How Much Is My
Catalytic Converter Worth?
How much is a scrap catalytic converter worth?
A scrap catalytic converter is priced on the platinum, palladium and rhodium recoverable from its core — not on a fixed rate. Buyers quote against the serial number stamped on the shell and the day's metals market, so two units that look identical can be worth several times each other. Get a current quote against your serial number; any national figure published in advance is an estimate at best.
Priced on platinum, palladium & rhodium
Serial number sets the value
Priced per serial number
Sell legally, ID required
Scrapping the Whole Car?
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Quick answer: what your catalytic converter is worth
The short version, before the details:
- ✓Value tracks the precious metal the manufacturer loaded into the core. Hybrid and high-grade foreign units generally carry the most; diesel and aftermarket units carry the least.
- ✓The value comes from three precious metals — platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Rhodium has at times traded for more than ten times the price of gold, which is why one fist-sized part is worth real money.
- ✓Aftermarket and low-grade converters are worth far less than factory units, because they contain only a small amount of precious metal — often a fraction of what an OEM unit holds.
- ✓Prices change daily with the metals market. The same converter can be quoted noticeably higher or lower a few months apart without anything about the part changing, which is why a quote has a short shelf life.
- ✓Sell only converters you legally own, to a licensed buyer, with photo ID. Catalytic converter theft is a felony in many states, and recyclers are now required to verify ownership.
Why a catalytic converter is worth money
A catalytic converter cleans exhaust gases by passing them over a ceramic honeycomb coated with precious metals. A typical converter holds only about 3 to 7 grams of platinum-group metals — a few grams of dust, essentially — but those metals are among the most valuable on earth, which is what gives a used converter its scrap value.
Platinum
Oxidizes carbon monoxide and unburned fuel. Common in older and diesel converters. Historically trades near the price of gold.
Palladium
The workhorse metal in most modern gasoline converters. Demand from automakers has pushed it above the price of gold for long stretches.
Rhodium
Reduces nitrogen-oxide emissions. The rarest of the three — it has spiked above $20,000 an ounce, far beyond gold, and is the single biggest driver of a converter's value.
Because the price is set by metal content, two converters that look identical can be worth wildly different amounts. A unit packed with rhodium-rich coating from a hybrid or a European car can be worth ten times a base-model domestic converter of the same size.
Which converters are worth more, and why
Relative value, not dollar figures. The ordering is driven by how much precious metal the manufacturer loaded into the core, which is stable even as prices move.
| Converter / vehicle type | Relative value | Examples & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Highest | Toyota Prius and other hybrids run cooler, so converters keep more metal — among the most valuable and most stolen. |
| Exotic / high-flow / large diesel | Highest | Large trucks, performance, and some European units can top the range. |
| High-grade foreign / European | Above average | Many German and premium imports carry richer coatings. |
| Standard foreign (gasoline) | Mid | Many Toyota, Honda, Nissan sedans — solid palladium and rhodium loading. |
| Standard domestic (gasoline) | Mid | Typical Ford, GM, Chrysler cars and trucks — moderate metal content. |
| Diesel oxidation cat / DPF | Low | Diesels use a different catalyst chemistry with less rhodium; value comes more from platinum. |
| Aftermarket / low-grade | Lowest | Replacement converters and pre-cats hold very little precious metal. |
Estimates only. Catalytic converter scrap prices track daily platinum, palladium, and rhodium markets and vary by buyer, region, and the converter's exact serial number. Always get a current quote before selling.
What determines your converter's value
Six things decide where your converter lands between the bottom and the top of the market.
The serial number
The stamped code identifies the exact unit and its precious-metal loading. Buyers price from a database keyed to that number — a missing or ground-off serial almost always lowers the offer.
OEM vs. aftermarket
Factory (OEM) converters carry far more platinum, palladium, and rhodium than aftermarket replacements. An aftermarket unit may be worth a tenth of the original.
Foreign vs. domestic
Foreign converters — especially European and Japanese — generally carry richer coatings than domestic units, which is why they quote higher.
Intact vs. cut or hollow
A converter with its honeycomb intact is worth full value. A unit that's been hollowed out, gutted, or had its substrate crushed is worth scrap steel only.
Hybrid or conventional
Hybrid converters operate at lower temperatures, so less metal burns off over the car's life. They retain more value — and are targeted most by thieves.
The day's metal prices
Platinum, palladium, and rhodium trade like stocks. When rhodium spikes, converter quotes jump; when it falls, they drop. Timing the market is real here.
How to find out what your converter is worth
Find the serial number or part code
Look for a stamped code on the heat shield or body of the converter. That number identifies the exact unit and the metal loading buyers price from.
Get a current quote
Enter the serial into a reputable converter price database, or send a clear photo to a licensed core buyer. Quotes move with daily platinum, palladium, and rhodium prices.
Compare two or three buyers
Offers vary widely. Check at least a couple of licensed recyclers and confirm whether the quote covers the full converter or only the de-canned material inside.
Sell legally, with ID
Sell only to a licensed buyer, bring a government-issued photo ID, and keep your receipt. Most states require recyclers to record the seller and the converter's origin.
