The Cat Clamp Keeps Your Fleet Safe from Catalytic Converter Theft
Catalytic converter theft is a growing problem in the US, especially for owners of entire fleets of vehicles.
A parking lot packed with a fleet of cars, trucks or vans can be a prime target for catalytic converter thieves, and even high-tech security systems aren’t enough to deter them.
If your company falls victim to this type of theft, you have to deal with extended downtime and costly repairs.
So how do you protect an entire fleet of vehicles from catalytic converter theft? The cat clamp!
First, it’s important to talk about why you need that protection in the first place.
How Susceptible is Your Fleet to Catalytic Converter Theft?
Catalytic converter thieves often target specific types of vehicles, and their favorites are SUVs, trucks and vans because they tend to have larger engines, hence a larger and more valuable catalytic converter.
Also, these vehicles are typically higher off the ground, making the converter much easier to access and faster to steal. And if your fleet is parked all together in the same area, you’re just asking for it, even with basic security measures in place.
Catalytic converter thieves are getting more brazen, even in broad daylight!
Replacing catalytic converters in a fleet of vehicles can costs tens of thousands – theft prevention is worth every penny!
What is the Cost To Replace Catalytic Converters?
Replacing an entire fleet’s worth of catalytic converters can be a considerable expense, even when you only factor in the replacement parts and labor.
But when you add the cost of lost time and revenue while the vehicles are out of commission while they are in the shop, that number grows exponentially every day part of your fleet is out of service.
The costs of replacing a catalytic converter varies depending on the vehicle’s make, year, and model. But, a replacement generally ranges between $1,000 to $2,000 per vehicle, and even more if the thieves also severed the oxygen sensor or a pipe.
While that cost isn’t cheap, the hardest part is that the replacement converters can be hard to get quickly, as rates of theft are on the rise across the US.
Is catalytic converter replacement covered by insurance?
Fortunately for fleet owners comprehensive vehicle insurance will usually cover the cost.
The catalytic converter will count toward the comprehensive deductible because it is a permanent fixture on the car. After a thorough vehicle inspection, the insurance company will determine the full extent of the damage and likely pay or reimburse you accordingly.
However, theft or vandalism are not covered under a liability-only policy. So, as a business owner, having great insurance could save you thousands out of pocket. Be sure to check with your agent to see if your fleet’s policy covers catalytic converter theft and replacement.
Having your bases covered for this is extra important right now, as catalytic converter theft has nearly tripled in Chicago in 2022!
What Is The Typical Downtime After Catalytic Converter Theft?
While it may take only a few hours for a mechanic to replace the actual parts, supply chain distributions over the past couple of years, coupled with a huge increase in thefts mean it could take a while to get your vehicles back up and running.
Your best bet is to protect a vehicle fleet from theft in the first place! And while there are options for painting them to deter thieves or etching special markings so that police can more easily identify a stolen converter, when your fleet’s safety is at stake, you need next-level protection.
Enter the cat clamp.
How Does the Cat Clamp Protect Your Fleet From Catalytic Converter Theft?
The best way to prevent catalytic converter theft is to have cat clamps installed in every vehicle in your fleet!
The cat clamp is a simple device that completely surrounds your catalytic converter to prevent it from being removed, even with power tools. It’s made of heavy-duty metal and is designed to withstand attempts to cut or break off catalytic converters from any type of vehicle.
Since it attaches to the actual catalytic converter, there’s virtually no way for thieves to steal it without damaging the converter itself, making it worthless for the valuable metals it contains.
The cat clamp is available to protect nearly every car, truck, SUV or van on the market today!
Call Milito’s for Cat Clamp Installation in Chicago!
At Milito’s Auto Repair, we professionally install cat clamps on all types of vehicles, so you no longer have to worry about it.
Contact Milito’s today to learn about your options and protect one vehicle, or an entire fleet for substantially less cost than replacing stolen catalytic converters!
Header photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
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