Car theft is a huge issue — and when a criminal strikes, they often take the parts you need to drive home. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts have shot up in recent years. We’ve got you covered if you want to keep your car safe. Tap or click here for six ways to keep your car safe from thieves. Sometimes, you might not even know something is wrong with your vehicle since everything seems to be working fine. You notice just one strange thing: your check engine light is mysteriously on.

Here’s what that means

CarMD releases a Check Engine Light Report every year, which covers millions of vehicle repairs over the past 12 months. Its latest report revealed some of the most common causes of randomly lit-up check engine lights. As you can tell from the chart below, catalytic converter issues were the No. 1 cause of check engine lights randomly turning on. You’ll also notice that the average repair for a catalytic converter is $1,355.78. If you want to save yourself money down the line, it’s good to have a solid plan for the future. One good way to set yourself up for success is by signing up for a service like our sponsor, CarShield. Have you ever heard of it? CarShield is an auto protection company that can save you thousands on covered repairs. It’s already saved Kim $3,200. Use CarShield’s customizable and flexible payment plans, which don’t come with long-term contracts, to save yourself money when your car needs repairs. Here’s an important caveat. CarShield doesn’t cover theft. However, it does cover a host of check engine issues.

Next time you see your check engine light, remember this

Although a lit check engine light could be due to issues with catalytic converters, that doesn’t necessarily mean a criminal tried to steal yours. It could be due to a few different issues. After all, cars are pretty complicated. Especially modern vehicles, which are like computers on wheels. Since cars are complex, they need special care. Taking precautions can do you a world of good down the line. That’s why Kim recommends CarShield. It’s so easy. Just pick your favorite mechanic and let CarShield’s administrators take care of the rest. Think of it as your personal team of auto-repair problem solvers.  Plans from CarShield include roadside assistance, rental coverage and trip reimbursement. Best of all, none of these features come with additional charges. It has monthly coverage options to fit your budget, whether your car has 10,000 miles or 100,000 miles.  Get coverage today and see why CarShield cars go further. You can save even more with my special link. Go to CarShield.com/Kim to save 10%!