to book in your car for repairs. 

In some instances you could be looking at have to book your car a few weeks in advance to get it looked at. 

Should You Use The Main Dealer Garage Or Independent? 

As you can see, there are positives and negatives to using main dealer garages, the main factors being quality vs cost. 

If your car is still in its warranty period, it makes sense to get it repaired at the dealer, having a potential warranty claim in the future declined because you went to a cheaper garage may end up being a false economy. 

On the other hand, if you drive a vehicle over 10 years old, not only will it be out of warranty, but there will be plenty of information out there to help most garages fix the problem, as Information trickles down over the years. 

Specialist independent garages, those that mainly work on one or a few specific brands, may be able to offer a service just as well informed and high quality as the main dealer, at a fraction of the cost. 

If you’re unsure of what garage to take your car to one of

 Bumper’s approved partners all over the UK

 including both independent and dealer garages, what's more you can split the cost of car repairs with interest-free monthly payments.

has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Can You Trust A Dealership Garage For Servicing?

Taking your car to a mechanic always requires a certain amount of trust, both in that they know how to repair your car safely, and that they aren’t going to overcharge or rip you off in the process. 

Most scams in this regard follow a similar pattern or premise, so short of training as a mechanic yourself, the best way to avoid some common scams is to learn about how they work. In this blog, we discuss 17 different car repair scams and how to avoid them. 

1. The garage quoting one price, but charging another

If you aren't sure how much something should cost, it's perfectly fine to ask a garage to provide a quotation before starting any work, but make sure you get this in writing, including parts and labour. 

It is important to note that some car repairs take an unexpected amount of time to complete, for instance, if something else is broken that wasn't visible before disassembly, but a good garage should always confirm this with you before incurring more labour fees. 

2. Charging for parts that haven't been replaced 

This is as simple as it sounds, some very unscrupulous garages may try to con you by charging for work and parts that have not been replaced. To combat this, before the work is approved, ask the garage to keep the old, worn-out parts so you can see them. 

3. Incorrectly claiming you need new brakes 

Brakes are one of the most common parts to get replaced when they don’t need to be. This is because on most cars it is not easy to check the wear without disassembly (unlike tyres) and the thought of having faulty or worn-out brakes is not easy to ignore. 

If you’ve had your brakes done recently - most cars can go at least 25,000 miles between brake pad changes - ask to be shown the part in question, whilst your car is still on the ramp. 

Garages add a markup to parts to cover the cost of sourcing them, but in some cases, these can be disproportionately high. If the price you; 've been charged sounds high, look up comparable prices online for these parts. A reasonable markup would be 10-25%. 

It is important to note that some parts from local motor factories or main dealers will often be more expensive but of higher quality than those found on popular online marketplaces, so be sure to compare like-for-like on brand quality. 

Suspension components such as ball joints and CV joints have rubber boots fitted to prevent dirt from getting in. These being intact is an MOT requirement and as such some unscrupulous garages have been known to “find” a split or tear in the boot whilst inspecting, requiring a replacement. 

Regular air expands and contracts with temperature, meaning the pressure in your tyres will increase as they get warm, and decrease when cold. Nitrogen is sometimes used in racing cars as it expands and contracts less than air. 

Some garages will offer to fill your tyres with Nitrogen, at a much higher price. The fact of the matter is that you don't need nitrogen in your tyres, even when driving a sports or supercar on the road. 

Sometimes new problems crop up whilst the job is being done. Advise the service centre that you want to sign off on any new work that’s needed. Stating the opposite could give some garages the opportunity to charge more than the going rate. 

Your car contains many different fluids, including coolant, brake fluid, engine oil and transmission fluid. Not all of these need flushing at every service, often just replacing and refreshing is sufficient. 

Some manufacturers don’t require flushing some systems at all, so be sure to double-check your manual before being up-sold.

9. Problems found on a free inspection or check-up

A common way for garages to drum up new business is to offer free check-ups of your suspension, brakes or the whole car. Whilst most are legitimate and necessary, it would be easy for the mechanic to flag up work that isn't yet necessary. 

 on what can and can't be repaired when it comes to punctures. Give these regulations a quick browse before taking your tyre to be repaired, as some garages will claim a repairable tyre isn’t, just to get the sale of a new one. 

Air con systems use a compressed gas to work, over time this can leak from the system and need topping up. Some manufacturers recommend doing this every 2 years, but in reality, a new can will be fine for longer than this.

Before agreeing to a regas - especially if it’s added on to other work - check the prices of local specialists who will often pressure check the system free of charge. 

When doing a service or interim service, various fluids will be drained and replaced, such as engine oil, coolant or brake fluid. As with many products, fluid can range from cheap to extremely expensive.

The cost of parts can be researched online and via car parts vendors, but the labour time required to complete a job is much more difficult to know. Some mechanics may add time to a job that wasn’t spent, meaning you pay more for no extra work. 

To mitigate this, ask for a quote before starting work, and get a comparable estimate, including a labour time estimate from a different, ideally specialist garage. 

14. Telling you your car is dangerous and should not be driven

In some cases, this may well be true, but adding pressure to the situation is a common tactic for unscrupulous mechanics to get you to agree to expensive repairs without getting a second opinion, especially as most of us need our cars to get to work. 

Get your car regularly checked and serviced to help with this, a mechanic may well notice problems before they become desperate, giving you time to consider your options and shop around.

15. Taking the car apart before demanding more money

Another high-pressure tactic is when a mechanic tells you they need to fit another expensive component, and they need you to agree right away, as the car is in pieces in their workshop. Whilst this may well be the case, you still have the right to consider your options.

Ask ahead of time if there are any expensive faults that may crop up during a certain job, to get a feel for how trustworthy the mechanic is. 

Wheel alignment or tracking is a vital element to vehicle maintenance but is an easy upsell for a mechanic to charge more than the market rate. Your tracking is done with the car completely assembled, so it won’t usually be cheaper to “have it done whilst you’re here”. 

Advice

How To Stop Your Catalytic Converter Being Stolen

Top 7 Problems With Hybrid Cars

What To Do If A Mechanic Made Your Car Worse

Can You Trust A Dealership Garage For Servicing?

17 Common Car Repair Scams and Rip-Offs To Watch Out For

Vehicle Health Checks Explained

Is Breakdown Cover Worth It?

Are Car Subscriptions Worth It?