Selling Your Catalytic Converter for the Most Money (2024)

Are you looking to sell your catalytic converter but don’t know where to start? The team at the iScrap App is here to help. Suppose you have a used, broken, or scrap catalytic converter. In that case, you should know they’ve recently become a highly demanded recyclable asset, not for the reason you’d think.

Catalytic converters are crucial to the functioning of your car, as they “convert toxins into less harmful byproducts,” so it’s essential to have one that works. Without a good cat, you risk inhaling harmful vapors and your vehicle emitting them. Many folks don’t expect that catalytic converters aren’t on the market for their original function – there’s a vast market of buyers who will pay a lot for your cat due to its scrap metal value! With new emission laws going into place, the demand is increasing. They contain platinum, palladium, rhodium, ceramic/metal foil, and sometimes even metal shields made of steel.

The most common problem folks run into is that recycling catalytic converters for scrap metal is a relatively new practice for many scrap yards and gearheads, so it’s common for buyers and sellers of scrap catalytic converters to undervalue the part. You could sell to local auto shops, but you risk getting a low value for your catalytic converter if you use this option because auto shops are usually focused on profit for functional parts.

On the other hand, it’s a great option to sell to a scrap yard, where the employees aren’t as concerned with the functioning of the auto parts you bring in and will often pay you a more reasonable price than auto shops because they see the value of the materials they can pull from catalytic converters. In short, scrap yards are your best bet for selling your catalytic converter because they will focus on the value of the metals in your cat, not your cat as an auto part.

Things to Know Before Selling Your Catalytic Converter

When it comes to selling catalytic converters, there are a few things you need to know about the parts themselves and the market for them. The most important thing to know is that some buyers are unreliable and may underestimate your catalytic converter’s value. Often, this occurs because the person buying your catalytic converter is either new to the industry and doesn’t know the value of the precious metals they can find in cats or because they’re ripping you off in an assumption that you don’t see what you’re doing.

Getting a low quote for a catalytic converter is shared among inexperienced scrap yard workers and mechanics who tend to focus on the value of the part, not necessarily the metal. Read on for a few tips on preparing to sell your catalytic converter and how to make the most money doing it!

Know Your Stuff About Catalytic Converters

If you’re going to sell your catalytic converter, it’s essential to know the year, make, and model of the vehicle it came from. This information will help you get a more accurate quote and provide your scrap yard buyer with the information they need to give you a fair price. Don’t tell them what year, make, or model it is until they tell you – this will help you determine if they “know their stuff.” You should also know the serial number of your catalytic converter, making identifying the part much simpler for everyone. Some steel wool can help you uncover the numbers if it’s hard to see.

What is an Aftermarket or Original Catalytic Converter?

When you’re making money on catalytic converters, you should know that you’re more likely to get a higher payout for catalytic converters that were put into the vehicle when it was manufactured. You can usually tell if a catalytic converter was put on aftermarket if there is a “shiny silver shield wrapped around” it, which often has an arrow that serves to show the mechanic “which way the airflow is going through the exhaust system” so that they can install it correctly.

Suggested Reading: Aftermarket or OEM Catalytic Converter?

Don’t Take The Honeycomb Out of Your Catalytic Converter

For amateur scrappers, removing the mesh “honeycomb” screen inside the catalytic converter is often their first instinct. Don’t make this mistake – that’s where most precious metals can be found! This screen can also help the scrap yard identify the kind of vehicle your cat came from if that information isn’t readily available.

How To Cut The Exhaust Pipes Off Catalytic Converter

When you’re getting ready to sell your catalytic converter to a scrap yard, you can make it easier for them to see what they’re dealing with by cutting off the exhaust pipes that stick out either end of the part. They will cut these pipes off regardless, so taking on the job yourself can make you more money by taking that labor off their plate. This also helps them better assess the part and yield a more accurate quote!

When selling catalytic converters, consider the information above and carefully choose a buyer. You might think that the buyer chooses you, but the reality is that some folks will undervalue your catalytic converter when you could be making more money on it. Call several auto parts shops and scrap yards and compare estimates! If someone “lowballs you,” it’s probably because they don’t know the actual value of the part.

Best Practices for Selling Your Catalytic Converter

When it comes to selling catalytic converters, there’s a lot to know and a lot to do, as is evident by the length of this article! While you could visit many scrap yards in your area to collect and compare quotes, you can save time and energy and get a reliable price for your catalytic converter using RRCats.com.

Send them a photo of your catalytic converter from overhead and any serial numbers you’ve found. Send your photos to the Team at RRCats.com and get a quote within one business day! If you agree with the selection and want to sell it to their Team, you can ship your catalytic converter straight to them.

Overall, the essential part of selling catalytic converters is investing time and energy in finding a reliable buyer who won’t undervalue the claims you bring. Be wary of anyone who gives you the sense they’re an amateur, and compare quotes with multiple scrap yards before making a decision. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on making money on catalytic converters. Happy selling!

Other Valuable Resources

• 4 Ways To Prepare Your Catalytic Converters for Scrap
• Metal Monday: Catalytic Converters
• Looking Inside a Catalytic Converter
• How Scrap Catalytic Converter Prices Are Determined
• Why Are Catalytic Converter Prices So High?