# Catalytic converters and junk cars > The catalytic converter is one of the most valuable parts of a junk car because it contains platinum, palladium and rhodium, so a car with its original converter usually gets a better offer than one without. Don't cut it off to sell separately: states such as Texas and California restrict who can buy a used converter and require the seller to prove ownership of the car it came from, so selling the car whole with the converter attached is usually simpler and safer. Reviewed 2026-10-12 by the Junk Cars Nation editorial team. Canonical: https://junkcarsnation.com/guides/catalytic-converter-and-junk-cars/ Leave the converter on the car and make sure buyers know it's there. It's part of what they're paying for, and in states such as Texas and California, selling it separately is a regulated, paperwork-heavy transaction. ## Why the converter matters for your car's value A catalytic converter contains small amounts of precious metals: rhodium, palladium and platinum. NICB has pointed to the rising market value of these metals as one reason converters became a target for thieves.[^1] That same value is why a junk car with its original converter is generally worth more to a buyer than one without. How much it adds depends on: - **The converter itself.** Different vehicles use different converters with different metal content. - **Metal prices.** They change, so the converter's value changes too. - **Whether it's original.** Tell the buyer if you know yours was replaced, so the quote matches what's actually on the car. There's no single number to plan around. Give buyers your exact year, make, model and engine (a [VIN decoder](/vin-decoder/) helps), and ask them to quote the car with the converter attached. See [how junkyards price cars](/guides/how-junkyards-price-cars/). ## Why thieves want converters, and what that means for you NICB reported in January 2023 that catalytic converter thefts increased 1,215% between 2019 and 2022, and that thieves often get between $50 and $250 per converter from recycling facilities.[^1] A junk car sitting in a driveway or lot can be an easy target, which is one more reason not to wait long once you've decided to sell. If yours is stolen, NICB advises calling law enforcement and your insurer right away.[^1] Then update your description to buyers, because the quote was probably based on a complete car. ## Why you shouldn't remove it yourself to sell separately It's tempting to think you'll earn more by selling the converter and the car separately. In practice: 1. **The car is worth less without it.** The buyer's offer drops to reflect the missing converter, which eats into whatever you get for it on its own. 2. **Removing it is real work.** It means working under a raised car with cutting tools, which carries a risk of injury. 3. **Selling it alone is regulated.** Texas and California, for example, limit who can buy a used converter and what the seller has to prove. If you can't meet those rules, licensed buyers can't take it. 4. **It can look like theft.** A loose converter without matching paperwork is exactly what these laws were written to stop. If you still want to part out the car, read [selling a car for parts or whole](/guides/sell-car-for-parts-or-whole/) first. ## How state laws treat used converter sales: two examples Rules vary a lot, so check [your state's junk car laws](/junk-car-laws/). Two large states show the direction: ### Texas A person selling a catalytic converter to a metal recycler must provide the **year, make, model and VIN** of the vehicle it was removed from and **a copy of the title or other proof of ownership** of that vehicle. The recycler may not buy the converter otherwise, and must check that the converter matches the manufacturer's specifications for that vehicle.[^2] Recyclers must also mark each converter they buy with a unique number[^2] and hold it for five days, excluding weekends and holidays, before processing or selling it.[^2] In Texas, knowingly buying a stolen converter is a state jail felony for a first offense.[^2] See [Texas junk car laws](/junk-car-laws/texas/). ### California Under a law California enacted in 2022, no one may buy a used catalytic converter except from licensed dismantlers, certain core recyclers, licensed dealers, licensed repair shops, other licensed businesses that reasonably handle converters, or **an individual with documentation**, such as a title or registration, showing they're the legal or registered owner of the vehicle it came from. The VIN on that document must match a VIN **permanently marked on the converter**.[^3] A violation is an infraction with a $1,000 fine for a first offense, rising to $2,000 and then $4,000 for repeat offenses.[^3] See [California junk car laws](/junk-car-laws/california/). California's rule applies to converters that have been detached from a vehicle.[^3] Selling the converter still attached to the car, along with the title, is usually the simpler route in either state. ## What to do before you sell - **Check that it's still there.** Look under the car, or ask a mechanic. If it's gone, say so when you ask for quotes. - **Tell buyers if it's aftermarket** or if the exhaust has been modified. - **Have the title ready.** It ties the car, and the converter on it, to you. See [how to sign over a car title](/guides/how-to-sign-over-a-car-title/). - **Don't let it sit.** The longer a junk car waits outside, the longer it's exposed to theft. - **Watch for price cuts at pickup** "because of the converter." If you described it accurately, the price shouldn't change. See [junk car scams](/guides/junk-car-scams/). ## If you're keeping the car a while NICB suggests having a muffler shop etch your VIN on the converter and spray it with a highly visible high-heat paint, which helps law enforcement track stolen converters.[^1] It's mainly worth doing for a car you'll keep. For a car you're junking, selling sooner is the better protection. When you're ready, you can [get an offer for your car](/cash-for-junk-cars/) with the converter in place. [^1]: National Insurance Crime Bureau, "As Catalytic Converter Thefts Continue To Increase Nationwide, NICB Partners With Local Businesses To Help Protect Consumers", January 27, 2023, https://www.nicb.org/news/news-releases/catalytic-converter-thefts-continue-increase-nationwide-nicb-partners-local-0 [^2]: Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1956 (§§ 1956.0321, 1956.037, 1956.040), https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.1956.htm [^3]: California Vehicle Code § 10852.5 (added by SB 1087, Chapter 514, Statutes of 2022), https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH§ionNum=10852.5 ## Questions people ask **How much is the catalytic converter on my junk car worth?** It depends on the converter's make and model, how much precious metal it contains and current metal prices, so there's no single figure. Ask buyers to quote your car with the converter in place, and tell them if it's missing or aftermarket. **Can I legally sell my own catalytic converter for scrap?** Often yes, but with conditions that vary by state. In Texas the seller must give the recycler the vehicle's year, make, model and VIN and a copy of the title or other proof of ownership. In California an individual needs title or registration showing a VIN that matches the VIN marked on the converter. **My catalytic converter was stolen. Can I still junk the car?** Yes. Report the theft to police and your insurer first, as NICB advises, then tell buyers the converter is missing so the quote is accurate. Expect a lower offer than for a complete car. **Should I etch my VIN on the converter before selling?** It's a theft deterrent for a car you're keeping. NICB recommends it. For a car you're about to junk, selling it soon with the converter attached matters more.