A catalytic converter replacement is non inexpensive. It costs betwixt £150 and £800 on boilerplate in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. For some loftier-terminate vehicles, it can even cost over £1000!

All the same, it is very important and you lot shouldn't ignore the demand for one. Your catalytic converter (or 'cat' for short) reduces frazzle emissions. This, in turn, helps to reduce the upshot of urban pollution. Did yous know that this contributed to effectually one.8 million excess deaths worldwide in 2022, according to a new study? But imagine how many more people would die without the apply of catalytic converters...

Past the end of this article, you will sympathize:

  • Why your catalytic converter costs as much as it does
  • What a 'cat' does
  • What it looks like
  • Why every car needs a catalytic converter
  • When to book a replacement
  • And much more

Summary

A catalytic converter can cost between £150 and £800 for the average UK driver. This is because it contains Platinum, Rhodium or Palladium (three rare precious metals). This value also makes it a lucrative target for thieves who sometimes steal catalytic converters in broad daylight!

These thefts are bad in many means, especially for the environment. A catalytic converter reduces your frazzle emissions, CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in item. This helps to make your car as environmentally friendly equally possible. If you look under the back of your car and you tin can't see your 'cat', you encounter a warning lite or you detect whatever of the many warning signs of failure, you lot must book a replacement as before long as possible. Fortunately, your 'cat' should final between 70,000 and 100,000 miles, depending on your driving style and other external factors. This means yous may never have to deal with a repair in your driving life.

How Much Does a Catalytic Converter Cost?

The average UK catalytic converter replacement cost is betwixt £150 and £800. It can fifty-fifty price over £1,000 for some high-end vehicles! The cost of a catalytic converter may seem expensive, but an inefficient role can toll a lot more.

As with many car repairs, the cost does depend on what type of vehicle yous drive. The average replacement cost for three types of vehicle are as follows:

City cars & Hatchbacks - £150 - £250

Saloons & Estate Cars - £300 -£400

Sports & Deluxe Cars - £500+

You can browse replacement parts on Eurocarparts to get an idea of the current prices for your vehicle.

Why Does a Catalytic Converter Cost So Much?

Catalytic converters are not cheap to build. They use Platinum, Palladium or Rhodium as a goad. These precious metals are hard to find and toll between £28 and £570 per gram! And, as these prices constantly fluctuate, information technology's hard to predict how much a catalytic converter will cost. When you cistron labour in as well, it can be very difficult to keep your catalytic converter cost under control.

However, the best way to do only that is by comparing deals through BookMyGarage. If yous're looking for a quote for your catalytic converter replacement, don't accept any offer until you've done so. We'll assist you lot find the all-time deal in your area.

Enter your reg and postcode to request a transparent, no-obligation price for a new catalytic converter from a garage nearly you. Compare garages based on their ratings and reviews and labour prices to notice the one that all-time suits your needs. You deal with the garage directly and you never pay a penny until afterward they've completed all the work.

Join over 5 million UK drivers who accept compared garages on BookMyGarage to book the best bargain on their automobile maintenance. Click below to enter your reg and postcode and asking a price for a new catalytic converter now.

A new catalytic converter may exist expensive, simply you must take a working i at all times. It is vital for making your car as environmentally friendly as possible.

What Does a Catalytic Converter Practise?

The catalytic converter speeds up the removal of harmful exhaust gases. It does this by splitting their molecules up before they can leave the exhaust. Information technology converts CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) and NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) into Oxygen and water vapour. These are much cleaner emissions, which are much safer to release into the atmosphere.

CO2 contains carbon and oxygen and NOx contains nitrogen and oxygen. These molecules are bonded together through chemical reactions during the combustion procedure. Each of these elements is less harmful on its own, and so modern exhaust systems are designed to release them into the atmosphere separately.

Does My Car Need a Catalytic Converter?

Aye, your car needs a catalytic converter. Every automobile registered in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland must have one fitted by law. Information technology has been standard for petrol vehicles since 1992, and 2001 for diesel vehicles.

Petrol and diesel engines combust differently, so there are different types of catalytic converters.

