If you want to know where to sell scrap catalytic converters in the UK without guessing at the value, the answer is a licensed scrap metal dealer that identifies your unit by its code and pays on measured metal content. Blancomet has bought catalytic converter units from garages, dismantlers, and individual sellers since 2009, across six UK and Ireland branches. This guide covers what your unit is worth, what changes that figure, and the paperwork you need.
A catalytic converter is an emissions-control device in a vehicle’s exhaust that turns toxic gases into less harmful ones before they leave the tailpipe. Inside the steel casing sits a ceramic or metallic honeycomb coated with three platinum-group metals: platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Those metals are the entire reason a used unit is worth money.
The chemistry is the three-way reaction taught in catalytic converter A level chemistry: carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons are oxidised into carbon dioxide and water, while nitrogen oxides are reduced back to nitrogen. The metals act as catalysts, so they are not consumed – which is why they can be recovered decades later. A typical passenger-car unit holds 3 to 7 grams of them, and every gram recycled is a gram that need not be mined, as covered in Blancomet’s guide to the environmental impact of catalytic converters.
You should sell to a licensed scrap metal dealer holding a valid local-authority licence and waste carrier registration. That is the only lawful route, and the one that gets you a defensible price. Garages, dismantlers, and private sellers all use the same channel; the difference is volume, not legality.
Blancomet operates six branches across the UK and Ireland – Stone (Staffordshire), St Albans (Hertfordshire), Leeds, Dunfermline (Fife), Gateshead, and Dublin. If you have searched “sell catalytic converter near me” and your nearest city is not on that list, distance is rarely the obstacle: single units can be posted by insured courier, and free UK-wide collection is available for 10 or more units. Sellers looking for catalytic converter recycling in Chelmsford, for example, are closest to the St Albans branch, or can arrange collection.
Most UK units scrap for £50 to £400, with rare premium units from certain BMW, Land Rover, and Porsche models exceeding £500. There is no fixed catalytic converter scrap price, because it tracks the market value of platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which moves daily. Rhodium is the most volatile, swinging between roughly £1,000 and over £20,000 per troy ounce in the past five years.
This is why the price of a catalytic converter can only be quoted accurately once the unit is identified – two that look identical outside can differ substantially inside. Five factors set the figure:
| Factor | Effect on the scrap price |
|---|---|
| Platinum, palladium, and rhodium market prices | The single largest driver – moves daily. |
| Make, model, and OEM code | Certain codes signal premium metal loading. |
| Converter type (petrol, diesel, ceramic, metallic, DPF) | Determines the ratio of the three metals. |
| Age and condition of the honeycomb | Cracked, melted, or empty units lose 60-90% of value. |
| Supply, demand, and emissions regulation | Tighter rules push metal demand and scrap values up. |
Source: Blancomet Recycling, Catalytic Converter Recycling (2026).
Yes, often dramatically. The biggest divide is between original factory-fitted units and replacements. Original equipment converters carry substantially more precious metal, while replacements meet the legal minimum at the lowest cost – so their scrap value is a fraction of the original.
Replacement and specialist units sit lower down the scale. A universal catalytic converter is a generic aftermarket fit built to the legal minimum, a sports catalytic converter is designed for exhaust flow rather than metal loading, and an SCR catalytic converter uses a urea system to cut nitrogen oxides.
| Converter type | Typical scrap value |
|---|---|
| Original ceramic monolith (petrol or diesel) | Highest – full manufacturer metal loading. |
| Metallic monolith | Good – metal recovered from a metallic substrate. |
| Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) | Moderate – platinum and palladium in the washcoat. |
| SCR catalytic converter (Selective Catalytic Reduction) | Lower – uses a urea system to cut nitrogen oxides, with a different metal profile. |
| Universal catalytic converter (aftermarket) | Low – minimum legal metal content. |
| Sports catalytic converter (performance) | Low – designed for flow, not metal loading. |
Source: Blancomet Recycling – converter types processed in-house.
Model matters because manufacturers specify different metal loadings. A Toyota Prius catalytic converter is among the more valuable units in the UK market: hybrids run cooler and intermittently, so they need a higher loading – particularly rhodium – to hit emissions targets. That same fact made Prius units a long-standing theft target.
At the other end, a Citroën C1 catalytic converter comes from a small city car with a modest engine, so metal content and scrap value are lower. Neither should be judged by appearance: locate the serial number stamped on the casing and have it matched against a converter database before you sell.
Catalytic converters are stolen because they sit underneath the vehicle, can be cut out in minutes, and contain metals at times worth more per gram than gold – no key or forced entry needed. Hybrids and higher-clearance vehicles are targeted most, as their units carry more metal and are easier to reach.
