The Toyota Prius is the clearest recurring target in the available data. A Colorado-area incident analysis covering January 2019 through June 2025 ranked it first, and an older national insurance-claim analysis found that Prius accounted for 21% of claims from 2020–2022. Those findings do not establish a current nationwide ranking or an individual vehicle’s odds of being hit.
Which cars show up most often in catalytic-converter theft data?
The best-supported answer is Toyota Prius, followed by a mix of other models whose rankings depend on the dataset and location. The two sources with model-level findings use different methods and cover different periods, so their figures should not be combined into a single “most stolen” list.
Colorado-area incident records, 2019–2025
The Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA) analyzed records contributed by participating agencies from January 1, 2019, through June 30, 2025. Toyota Prius ranked first in that dataset, followed by Toyota Tundra and Honda Element. The report’s other top-ten models were Honda CR-V, Honda Accord, Ford F-250, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Tacoma, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. This is a Colorado-centered ranking of contributed records, not a national estimate. Read CATPA’s 2025 report.
National insurance claims, 2020–2022
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported 132,570 catalytic-converter theft claims in ISO ClaimSearch for 2020–2022. Toyota, Honda, and Ford vehicles together appeared in 75% of those claims; Toyota Prius alone appeared in 21%. These are historical insurance claims, not a census of every theft or a current model-by-model national ranking. NICB also found that Mitsubishi Outlander Sport had the largest percentage increase in claims between 2020 and 2022, which is a change over that period rather than a claim that it had the most thefts. See NICB’s analysis.
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#1 Best Overall
- 【Direct Replacement】: If your vehicle is often parked in less secure places, the catalytic converter is located in an easily accessible and removable location where a thief can cut the cat from the car in about two minutes, it is recommended to purchase this product to protect the cat from theft. This shield fits securely under the catalytic converter for added safety. This shield meets or exceeds OEM standards and is factory tested, perfectly matched to the original car and ready to install.
- 【High Quality】: Made of reinforced aluminum material, it is corrosion-resistant, impact-resistant, not easy to rust, and has a long service life. Able to bind under your catalytic converter ，capable of effectively covering the area where thieves cut off the car's catalytic converter, the Stainless steel can embed into the cut-off wheel, causing it to eventually explode, or passivate the saw blade quickly and badly, turning the theft away, very deterrent, giving you Long-term stability and excellent performance
- 【Fits For】: Universal fit, but the kit only protects one catalytic converter, and if you need to protect more, you can buy two or three or four packs for more protection.
- 【OE#】: PL9800
- 【Buy With Confidence】: Our catalytic converter shield has a lifetime warranty. If the part fails or breaks, please contact us for replacement. Save hundreds of dollars off of dealer prices by purchasing this part and taking advantage of our warranty.Price concessions and guaranteed, no need to worry about quality problems
Why another list may look different
Carfax’s 2022 analysis used converter replacement service reports from more than 60,000 shops, covering records from 2019 through the first three months of 2022, and produced national and regional lists. The NICB-hosted page describes that methodology but does not reproduce the ranking table, so it cannot support specific model positions here. Regional rankings can differ, and incident reports, insurance claims, and repair records count different things. NICB’s page on the Carfax analysis explains its scope.
Does a high ranking mean your car is likely to be hit?
No. A model’s share or position in a dataset does not tell an owner the personal probability of theft. None of these sources supplies a model-specific risk rate adjusted for how many of that vehicle are on the road, where they are parked, or how long they are left unattended. The newer model ranking is regional, while the national NICB figures are older claims data.
Rank #2
- Designed and manufactured in the USA, made from premium-grade aluminum with stainless steel tamper-proof screws.
- Compatible with the 2014-2019 Toyota Corolla 1.8L with OEM converters. Not compatible with "LE Eco" Trims (Valvematic) or "iM" models.
- Our catalytic shield is completely drill-less and is secured with tamper-proof screws, which allow the shield to be removed when needed but help keep it secure from thieves.
- Required Tools - 10mm socket, 14mm wrench, bit driver, ratchet with extension
- We recommend hiring a professional to install your Cat Shield. Please check specs and vehicle compatibility info prior to purchase and reach out with any questions about fitment. Cat Shield may have surface imperfections.
