--- title: "Buying a Catalytic Converter Shield for Your Toyota Is a No-Brainer Now" description: "Catalytic converter theft is at an all-time high, so Toyota is selling a shield for the 2023 Prius to protect it." date: "2022-12-20" modified: "2022-12-20" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/buying-a-catalytic-converter-shield-for-your-toyota-is-a-no-brainer-now" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Toyota News" --- # Buying a Catalytic Converter Shield for Your Toyota Is a No-Brainer Now ![]() *\Toyota\* Catalytic converter theft has gotten out of hand as [countless people lose theirs]() to sneaky Sawzall-wielding thieves in the middle of the night. [Toyota]() wants to keep your cats safe, though, especially on its models that fall victim to theft most often. This is why you can now order catalytic converter shields from Toyota, for the [2023 Prius]() and [Tacoma](), and have them installed at the dealership. Toyota's Cat Shield is sourced from MillerCat and is made from 5052-grade aluminum, so it won't rust. It also has plenty of vent cutouts to keep the cat from getting too hot. The Toyota Prius is among the cars whose catalytic converters are most stolen. Thieves love Prius cats because they're more valuable. Catalytic converters work by using precious metals, such as platinum and palladium, to help clean up a car's emissions. But they need to be hot to function properly. Since the Prius is a hybrid, and the engine isn't always running, its catalytic converter needs more precious metals to make up for lost heat. The more precious metals, the bigger the dollar signs in thieves' eyes. ![]() For the 2023 Toyota Prius, the catalytic converter shield option costs $140, though that's without the dealer installation. For the Toyota Tacoma, the shield alone costs $430. So if you want one, you'll have to pay a dealer to install it at whatever its hourly rate is. If you don't want to go through a dealership, or if you have a different car, you can get cat shields through online retailers like [*Carparts.com*](). Whether you get a shield through Toyota or a different third party, they're usually installed with security fasteners, so they can't simply be unbolted by would-be thieves. And since they're made from thick aluminum, they're hard to cut through, which would increase the theft time and the perp's chances of getting caught. So as simple as they are, catalytic converter shields are effective ways of keeping your car safe. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()