The most recent data (January 1 to June 30, 2024) shows a second consecutive year of decline in thefts. There were over 3,800 claims the first half of this year, down from the same time last year when State Farm received over 14,800 catalytic converter theft claims.  

Additional claims data from first half of year 2024:

• Over 3,800 claims, totaling approximately $11.2 million paid to customers to repair car and replace the stolen part
• Average claim in first half of 2024 is nearly $2,900

For comparison:

• 2019: 2,500 claims, $4.7M, $1,900 avg claim
• 2020: 10k claims, $20.9M, $2,100 avg claim
• 2021: 32k claims, $73.7M, $2,300 avg claim
• 2022: 45k claims, $115.4M, $2,500 avg claim
• 2023: 21.2K claims, $62.5M, $2,900 avg claim
• 2024: 3,800+ claims, $11.2M, $2,900 avg claim (January 1 to June 30, 2024) 

Top 10 states (first half 2024):

1. California, with over 2,000 claims compared to 5,400 claims in 2023
2. Illinois, with 540 claims compared to nearly 1,300 claims in 2023
3. New York, with nearly 200 claims compared to over 500 claims in 2023
4. Texas, with nearly 140 claims compared to 1,450 claims in 2023
5. Florida, with nearly 115 claims compared to 330 claims in 2023
6. Pennsylvania, with over 85 claims compared to over 480 claims in 2023
7. Ohio, with 77 claims compared to over 420 claims in 2023
8. New Jersey, with over 75 claims compared to 208 claims in 2023
9. Minnesota, with 68 claims compared to 400 claims in 2023
10. Colorado, with 58 claims compared to nearly 670 claims in 2023

As the auto insurance leader in the U.S., State Farm has an interest in helping build safer, stronger and better educated communities. As a reminder, we encourage drivers to continue following these tips to prevent theft:

• Park inside a garage or in well-lit areas.
• Install a sensitive alarm system.
• Have a security camera pointing at your car in its usual parking spot.
• Engrave your VIN on your car’s catalytic converter.
• To protect yourself, speak with your State Farm agent to make sure that your auto insurance policy covers the theft of your entire vehicle or of its parts through comprehensive coverage.
• Safety is paramount. If you encounter a potential theft do not approach or engage a potential thief. Contact authorities immediately.

State Farm's most recent data (January 1 to June 30, 2023) shows a decline in thefts for the first time since 2019. There were around 14,500 claims the first half of this year, down from the same time last year when State Farm received over 23,000 catalytic converter theft claims.  

Additional claims data from first half of year 2023:

• 14,500 claims, totaling approximately $41.7 million paid to customers to repair car and replace the stolen part
• Average claim in first half of 2023 is nearly $2,900

For comparison:

• 2019: 2,500 claims, $4.7M, $1,900 ave claim
• 2020: 10k claims, $20.9M, $2,100 ave claim
• 2021: 32k claims, $73.7M, $2,300 ave claim
• 2022: 45k claims, $115.4M, $2,500 ave claim
• 2023: 14,500 claims, $41.7M, $2,900 ave claim (first half of 2023 only)

Top 10 states (first half 2023):

1.  California with over 5,400 claims and $17.8M paid
2.  Texas with 1,450 claims and $5.1M paid
3.  Illinois with nearly 1,300 claims and a cost of $2.9M paid
4.  Colorado with nearly 670 claims at $2.0M paid
5.  New York with over 500 claims and $1.5M paid
6. Pennsylvania with over 480 claims and $1.1M paid
7.  Georgia with 410 claims and $898K paid
8.  Minnesota with 400 claims and $934K paid
9.  Florida with 330 claims and $896K paid
10.  Washington with 320 claims and $773K paid

As a reminder, State Farm encourages drivers to continue following these tips to prevent theft:

• Park inside a garage or in well-lit areas.
• Install a sensitive alarm system.
• Have a security camera pointing at your car in its usual parking spot.
• Engrave your VIN on your car’s catalytic converter.
• To protect yourself, speak with your State Farm agent to make sure that your auto insurance policy covers the theft of your entire vehicle or of its parts through comprehensive coverage.

According to State Farm claims data, in the 12-month period from the second half of 2020 through the first half of 2021 (from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021), catalytic converters theft grew close to 293 percent nationwide, in terms of number of claims filed, compared to the 12 months prior (comprising the last half of 2019 and the first half of 2020), reaching more than 18,000 instances, compared to the slightly above 4,500 in the earlier period. In terms of payouts, the total paid to customers during the most recent 12-month period is more than $33.7 million. In the previous 12-month period it was slightly below $9 million.

The trend is accelerating: in the last 6 months of 2020, State Farm paid out slightly more than $12 million in claims for catalytic converter theft, but in the first 6 months of 2021, that number has grown to more than $21 million in paid claims.

How big is the problem

The data from the first half of 2021 indicates that the ranking of the top 5 states in catalytic converter theft is led by California – with more than 3 out of 10 claims being filed in the Golden State. Texas is second, with roughly 1 out of 10 of these claims, followed by Minnesota, Washington and Illinois.

Catalytic converter theft is widespread and affects many car makes and models. From a growth perspective, the situation is dire in Texas, where during 2020 there were 445 catalytic converter thefts reported by State Farm customers. For the first half of 2021, that number has ballooned to 1,380, an almost 210 percent increase.

Why the catalytic converter

Many drivers have no idea where this component is on their vehicle. If your automobile is powered by gasoline or diesel, it has at least one catalytic converter under it. A part of the exhaust system required in US vehicles since 1975, it helps reduce the contaminants emitted by the exhaust. Because of the rare metals that are inside catalytic converters – including platinum, palladium or rhodium – this auto part can be worth several hundred to several thousand dollars.. Some thieves go as far as removing these metals to sell them on the black market.

“As we continue to endure the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing a steep increase in the number of auto parts theft around the country, particularly of catalytic converters,” State Farm Vice-President of Operations, P&C Claims Michael T. Keating said. "Customers can rest assured that State Farm agents can provide them with the appropriate coverage to protect their assets. We would also like to remind customers that there is a lot that they can do to reduce the risk of falling prey to this type of crime.”

What you can do about it

The bad news is that catalytic converters can be easy to remove, particularly in tall vehicles like SUVs. Once the part has been extracted, drivers will hear the engine without any muffler, letting them know they have become the latest victim of this crime..

The good news is that, as with many things in life, you have options to protect yourself. First of all, by speaking with your State Farm agent, you can ensure that your auto insurance policy covers the theft of your entire vehicle or any of its parts, through comprehensive coverage.

Among other ways drivers can protect their vehicle is to park inside a garage or in well-lit areas, installing a sensitive alarm system, having a security camera pointing at your car in its usual parking spot, or engraving your VIN on your car’s catalytic converter.

Take precautions to not fall prey to auto parts theft, and leave the rest to State Farm.