Looking up catalytic converter scrap value by serial number
How to find your converter's serial number, look up scrap value in ConverterDatabase or EcoCat, and understand why payouts vary by metal content.
A catalytic converter’s scrap value usually sits between $50 and $1,500 depending on the metal loading. To get an accurate quote, find the serial number stamped or printed on the converter shell, then look it up in either the ConverterDatabase app or the EcoCat app. Both apps tie the serial to known platinum, palladium, and rhodium content, then multiply by current metal market prices.
If there’s no readable serial, EcoCat lets you take a photo of the converter and uses image matching against its database. Photos are less accurate than a real serial, but better than the buyer’s eyeballed guess.
What scrap value actually depends on
The converter shell metal is worth a few dollars. The value comes from the precious metal coating on the ceramic substrate inside. Typical loading:
| Metal | Content | 2026 price per gram | Value range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum | 3 to 7 g | ~$32 | $96 to $224 |
| Palladium | 2 to 7 g | ~$35 | $70 to $245 |
| Rhodium | 1 to 2 g | ~$389 | $389 to $778 |
Total raw metal value runs $550 to $1,250 for an average gasoline converter. Diesel converters skew toward platinum, so they’re lower on rhodium and lower in total value. Scrap dealers pay 50% to 70% of the raw value to cover refining cost, assay risk and their margin.
A 2008 Toyota Tundra converter typically sells to a yard for $400 to $700. A 2015 Honda Fit goes for $120 to $200. A 2021 RAM 2500 6.4L Hemi can hit $1,500 to $2,500 because of the size and metal loading.
Where the serial number lives by brand
| Brand | Where to look | Format |
|---|---|---|
| GM (Chevy, GMC, Cadillac) | Stamped plate on converter body | 8-digit code, often “GM” + digits |
| Ford | Stamped on converter shell | 10 to 12 alphanumeric, hyphens, like 5L8T-5G232-AA |
| Chrysler / Dodge / Ram | Edge of converter shell | Single letter and number or short alphanumeric |
| Toyota / Lexus | Top of converter near oxygen sensor boss | 5 to 6 character code |
| Honda / Acura | Side of converter shell | 4-letter prefix + digits |
| Subaru | Body of converter | 5 characters, 4 letters + 1 digit |
| BMW / Mercedes | Plate riveted to converter | Long alphanumeric with manufacturer prefix |
Aftermarket replacements (Magnaflow, Walker, AP Exhaust, Eastern) use the manufacturer’s own coding, usually a part number that the lookup apps recognize.
Looking it up
ConverterDatabase.com is the industry-standard tool for scrap yards. Free to view limited info, paid subscription ($20 to $50/month) for full pricing data. Most yards already have a subscription, and they’ll quote you using it.
EcoCat is the mobile-friendly app. Photo-recognition mode helps when no serial is visible. It uses current metal market prices and updates daily.
Both tools tell you:
- Estimated grams of platinum, palladium, and rhodium
- Current market metal value of the converter
- A scrap pricing band (typically 60% to 80% of metal value)
Don’t expect to get the top of the range. A reputable yard pays maybe 60% to 70%. A drive-up scrap dealer pays less and won’t tell you why.
When the serial is missing or unreadable
Heat, salt, dirt and rust kill stamped numbers. Try:
- Spray the shell with brake cleaner and wipe. Often there’s a serial under the grime.
- Use a flashlight at a low angle. Stamps that don’t read straight-on often pop in raking light.
- Photograph the converter from multiple angles and use EcoCat’s photo search.
- Check both ends. Some manufacturers stamp the inlet flange, not the body.
If absolutely nothing, the buyer guesses based on shape, year, and vehicle. Lower price.
What kills scrap value
- Gutted converter. Someone hammered or cut the inside out. Buyers won’t pay more than $10 to $30 because they can’t verify content.
- Heavy impact damage or shell cracking. Substrate can fall out during transport.
- Universal aftermarket converters. These have minimal metal loading and scrap for $30 to $80.
- Diesel particulate filter (DPF) instead of a converter. DPFs have some platinum but much less than gasoline cats. Scrap is $50 to $200 for most.
Selling tips
- Go to two or three buyers and compare quotes. Spread can be $200+ on the same converter.
- Bring the converter out of the car. Buyers won’t quote sight-unseen.
- Have ID. Most states (California, New York, Texas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania) require ID and a record of sale under post-2023 anti-theft laws.
- Sell within a week of removal. Metal prices move.
- Don’t accept cash-only deals from buyers without a license. Several states ban cash payments for catalytic converters to reduce theft fencing.
Catalytic converter theft and serial tracking
Federal legislation (the PART Act, signed 2024) requires VIN stamping on converters for new vehicles. State laws (California AB 1740, Minnesota HF 30, New York S5800 and others) now require scrap dealers to log seller ID, payment method, and converter serials. Sketchy buyers will skip this. Reputable ones do it by default.
If your converter was stolen and you’re trying to recover it, file a police report immediately and provide the serial if you have it. Recovery rates are low but improving since serial logging became mandatory.
The takeaway
Look up the serial in ConverterDatabase or EcoCat for an accurate scrap quote. Most legitimate yards pay 60% to 70% of current metal value. Diesel and small-car converters scrap lower, big trucks and luxury vehicles scrap higher. If the serial is missing, photo recognition is the next best thing.
Sources: