CA

California · Walk-in purchase

Verified

California · Verdict

DO NOT BUY

Sourced fromReMA / ISRI State Metals Theft Law Database·Verified

California

Transaction prohibited

California (AB 1740 / Bus. & Prof. Code § 21610(i)(1)) bars core recyclers from buying detached catalytic converters from any seller other than a commercial enterprise or a verified vehicle owner whose converter was permanently marked with the matching VIN BEFORE sale. A walk-in seller with a random detached converter cannot satisfy the pre-sale VIN-marking requirement.

Permitted seller types

  • Commercial enterprises (licensed auto dismantlers, registered repair dealers, vehicle manufacturers/dealers, other licensed businesses that reasonably generate used cats)
  • Vehicle owners IF the converter was permanently marked with the matching VIN before sale AND the owner holds title matching the marked VIN

Statute citations

  • Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code, Div. 8, Ch. 9, Art. 3 § 21600 – § 21610 (Junk Dealers and Recyclers)
  • Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 21610(i)(1); Cal. Vehicle Code § 10852.5; § 220 – 221
  • Cal. Vehicle Code § 10753, § 11500, § 24020; Cal. Penal Code Part 4, Title 1 (post-2023 amendments)

Recent amendments

  • 2018 AB 2680 — Recordkeeping changes for nonferrous metals
  • 2019 SB 143 — Expanded cat-specific recordkeeping (effective Sept 5, 2019)
  • 2022 AB 1740 — Core recyclers may only buy from commercial enterprises or verified vehicle owners with VIN-marked cats (effective Jan 1, 2023)
  • 2022 AB 1760 — Companion bill — sale-side restrictions on installers / dealers (effective Jan 1, 2023)
  • 2022 SB 1087 — Companion bill — additional cat-purchase restrictions (effective Jan 1, 2023)

Source detail

Compliance data sourced from the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA / ISRI) State Metals Theft Law Database →

Last verified . ReMA updates the database periodically — confirm against current statute before relying on this in compliance decisions.