Catalytic Converter Theft: What California Law Does and How to Protect Your Car
Two 2022 California laws target the resale market for stolen converters. They help, but protecting your own car is still on you.
By EZ Auto Repairs Editors · Updated
SB 1087: who can sell a used converter
Since January 1, 2023, Vehicle Code section 10852.5 limits who can sell a used catalytic converter. Buyers may only purchase one from a licensed dismantler, core recycler, dealer or manufacturer, a registered repair dealer, another licensed business, or an individual with title or registration for a vehicle whose VIN matches the converter. A violation is an infraction.
AB 1740: recordkeeping for recyclers
AB 1740 amended Business and Professions Code section 21610. Core recyclers have to record the year, make and model of the vehicle a converter came from, keep a copy of that vehicle's title, keep an inventory log, and buy only from commercial enterprises or verifiable vehicle owners. A violation is a misdemeanor.
Practical protection
No single step stops a determined thief, but each one makes your car a slower, riskier target:
- Park in a garage or a well-lit, high-traffic spot when you can.
- Ask a BAR-registered shop about a converter shield or cage for your model.
- Engrave or paint your VIN on the converter, which makes resale harder under the laws above.
- Check your comprehensive coverage, since theft and the resulting damage are usually covered only under comprehensive.
If yours is stolen
File a police report, call your insurer, and get a written estimate from a registered shop before any work starts. Replacement converters must be legal for California, so confirm the part is CARB-compliant for your vehicle.
Keep reading
In San Diego County? See our city guides for local DMV offices and smog help.
Sources
Last checked October 2026.