FL

Florida · Pull from yard

Verified

Florida Catalytic Converter Purchase Rules

Who you can buy from, what you must record, hold periods, and the penalty if you get it wrong when pull from yard catalytic converters in Florida. Sourced from the ReMA / ISRI State Metals Theft Law Database.

Florida · Bottom line

TIE TO VIN

Sourced fromReMA / ISRI State Metals Theft Law Database·Verified

Florida · At a glance

Not a purchase — Ch. 538 recordkeeping only • no automatic hold (you own the cat) • onward sale to refiner is its own transaction

Counter checklist

  1. Recordkeeping

    Tie cat to source-vehicle VIN + title in your records

    Record the source vehicle's title, VIN, make/model, and date of acquisition when the converter is removed. The dismantler's records are the chain of custody — preserve them.

  2. Recordkeeping

    Photograph cat against source vehicle at removal

    Photograph the converter at removal showing the source vehicle (VIN visible if possible). Attach to the dismantling record per § 538 standards.

  3. Reporting

    Onward sale: § 538.19 electronic report applies

    When you sell the converter to a refiner, that sale must be reported electronically to law enforcement by 10 AM next business day under § 538.19. The 10-day automatic hold does NOT apply (it's your own stock), but the downstream buyer's rules may.

Statute citations

  • Fla. Stat. Title XXXIII, Ch. 538, Part II § 538.18 – § 538.28 (Secondary Metals Recyclers)
  • Fla. Stat. § 860.142 (Catalytic Converter Antitheft Act)
  • 49 U.S.C. § 30502 (NMVTIS) for source-vehicle reporting

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.

Common questions

Can you pull from yard in Florida?
Yes — Florida permits this if you follow the state's recordkeeping, payment, and hold requirements. Not a purchase — Ch. 538 recordkeeping only • no automatic hold (you own the cat) • onward sale to refiner is its own transaction (Quick reference, not legal advice — verify against current statute and your state recycler association before relying on this.)
What's the penalty for buying a catalytic converter illegally in Florida?
Failure to maintain proper chain-of-custody records is a Ch. 538 violation. § 860.142 violations remain a third-degree felony if the converter is later resold without proper recordkeeping. (Quick reference, not legal advice — verify against current statute and your state recycler association before relying on this.)
What records do you need to buy a catalytic converter in Florida?
Required at the counter: Tie cat to source-vehicle VIN + title in your records; Photograph cat against source vehicle at removal; Onward sale: § 538.19 electronic report applies. (Quick reference, not legal advice — verify against current statute and your state recycler association before relying on this.)