My cat converter on my 2008 prius was stolen this weekend. Insurance is with GEICO. They say they will cover it because I have comprehensive coverage but they need to have an adjuster do an estimate. This can be an expensive repair (>$3K maybe) so does anyone know if GEICO could possibly total the car given the age and mileage (~149,000 mi)? Prices of cars are up given supply chain issues and GEICO says that will work in my favor. Couldn't find a single car (same model, year, similar mileage) for under $6K online today.
In your region you don't have to replace with OEM so it will be less expensive than $3K. Alternatively you can buy one of these aftermarket cats for $139 and an 02 sensor as well and it only takes an hour or two to install and you don't have to bother your insurance company and it will cost less than $200.
You are entitled to receive the value of your loss, if you choose to accept less, that is your prerogative. Absent some other problems with the car, the replacement cost of a cat is not going to reach the market value of your car in today’s pricing environment. Geico would love to total out your car, take the car to salvage and pay you some bogus amount or for you to put a cheap replacement cat on your car which would make it unsalable in some states. Get them to honor your coverage and put on a new OEM cat then decide if you want to remove it and sell it to swap out for a cheap one. Chances are thieves will steal the cheap one too though.
Or if you can cash the check and then just buy an aftermarket you wouldnt have to bother with selling or swapping the oem cat. you would be able to save a decent amount for the next repair or whatever
I would definitely go the OEM route if possible, as anything else will decrease the resale value of the vehicle. Interesting point I ran into somewhere on here: if would be thieves see an aftermarket catalytic convertor, they may just leave it alone as aftermarket cats do not have as much precious material. But what are the chances these thieves really know what they are looking at besides, "PRIUS, UGH, LIFT UGH, TUBE THINGY THERE, CUT, UGH"... At least that is how I see a theft going down (all thieves are talk like cavemen - lol)
It will last longer than most others without setting a P0420. The hundred dollar ones are junk more often than not and people get check engine lights
