Honda Accords are one of the most targeted vehicles for catalytic converter theft in the United States. Protecting your Accord from catalytic converter theft is fairly simple to do, but you need to act now because Honda Accord owners are experiencing catalytic converter theft more than any other time before.
According to RepairPal.com, The average cost for a Honda Accord catalytic converter replacement is between $2273 and $2326. To make matters worse, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) catalytic converter parts are hard to find due to the catalytic converter parts shortage which I explain in more detail here.
In fact, it was my daughter losing her Accord’s catalytic converter due to theft, that was one of the inspirations for this site.
Why is the Honda Accord popular with catalytic converter thieves?
The Honda Accord is one of the most popular vehicles on the road. And, like most Honda vehicle models the Accord is a popular target. Thieves can easily slide under the car in seconds and cut the catalytic converter out. Experienced catalytic converter thieves can cut one out in as little as 30 seconds with a battery-powered saw.
Another reason the Honda Accord is a popular target for catalytic converter thieves is that Honda is well known for using higher amounts of precious metals, such as Platinum, Rhodium, and Palladium in their catalytic converters, especially in their hybrid models.
Due to the higher concentration of precious metals, thieves can get more money during resale than other car models.
Catalytic converter theft prevention tips to protect your Honda Accord
The best thing you can do to protect your Accord’s catalytic converter is to keep your car in a safe location when not in use. Following the steps below will help you prevent catalytic converter theft and best protect your Honda Accord from catalytic converter theft.
Park in a secure garage or lot if possible
If possible, park in an enclosed garage or secure parking lot. While it may not always be possible, it is the best way to prevent catalytic converter theft.
Most thefts occur in quiet streets or large parking lots like those found at shopping malls or large parking lots. Large lots make attractive targets because thieves can hit several vehicles at once. Each catalytic converter can bring them $100-200 when resold to scrapyards.
Install catalytic converter theft shields
The next best way to deter catalytic converter thieves is to install a catalytic converter shield, sometimes known as a catalytic converter lock or catalytic converter cover.
While it stinks that your Honda Accord is high on the list of vehicles most targeted by catalytic converter theft, the good news is the Accord has custom-fit catalytic converter shields you can buy to protect your car.
Because they are a custom fit for your Honda, they are easy to install and most can be installed in an hour or two.
And, consider yourself lucky. Most vehicle models do not have cat shields available to install, but thanks to MillerCAT, they are available for your car.
While custom catalytic converter covers cost a few hundred dollars, they are your best chance at protecting your vehicle while at work or running errands. This is because catalytic converter shields are extremely difficult to cut through and drastically increase the work it takes for thieves to steal your catalytic converter.
While it is not guaranteed that a thief won’t take your converter, most will see your shield and pass on your car for an easier target. This makes you much less likely to become a victim and greatly reduces the chance of frustration and high replacement cost to replace your catalytic converters.
Etch and paint your catalytic converters
If purchasing a catalytic converter shield or cage is not an option due to cost, your next best bet is to consider etching and painting your catalytic converter with your VIN number. Just be sure to use high-temperature paint if you paint your catalytic converter. This makes it harder for thieves to resell it for cash so many will move on to other vehicles.
If at home and can’t park inside a garage, you could also consider a wireless camera system with built-in WI-FI, cloud recording, and motion detection.
A great wireless camera system can be installed in minutes and we have found it to not only be a great deterrent, but many systems come with a phone app and give early notification if someone is messing with your car so you can call the police.
Wrap up
While these anti-theft solutions can’t guarantee that your Honda Accord’s catalytic won’t be stolen, they will drastically reduce the chances. Most thieves will simply walk away and target vehicles that are less protected.