⚠️ Sell catalytic converters legally — this matters
Catalytic converter theft became a national problem, and the laws changed in response. In many states it is now a felony to possess or sell a detached converter you can't prove you own, and licensed recyclers are required to record your photo ID, the converter's origin, and pay by traceable method rather than cash.
Only sell a converter that came off a vehicle you own or are legally dismantling. If you're scrapping the whole car, the cleanest path is to sell the vehicle intact to a licensed yard — the converter's value is built into the offer, and the paperwork protects you from any future liability.
Scrapping the whole car? Don't sell the converter separately.
When you sell your junk car to a licensed yard, the converter's value is already in the offer — with none of the legal risk of selling a detached cat. Get a cash quote in minutes.
Get My Cash Offer →Catalytic converter terms, explained
A few terms come up constantly when you price or sell a converter. Here's what each one means in plain English.
- PGM (platinum-group metals)
- The three precious metals that do the work inside a converter and set its value: platinum, palladium, and rhodium. A converter's worth is essentially the market value of the few grams of PGMs it contains.
- OEM converter
- The original converter installed by the manufacturer. OEM units carry the highest precious-metal loading and command the highest scrap prices.
- Aftermarket converter
- A replacement converter made by a third party. These contain far less precious metal than OEM units and are worth only a fraction as scrap.
- Serial / part number
- The stamped code on the converter that identifies the exact unit. Buyers use it to look up the metal loading and quote a price.
- Substrate (honeycomb)
- The ceramic honeycomb inside the converter that's coated with the precious metals. If it's intact, the converter holds full value; if it's broken or missing, it's worth scrap metal only.
- De-can / de-canning
- Cutting the converter open to remove the metal-bearing substrate. Licensed processors de-can in bulk; for an individual seller it usually pays better — and is far safer legally — to sell the whole unit.
Catalytic Converter Value — FAQ
Q: How much is a scrap catalytic converter worth?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one has not seen your converter. Value is set by the platinum, palladium and rhodium recoverable from the core, identified by the serial number stamped on the shell, priced against that day's metals market. A hybrid or high-grade foreign unit can be worth many times an aftermarket one. Photograph the serial number and get two quotes — that is the only number that means anything.
Q: Which cars have the most valuable catalytic converters?
Hybrids like the Toyota Prius, many European and premium imports, and large trucks tend to have the most valuable converters because they carry richer precious-metal coatings. Standard domestic economy cars are usually at the lower end.
Q: Why is rhodium so important to the value?
Rhodium is the rarest of the three precious metals in a converter and has at times traded above $20,000 an ounce — many times the price of gold. Even a fraction of a gram meaningfully raises a converter's scrap value, so rhodium-rich units are worth the most.
Q: Can I sell my catalytic converter myself?
Yes, if it came off a vehicle you legally own. Sell to a licensed buyer, bring a photo ID, and keep the receipt. Many states now require recyclers to record the seller and the converter's origin and to pay by traceable method to combat theft.
Q: Is it worth removing the converter before scrapping my car?
Usually not. When you sell a junk car to a licensed yard, the converter's value is already built into the offer, and you avoid the legal risk and hassle of selling a detached cat. Removing it yourself rarely nets more once you account for time and lower individual quotes.
Q: How do I find out what my specific converter is worth?
Find the stamped serial number on the converter, then look it up in a reputable price database or send a clear photo to a licensed core buyer for a current quote. Compare two or three buyers, since offers vary with the daily metals market.
Who buys catalytic converters
We list 1,171 scrap and recycling operations across 757 cities in 43 states that buy converters over the counter. They are the realistic buyer for most sellers — dedicated converter specialists exist but are rare, and we list only 4 of them nationally.
Three routes, and what each costs you
Local scrap or recycling yard
Fastest and simplest: drive in, get a number, take cash the same day. Expect to be paid on the yard's own grading rather than a published serial-number price, which is the trade-off for the convenience.
Catalytic converter specialist
Buyers who deal only in converters generally price by serial number and pay more for a high-loading unit than a general scrap yard will. There are far fewer of them, so this usually means shipping rather than driving.
Core buyer or online program
National programs quote from photos and the serial number, then pay on receipt. Best prices on paper, slowest to settle, and you carry the shipping risk.
Before you sell
- →Photograph the serial number stamped on the shell — every serious quote starts there, and it is the only way two offers can be compared like for like.
- →Get at least two quotes. On a converter with real loading the spread between a general yard and a specialist is often larger than the cost of shipping.
- →Bring ID and proof the converter is yours. Most states now require the seller to be recorded, and reputable buyers will refuse an anonymous sale — converter theft law tightened across the US and a buyer who does not ask is a buyer to avoid.
Cities with the most converter buyers
Where our directory is deepest. Each links to every yard we list in that city.
About this page
Buyer counts come from the 1,171 scrap metal dealers and recycling centers in our directory, across 757 cities in 43 states. We are a directory, not a buyer: we do not quote, purchase or ship converters, and we publish no price list because we have no price feed and prices move daily. Confirm current rates with the buyer before selling.