FL

Florida · Walk-in purchase

Verified

Florida · Bottom line

HOLD 10 DAYS

Sourced fromReMA / ISRI State Metals Theft Law Database·Verified

Florida · At a glance

10-business-day automatic hold • $0 cash for cats (check or e-payment only) • report to law enforcement by 10 AM next business day

Seller must qualify

Seller must show proof of ownership of the source vehicle

Full rule + accepted documents

Florida § 860.142 (Catalytic Converter Antitheft Act): a person may not sell a detached catalytic converter without proof of ownership, unless the seller is a registered secondary metals recycler, a salvage motor vehicle dealer, or qualifies for the § 538.22 exemption. Walk-in sellers must produce title, registration, or equivalent documentation showing they own (or lawfully removed the cat from a vehicle they own).

Accepted documents

  • Vehicle title for the source vehicle
  • Vehicle registration
  • Bill of sale showing prior ownership
  • Other documentation showing reasonable proof of ownership

Counter checklist

  1. License

    Verify FL Dept of Revenue registration

    Confirm the Recycler is registered with the Florida Department of Revenue and conspicuously displays registration at each recycling location. Annual renewal at $6 per location. Natural-person applicants must have completed law-enforcement-certified fingerprints for background check.

    Statute

    Fla. Stat. § 538.25

  2. Seller ID

    Verify Seller proof of ownership

    Require the Seller to produce reasonable proof of ownership of the source vehicle — title, registration, signed bill of sale, or equivalent. Without this proof, the transaction is illegal under § 860.142 unless the Seller is themselves a registered secondary metals recycler or salvage motor vehicle dealer.

    Statute

    Fla. Stat. § 860.142

  3. Recordkeeping

    Photo converter + Seller; record source-vehicle VIN

    Photograph the catalytic converter and the Seller. Record the VIN from the Seller's title or registration. The converter itself is not VIN-stamped.

  4. Payment

    No cash for cats — check or electronic only, within 3 days

    $0 cash threshold for Restricted Regulated Metals (which includes detached catalytic converters). Payment must be by check or electronic payment, transmitted directly to the Seller's account. Payment must be made within 3 days of the transaction.

    Statute

    Fla. Stat. § 538.20

  5. Hold

    Tag and hold 10 business days automatic

    Automatic 10-business-day hold on detached catalytic converters before processing or removing from premises. Hold does not apply to purchases from another Secondary Metals Recycler, salvage motor vehicle dealer, or similar registered entity. Law enforcement may impose an additional 15-day written hold, extendable +45 days.

    Statute

    Fla. Stat. § 538.19

  6. Reporting

    E-report to law enforcement by 10 AM next business day

    Transmit the electronic transaction record to the appropriate law enforcement agency by 10 AM of the business day following the transaction. Price paid is NOT included in the law-enforcement report. Recyclers transmitting electronically are not required to also deliver paper copies; the official may request paper records.

    Statute

    Fla. Stat. § 538.19

Statute citations

  • Fla. Stat. Title XXXIII, Ch. 538, Part II § 538.18 – § 538.21 (Secondary Metals Recyclers)
  • Fla. Stat. § 860.142 (Catalytic Converter Antitheft Act)
  • Fla. Stat. § 812.145 (Theft of Copper / Nonferrous Metals); § 812.146 (Civil Liability of Owner)

Recent amendments

  • 2013 HB 585 — Initial Secondary Metals Recyclers framework
  • 2023 SB 306 — Tightened catalytic converter purchase / sale restrictions; created § 860.142 Catalytic Converter Antitheft Act

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.