Protect Consumers and Small Businesses from Catalytic Converter Theft 

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Become an Original Cosponsor of the Bipartisan PART Act 

ISSUE
Catalytic converters are attractive targets for thieves due to their precious metals, such as rhodium, platinum and palladium. Criminals can easily steal catalytic converters from unattended vehicles, and since catalytic converters are not readily traceable, there is a lucrative market for these stolen parts. These thefts are costing millions of dollars to businesses and individual vehicle owners alike and continue to be a significant problem. Members of Congress should become an original cosponsor of the “Preventing Auto Recycling Theft Act” (PART Act), which would help law enforcement combat catalytic converter theft by marking catalytic converters and creating a more transparent market that deters their theft. 


BACKGROUND

As required by the Clean Air Act, catalytic converters reduce toxic emissions from internal combustion engine vehicles using precious metals to remove toxic elements from the exhaust gases. The price of these precious metals rose sharply during the pandemic, contributing to a nearly 900% increase in theft between 2019 and 2023. Stolen catalytic converters can garner anywhere from $20 to $350 on the black market, with the replacement cost to vehicle owners averaging over $2,500. Stolen catalytic converters are difficult to trace since they lack identification numbers tied to the vehicle, which hampers law enforcement from proving ownership and prosecuting theft.

Thefts have also turned violent, with high-profile tragedies underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue. While several states, such as Minnesota and North Carolina, have enacted laws to address the issue, this crime frequently involves trafficking stolen parts across state lines and a federal framework is needed to aid the efforts of local law enforcement. 

The PART Act addresses this crime by: 1) requiring new vehicles to have unique identifying numbers, a VIN or other traceable number, stamped on catalytic converters at the time of assembly; 2) establishing a $7 million grant program to mark catalytic converters of vehicles already on the road at no cost to vehicle owners; 3) increasing record keeping requirements for purchasers; and 4) establishing a federal criminal penalty for the theft, sale, trafficking or known purchase of stolen catalytic converters of up to five years.


KEY POINTS
  • Catalytic converter theft skyrocketed 900% between 2019 and 2023 due to the precious metals contained in each device.
  • The PART Act would provide law enforcement the tools to trace stolen catalytic converters back to their source. Catalytic converters are not one of the 18 vehicle parts required to be marked with a VIN or number traceable to a VIN. Law enforcement has stated that including such tracing in the legislation is critical to help deter the theft and trafficking of stolen catalytic converters since it would make it easier to prosecute criminals.
  • The PART Act provides a national framework to help law enforcement combat catalytic converter theft. Since this crime frequently involves trafficking stolen parts across state lines, a federal standard is needed to help law enforcement.

 

STATUS
The PART Act is expected to be reintroduced in the House by Reps. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) and Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) and in the Senate by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio). NADA and 119 other organizations sent a letter to Congress supporting passage of the PART Act last year. Members are urged to become an original cosponsor of the PART Act to help curb the growing national problem of catalytic converter theft, protect consumers, and free up valuable time for law enforcement organizations across the country.                                                

 
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