How Much Is My Catalytic Converter Worth?
RecycleFind publishes a free catalytic converter scrap value calculator. Estimate what your cat is worth based on vehicle and grade, using current 2026 scrap prices. Most used converters bring $90 to $550, and hybrid units can top $1,000.
Estimate your converter's scrap value
Catalytic converter scrap prices by grade (2026)
Scrap yards sort catalytic converters into grades based on the vehicle and precious-metal content. These are typical 2026 US ranges. Your exact payout depends on the serial number and the daily platinum, palladium, and rhodium markets.
| Converter grade | Typical scrap value | Common examples |
|---|---|---|
| Aftermarket | $15 - $90 | Any replacement (non-factory) converter |
| Diesel (DPF/cat) | $20 - $120 | Most diesel trucks and vans |
| Standard domestic | $90 - $275 | Domestic cars (Ford, Chevy, Dodge sedans) |
| Foreign (import) | $110 - $320 | Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia |
| High-grade domestic | $200 - $550 | GM units, full-size trucks & SUVs |
| Exotic / European | $300 - $800 | BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Land Rover |
| Hybrid (Prius-type) | $400 - $1,100 | Toyota Prius and other hybrids |
What makes a catalytic converter valuable?
A catalytic converter is worth money because of the tiny amount of precious metal inside it: platinum, palladium, and rhodium. These platinum-group metals coat a ceramic honeycomb and do the actual work of cleaning your exhaust. There is only a few grams in a typical converter, but at market prices that adds up to real money, which is exactly why converter theft became so common.
How much is a catalytic converter worth? It comes down to three things: the type of vehicle (hybrids and large or European engines carry the richest loading), whether it is a factory or aftermarket unit (aftermarket cats have almost no precious metal), and the current price of rhodium and palladium, which move daily. That is why the same-looking converter can be worth $80 on one car and $600 on another.
To get the most for a used converter, keep it whole and uncut, find the serial or part number stamped on the shell, and get quotes from more than one buyer against that number. Cutting it open or emptying the honeycomb almost always lowers what a buyer will pay.
Next step
Have the whole car? Compare the full-vehicle offer.
Scrapping the whole car, not just the converter?
If the vehicle is headed for the yard, selling it whole usually beats pulling one part. CarBrain makes a firm offer on the full car in minutes, with free towing, even if it doesn't run.
Get My Instant OfferSelling safely and legally
- ⚠Only sell a converter that came off your own vehicle. Buyers must record proof of ownership in most states.
- ⚠Expect to show ID and the vehicle it came from. Many states limit or ban cash payment for converters.
- ⚠Prices shown are estimates only. Rhodium and palladium move daily, so confirm the current number with a buyer.
- ⚠Keep the converter whole. Cutting it open or dumping the honeycomb lowers what most buyers will pay.
Catalytic converter value: frequently asked questions
How much is a catalytic converter worth in scrap?
Most used catalytic converters are worth $90 to $550 as scrap in 2026, but the range is wide: aftermarket units bring as little as $15, while hybrid converters (especially Toyota Prius) can top $1,000. Value is driven by the platinum, palladium, and rhodium inside, not the size.
How do I find my catalytic converter's value by serial number?
The serial or part number is stamped or printed on the converter's shell. Scrap buyers look that number up in a precious-metals database to price the exact platinum-group-metal loading. The RecycleFind catalytic converter value calculator gives the grade and a value range so you know what a fair number looks like before you get a quote against the serial.
Which cars have the most valuable catalytic converters?
Hybrids lead by a wide margin because their converters run cooler and hold more precious metal. A Toyota Prius catalytic converter tops $1,000 at scrap yards and ranks among the most stolen hybrid cats. After that come exotic European models (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Land Rover), then large GM trucks and SUVs.
Why did catalytic converter scrap prices drop?
Prices peaked in 2021 when rhodium neared $30,000 per ounce and palladium was near record highs. As of August 2026 rhodium runs around $4,800 per ounce, platinum around $1,050, and palladium around $1,020, down from roughly $2,800 in 2022. The palladium fall is not just a market swing: automakers deliberately substituted cheaper platinum for palladium in new converters, which cut demand for the metal that used to carry most of a converter's value. That is why 2026 payouts run well below the peak even though converters themselves have not changed.
What are platinum, palladium, and rhodium worth right now?
As of August 2026, rhodium trades near $4,800 per ounce, platinum near $1,050, and palladium near $1,020. Rhodium is worth roughly four to five times the other two, so a converter loaded for rhodium is worth far more than its size suggests. These three metals set the entire value of a used converter, and they move daily, so treat any quoted converter price as a snapshot rather than a fixed number.
Is it legal to sell a used catalytic converter?
Yes, if it came off your own vehicle. Because of theft, most states now require buyers to record your ID, proof of ownership, and the vehicle it came from, and many limit cash payment. A reputable buyer will ask for this. Walk away from anyone who does not.
Should I sell just the converter or the whole car?
If the car still runs or you plan to keep it, sell only the converter. If the vehicle is headed for scrap anyway, you usually net more selling it whole, because a buyer pays for the converter plus the steel, aluminum, and other parts, with free pickup, instead of you removing one part.
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