Parking exposure matters too. In CATPA’s contributed records for January 2019–June 2025, 44.7% of recorded incidents were in parking lots or garages, 23.3% at residences, and 14.8% on streets or alleys. These shares describe locations in that dataset; they are not nationwide rates. CATPA also points to settings where vehicles may be left unattended for extended periods, including commuter transit lots, hotels, and dealerships. CATPA’s report provides the location breakdown.
Why do thieves target some vehicles?
NICB notes that hybrid converters can appeal because of the higher recoverable value of their metals, and says claims tracked rhodium prices during the period it studied. That is context, not a complete explanation for any particular theft: the sources do not establish that vehicle type alone determines whether a converter is targeted. NICB’s report discusses the relationship.
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Rank #3
- OEM Authorized Accessory Product
- Compatible with the 2014-2019 Toyota Corolla 1.8L with OEM converters. Not compatible with "LE Eco" Trims (Valvematic) or "iM" models.
- Our catalytic shield is completely drill-less and is secured with tamper-proof screws, which allow the shield to be removed when needed but help keep it secure from thieves.
- Required Tools - 10mm socket, 14mm wrench, bit driver, ratchet with extension
- We recommend hiring a professional to install your Cat Shield. Please check specs and vehicle compatibility info prior to purchase and reach out with any questions about fitment. Cat Shield may have surface imperfections.
How to reduce the risk
No option below is a guarantee. Treat physical barriers and markings as deterrents or identification aids, and choose measures that suit the vehicle and its parking situation.
- Consider a vehicle-specific converter shield. Confirm compatibility using the exact year, make, model, and engine, and check that a qualified installer can fit it properly. The sources do not establish that shields eliminate theft or quantify how much they reduce it.
- Ask about identification marking. NICB describes VIN etching and bright, high-temperature marking as measures that may deter theft or help identify a stolen converter. Check with local police, an insurer, or a repair shop about availability; marking does not guarantee prevention. NICB’s guidance includes these measures.
- Account for where the car is left. Where practical, choose a well-lit, attended, or secure parking location, especially when the vehicle will be unattended for an extended period. CATPA’s location data shows why parking context is worth considering, but it does not quantify the protection from any specific parking choice.
Keep converter-theft rankings separate from car-theft rankings
Lists of the most stolen whole vehicles answer a different question. NHTSA’s vehicle-theft data comes from FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) records of reported vehicle thefts; it is not a catalytic-converter ranking. NHTSA describes NCIC as receiving vehicle-theft records from approximately 18,000 criminal justice agencies. See NHTSA’s vehicle-theft data page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Prius Catalytic Converter Shield Fits:2010-2015 Prius .
- Catalytic converter protector - provides a strong barrier against catalytic converter theft.
- Utilizes the factory mounting points and adds in security hardware.
- Made from high quality aluminum and exquisiteworkmanship. Corrosion-resistant,No welding required.
- Please contact us for install instruction , Should you have any other question please feel free to contact us .
Rank #4
- 【Direct Replacement】: If your vehicle is often parked in less secure places, the catalytic converter is located in an easily accessible and removable location where a thief can cut the cat from the car in about two minutes, it is recommended to purchase this product to protect the cat from theft. This shield fits securely under the catalytic converter for added safety. This shield meets or exceeds OEM standards and is factory tested, perfectly matched to the original car and ready to install.
- 【High Quality】: Made of reinforced aluminum material, it is corrosion-resistant, impact-resistant, not easy to rust, and has a long service life. Able to bind under your catalytic converter ，capable of effectively covering the area where thieves cut off the car's catalytic converter, the Stainless steel can embed into the cut-off wheel, causing it to eventually explode, or passivate the saw blade quickly and badly, turning the theft away, very deterrent, giving you Long-term stability and excellent performance
- 【Fits For】: Universal fit, but the kit only protects two catalytic converters, if you need to protect more you can buy 3 or 4 packs to provide more protection.
- 【OE#】: PL9800
- 【Buy With Confidence】: Our catalytic converter shield has a lifetime warranty. If the part fails or breaks, please contact us for replacement. Save hundreds of dollars off of dealer prices by purchasing this part and taking advantage of our warranty.Price concessions and guaranteed, no need to worry about quality problems
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