The picture has improved. UK thefts peaked in early 2021 and have fallen sharply since, which the National Police Chiefs’ Council credits largely to forensic marking making stolen units harder to sell on. For catalytic converter anti theft protection, police advice is consistent: fit a manufacturer-approved lock or guard tested to Sold Secure Gold, mark the unit with a forensic marker and register it, and park in well-lit, overlooked spaces or close to a wall.
If the converter has failed, the economics usually decide for you. How much is it to fix a catalytic converter is a slightly misleading question, because a failed unit generally cannot be repaired – the ceramic substrate is either intact or it is not. Replacement is the real choice, and on an older vehicle a genuine part can approach or exceed the car’s market value.
That is why many owners sell the old unit for scrap and put the proceeds toward a replacement. Even a damaged converter retains value, provided the honeycomb has not been emptied. If you are weighing whether to sell my catalytic converter or keep it, remember a hollowed unit is worth very little – so keep it intact.
Selling legally in the UK is governed by the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, which bans cash payments for scrap metal and requires dealers to verify and record who they buy from. Any buyer offering cash is breaking the law, and dealing with them puts you at risk too.
Have these ready: photo ID (driving licence or passport), proof of address dated within three months, and ideally the V5 log book showing the converter came from your vehicle. Then find the serial number stamped on the casing – a wire brush clears surface rust – and send it for identification before you travel. Payment comes by bank transfer, documented with Waste Consignment Notes. See Blancomet’s tips on selling your catalytic converter.
Selling without guesswork comes down to three things: get the unit identified by its code rather than its appearance, sell only to a licensed dealer that values it on measured metal content, and have your paperwork ready so payment is quick and lawful. To get a quote on a single unit or a full pallet, contact the Blancomet catalytic converter team or arrange a collection.
1. Where can I sell a catalytic converter in the UK?
Sell to a licensed scrap metal dealer with a valid local-authority licence, such as Blancomet, which has branches in Stone, St Albans, Leeds, Dunfermline, Gateshead, and Dublin. Single units can be dropped off or posted by insured courier, and free UK-wide collection is available for 10 or more units.
2. How much is a catalytic converter worth as scrap in the UK?
Most units scrap for between £50 and £400, depending on the OEM code, metal loading, and current platinum, palladium, and rhodium prices. Rare premium units from certain BMW, Land Rover, and Porsche models can exceed £500. An accurate figure requires identifying your specific unit by its serial number.
3. Is it legal to sell a catalytic converter for cash in the UK?
No. Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, it is an offence for a scrap metal dealer to pay cash for any scrap metal, including catalytic converters. Licensed buyers pay by bank transfer or non-transferable cheque and must verify your identity. A buyer offering cash is breaking the law.
4. What documents do I need to sell a catalytic converter?
You need photo ID such as a driving licence or passport, and proof of address dated within the last three months. The V5 log book is strongly recommended, as it shows the converter came from your vehicle. Licensed dealers must record these details for every transaction.
5. Why are catalytic converters stolen?
They contain platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which at times are worth more per gram than gold, and they sit underneath the vehicle where they can be cut out in minutes without breaking into the car. Hybrids and higher-clearance vehicles are targeted most because their units carry more metal and are easier to reach.
6. How can I stop my catalytic converter being stolen?
Fit a manufacturer-approved lock or guard tested to Sold Secure Gold, mark the converter with a forensic marker and register it so stolen units are harder to sell on, and park in well-lit, overlooked spaces or close to a wall so the underside cannot be reached easily. Forensic marking is credited with much of the recent fall in UK thefts.
7. How much does it cost to fix or replace a catalytic converter?
A failed converter usually cannot be repaired, because the ceramic substrate is either intact or damaged beyond recovery, so replacement is the real choice. On an older vehicle, a genuine manufacturer replacement can approach or exceed the car’s market value, which is why many owners sell the old unit for scrap and put the money toward the replacement.
8. Are universal or sports catalytic converters worth anything as scrap?
They are worth far less than original factory-fitted units. Universal and aftermarket converters are built to the legal minimum emissions standard at the lowest cost, and sports converters are designed for exhaust flow rather than metal loading. Both still hold some value and are still worth selling to a licensed buyer, but expect a fraction of an original unit.
9. Which cars have the most valuable catalytic converters?
Hybrids such as the Toyota Prius are among the most valuable, because their engines run cooler and intermittently and need higher metal loadings, especially rhodium, to meet emissions limits. Certain BMW, Land Rover, and Porsche units also command premium prices. Small city cars, such as the Citroën C1, sit at the lower end.
10. How do I find the serial number on my catalytic converter?
The serial or part number is stamped, engraved, or printed on the metal casing, usually on the outer shell or a small plate welded to the body. If rust obscures it, clear the surface with a wire brush or steel wool. Send that code to the buyer for identification and a pre-quote before you travel.
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