The Most Expensive Car Parts Thieves Are Most Likely To Steal

It's a nightmare scenario: you walk out to your car, turn on the ignition, and the vehicle will not start. Is it the engine? The transmission? Or is a vital part of your car missing — having been stolen by thieves? While there are some cars that are more likely to be stolen outright, others have components that criminals are able to detach, steal, and sell far easier.

Unfortunately, thieves have largely figured out that they can make more money by taking certain parts of a car and selling them rather than stealing an entire vehicle. According to LowRates.ca, some of the most expensive car parts that thieves are prone to steal include catalytic converters, batteries, and even tailgates, to name a few. These car components can fetch up to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars when sold to black market buyers who know how to flip them for quick cash.

For the modern day car thief, the catalytic converter is the top prize, with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reporting that 64,000 catalytic converter thefts occurred across America in 2022. Catalytic converters caught the attention of thieves during the COVID-19 pandemic, as supply chains for precious metals, including rhodium, platinum, and pallidum got backed up, thereby increasing their value due to low supply. A gram of Rhodium can sell for about $177 to $191, and palladium averages about $32 per gram with the typical catalytic converter made up of 1 to 2 grams of rhodium, 3-7 grams of platinum, and 2-7 grams of palladium, based on 2025 calculations by Edmunds.

Additionally, car batteries are also increasingly targeted by thieves -– particularly in hybrid models –- with the prime target being second-generation 2004-2009 Toyota Priuses, according to Edmunds. Plus, per Car Bibles, each year the United States economy loses $1 billion to car battery theft, mainly because they are one of the easiest parts of a vehicle to steal. Another car part that is frequently stolen by thieves is the tailgate. According to Fuel Arc, thousands of Toyota Tacoma tailgates have being stolen across the country, with many being sold on sites like Facebook Marketplace for anywhere from $400 to $600.

Once you have figured out that a part of your vehicle has been stolen, you need to plan for next steps. This should involve calling your insurance company. Depending on your policy, deductibles, and the circumstances of the crime, you might be able to file a claim if you have comprehensive coverage, though exact details will vary from company to company.

State Farm recommends that, in the case of catalytic converter theft, the vehicle owner should first file a report with local authorities, then reach out to their insurance company and start the process of fixing the car by having it towed to a local mechanic.

While it is important to always be on the lookout for ways to save on your car insurance, there is no one size fits all policy. As tempting as it might be to save money on ever-rising car insurance rates by selecting lesser coverage, this could end up costing you more in the long run. Take stock of what vehicle you have, where it is typically stored when you are not driving it, and consider what the best protection plan is so that, if car part theft happens, you have the right insurance to get you back on the road.