Catalytic Converter Theft
Updated: Dec 27, 2021
WHAT THE HECK CALIFORNIA?!
Video: What a Hybrid sounds like before and after catalytic converter theft.
Let's start with a bit of information about WHY catalytic converters are such a hot-ticket item at the moment. California is one of four states that require C.A.R.B.-compliant catalytic converters. C.A.R.B. = California Air Resources Board. Table below from https://www.walkerexhaust.com/
STATE | VEHICLES AFFECTED | DATE STARTED |
CALIFORNIA | ALL MODEL YEARS | January 1st, 2009 |
NEW YORK | 1993, 1994, 1996 MODEL YEARS AND NEWER VEHICLES | June 1st, 2013 |
MAINE | 2001 MODEL YEARS AND NEWER VEHICLES | June 1st, 2018 |
COLORADO | ALL MODEL YEARS | January 1st, 2021 |

Catalytic converters are designed to take the nasty exhaust fumes that our engines generate (nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide) and react to create not-so-harmful: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water.
This reaction is done with a honeycomb-like structure that is coated with rare metals including rhodium, palladium, and platinum. Photo from https://www.instituteofmaking.org.uk/
The price of previous metals in the last 5 years has skyrocketed. Prices below are recorded in USD, per ounce, on the New York Stock Exchange.
DECEMBER 2016 | DECEMBER 2021 |
Gold: $1,128 Rhodium: $14,100 Platinum: $902 Palladium: $653 | Gold: $1,809 Rhodium: $12,950 Platinum: $971 Palladium: $1,886 |
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