'2-Style Oxidation' - The starting time versions had a simple purpose. They turned Carbon Monoxide into CO2, and Hydrocarbons (particles of unburned fuel) into CO2 and water.

'Three-Style-Oxidation' - This type of catalytic converter is fitted to modernistic cars. It has the same purpose as 'Two-Way Oxidation' but reduces your NOx emissions as well. These include Nitric Oxide (NO) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2. These are ii of the well-nigh harmful exhaust emissions.

'Diesel Oxidation Catalyst' - These units are fitted to diesel vehicles. Diesel cars naturally produce more pollution than petrol cars. Without any intervention, this would choke the planet. To gainsay rising pollution levels, automobile companies invented several other exhaust treatments which include Diesel fuel Particulate Filters and AdBlue.

Mod catalytic converters are more than efficient than the original models. This means that our cars release less CO2 into the environment now than e'er earlier - even if they tin't reduce it to 0%.

What Does a Catalytic Converter Wait Like?

A catalytic converter looks like a large metal box with ii pipes coming out of information technology. This is bolted to the exhaust assembly underneath the back of your car (as beneath).

zoomed in image of a catalytic converter on the underside of a vehicle

This is what a catalytic converter looks like inside.

internal labelled view of catalytic converter, showing how it works to reduce exhaust emissions

If you can't run across your 'cat', y'all should get your motorcar towed to a local garage immediately. You've likely been the victim of a catalytic converter theft. These are an e'er-growing problem in the UK.

Why Are Catalytic Converter Thefts So Common?

'Cat' thefts are increasingly common in the UK because the catalyst materials have a very high value. Also every bit this, the function is an easy target. Thieves don't need to be delicate when stealing a 'cat'. They can apace cut the entire frazzle manifold abroad from the automobile and disassemble information technology afterwards. This means many thefts happen in wide daylight!

If you doubtable y'all've been the victim of a catalytic converter theft, don't drive the car. Get a second stance from your recovery provider or a local mechanic and so contact the police to written report the crime. Y'all volition too need to source a replacement catalytic converter.

Fortunately, if you can provide a valid crime number to your insurance company, they should cover the cost of the replacement for you lot.

When Do I Demand to Book a Catalytic Converter Replacement?

If in that location is a problem with your 'cat', you need to get information technology sorted correct away. Fortunately, it gives you enough of warning if there is a trouble. The nigh mutual of which would be seeing either of these warning lights.

Engine warning light and catalytic converter warning light
Your catalytic converter alarm light is on the left, and your engine direction light is on the right.

If either warning light comes on, y'all should book an inspection at a garage near you. Y'all should always take a warning low-cal seriously, but it's even more important if you come across the exhaust warning light. It could lead to an MOT failure and a very expensive repair beak if you don't get the problem stock-still. Nearly 1.3 million drivers failed an MOT due to backlog frazzle emissions in 2022 - don't permit information technology exist you in 2022.

Even if you don't nevertheless see the alert lite, any of these symptoms could mean your catalytic converter has a problem.

  • Your engine runs rough
  • Increased fuel consumption
  • Increased emissions
  • Excessive white smoke
  • Blue fume
  • Slower acceleration
  • The engine does non advance past a sure RPM (normally idle speed)
  • Your engine cuts out (due to additional backpressure)
  • There is a rattling dissonance from the frazzle

By catching the problem early on, you tin preserve your catalytic converter and increment your chances of passing the MOT emissions examination. It may also aid to keep the price of your replacement down.

How Long Does a Catalytic Converter Final?

A catalytic converter should last between 70,000 and 100,000 miles.

However, like most car parts, the lifespan of your 'cat' is affected past your driving habits. Lots of terminate-start or short journeys can wear information technology out quicker. This is because they don't bring the auto up to the proper running temperature.

How Long Does it Take to Supplant a Catalytic Converter?

A catalytic converter replacement takes virtually 1-ii hours on average. It's fairly piece of cake to access so the mechanic doesn't take to disassemble your automobile to remove the erstwhile one. This saves yous a lot of fourth dimension!

You can get a price for your catalytic converter replacement by entering your reg and postcode into our online booking tool and comparing garages most you.