The Toyota Prius is the clearest recurring target in the available data: it ranked first in a Colorado-area incident analysis covering January 2019 through June 2025 and accounted for 21% of catalytic-converter theft insurance claims in a separate national analysis of 2020–2022 claims. Those findings do not establish a current national ranking or your vehicle’s personal odds. Local theft patterns and where you park matter too.
Which cars show up most often in catalytic-converter theft data?
The most recent model-level list in the available sources is from the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA). In records contributed by participating agencies from January 1, 2019, through June 30, 2025, the Toyota Prius ranked first, followed by the Toyota Tundra and Honda Element.
CATPA also lists these vehicles among its top ten: Honda CR-V, Honda Accord, Ford F-250, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Tacoma, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The report does not establish a current nationwide order. Its findings describe contributed Colorado-area records, and the agencies did not classify vehicles consistently enough to support broader vehicle-type comparisons. Read CATPA’s analysis.
A separate National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) analysis of insurance claims from 2020 through 2022 also points to the Prius as a prominent target. Of 132,570 catalytic-converter theft claims in ISO ClaimSearch, 21% listed a Toyota Prius. Toyota, Honda, and Ford vehicles together appeared in 75% of claims. These are historical insurance claims, not a count of every theft or a present-day measure of an individual owner’s risk. See NICB’s 2023 report.
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- 【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.
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Why the rankings need careful interpretation
The sources measure different things
NICB’s older national analysis counted insurance claims. Another NICB-hosted page describes a 2022 Carfax analysis based on converter replacement service reports from more than 60,000 shops, covering records from 2019 through the first three months of 2022. Carfax prepared regional as well as national lists, but the accessible NICB page does not reproduce the model ranking table. It therefore supports the point that regional rankings can differ, not a specific model position. Read the NICB-hosted Carfax methodology.
Police or agency incident records, insurance claims, and repair records each reflect a different slice of theft activity. Their rankings can vary by time, location, and collection method. A frequently reported model is not automatically the model with the greatest risk for every owner.
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- 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.
Converter theft is not whole-vehicle theft
Do not use a general vehicle-theft ranking to infer which cars are targeted for converters. NHTSA’s vehicle-theft data draws on reported thefts in the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC), with contributions from approximately 18,000 criminal justice agencies; it measures reported vehicle theft, not catalytic-converter theft. See NHTSA’s vehicle-theft data overview.
Where you park can affect exposure
In CATPA’s contributed records for January 2019 through June 2025, parking lots and garages accounted for 44.7% of recorded locations, residences for 23.3%, and streets or alleys for 14.8%. The report also notes repeated targeting where vehicles sit unattended for longer periods, including commuter transit lots, hotels, and dealerships. These percentages describe CATPA’s records, not all U.S. incidents. See CATPA’s location findings.
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- 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 .
When assessing your own exposure, consider both the vehicle and its routine parking situation: how long it is left unattended, whether the area is monitored or well lit, and whether thefts have been reported locally. The available figures do not provide a model-specific probability for an individual owner.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why hybrids, including the Prius, may attract attention
NICB says hybrid converters can appeal to thieves because of the higher recoverable value of their metals. Its analysis also found that claims tracked rhodium prices during the period studied. That is context for the pattern, not a complete explanation of any particular theft or a guarantee that every hybrid is at elevated risk today. Read NICB’s discussion.
Quick Recap
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- Designed and manufactured in the USA, made from 16 gauge 304 stainless steel with stainless steel tamper-proof screws.
- OEM Authorized Accessory Product, compatible with the 2010-2015 Gen 3 Toyota Prius and 2012-2017 Prius V with OEM converters.
- This is our latest V2 shield, which is completely drill-less and is secured with tamper-proof screws, allowing the shield to be removed when needed but help keep it secure from thieves.Does not need spacers or noise dampeners to prevent noise and vibration.
- Required Tools - 1/4" bit driver, 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm socket
- 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.
Rank #4
- 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.
Ways to deter converter theft
- Consider a vehicle-specific shield. Check compatibility by year, make, model, and engine, and confirm that the part can be installed correctly. Treat a shield as a deterrent, not theft-proof protection; the cited sources do not quantify its effectiveness.
- Ask about identification marking. NICB describes VIN etching and bright, high-temperature marking as deterrence and identification measures. It says, “VIN etching allows law enforcement to track stolen converters and can help deter thefts all together.” Check with local police, your insurer, or a repair shop about available options. NICB’s report.
- Review your parking routine. Where practical, choose a secure, monitored location, particularly when a vehicle will be left for an extended period.
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