IL

Illinois · Walk-in purchase

Verified

Illinois Catalytic Converter Purchase Rules

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

Illinois · Verdict

DO NOT BUY

Sourced fromReMA / ISRI State Metals Theft Law Database·Verified

Illinois

Transaction prohibited

Two provisions of the Illinois Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law govern a detached catalytic converter. Under 815 ILCS 325/4.1(a)(4) it is a violation for any person to possess, purchase, attempt to purchase, sell, or attempt to sell any catalytic converter or its contents not attached to a motor vehicle at the time of the transaction unless the SELLER is licensed as an automotive parts recycler or scrap processor. (815 ILCS 325/4.1(b) is blank — there is NO written-documentation-of-ownership exception; the only way out of the 4.1 restriction is the seller's automotive-parts-recycler/scrap-processor license.) Separately, 815 ILCS 325/4.4(a) makes it unlawful for any person to purchase or otherwise acquire a used, detached catalytic converter or any nonferrous part thereof unless ALL of the following apply: (1) the purchaser is a licensed recyclable metal dealer, (2) the sale or purchase occurs at the fixed business address of a licensed recyclable metal dealer that is a party to the transaction, and (3) the purchaser has maintained the Section 3 records. A typical walk-in seller holding a random detached converter is not a licensed automotive parts recycler or scrap processor, so a recyclable metal dealer cannot lawfully buy it — DO NOT BUY. And under 815 ILCS 325/4.4(b) a recyclable metal dealer may not pay cash for a catalytic converter or its contents valued at $100 or more.

Permitted seller types

  • Sellers licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State as an automotive parts recycler (815 ILCS 325/4.1(a)(4))
  • Sellers licensed as a scrap processor (815 ILCS 325/4.1(a)(4)) — and even then the purchase must occur at the licensed dealer's fixed business address with full Section 3 records and no cash of $100 or more (815 ILCS 325/4.4)
  • Note: a converter still attached to the motor vehicle is outside the detached-converter prohibition (the 4.1/4.4 restrictions apply only to converters not attached to a vehicle at the time of the transaction)

Statute citations

  • 815 ILCS 325/1 to 815 ILCS 325/9 (Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law); detached-converter restrictions at 815 ILCS 325/4.1 and 815 ILCS 325/4.4; definitions at 815 ILCS 325/2; recordkeeping at 815 ILCS 325/3
  • 815 ILCS 325/4.1(a)(4) (catalytic converter or its contents not attached to a motor vehicle may be sold/purchased only if the seller is licensed as an automotive parts recycler or scrap processor; 4.1(b) is blank — no other exception); 815 ILCS 325/4.4 (used/detached converter may be purchased only by a licensed recyclable metal dealer at a fixed business address with Section 3 records; no cash $100+); 815 ILCS 325/8 (penalty)
  • Forfeiture: 815 ILCS 325/8 (any metal obtained not in accordance with the Act is subject to immediate forfeiture). General criminal catalytic-converter / vehicle-parts theft offenses are addressed separately in the Criminal Code (720 ILCS 5) and Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5).
  • Recordkeeping items including the name/address and copy of the Secretary of State automotive parts recycler or scrap processor license of the seller, verified against a government photo ID: 815 ILCS 325/3; 815 ILCS 325/4.4(a)(3) (purchaser must have maintained the Section 3 information)

Recent amendments

  • 2022 HB 107 (P.A. 102-906): P.A. 102-906, eff. 5-27-22 — added the catalytic-converter recordkeeping (Section 3), the $100 cash-payment limit and detached-converter purchase conditions (Section 4.4), and the Class A misdemeanor / Class 4 felony penalty ladder (Section 8). Confirmed against the 'Source:' lines on the enacted text of 815 ILCS 325/3, 4.1, 4.4, and 8.
  • 2024 HB 4589 (P.A. 103-677): P.A. 103-677, eff. 1-1-25 — amended 815 ILCS 325/4.1 so that a detached catalytic converter may be sold/purchased only if the seller is licensed as an automotive parts recycler or scrap processor (4.1(b) is '(Blank)'). Confirmed against the 'Source:' line on the enacted text of 815 ILCS 325/4.1.

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 buy a loose catalytic converter from a walk-in seller in Illinois?
DO NOT BUY. Two provisions of the Illinois Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law govern a detached catalytic converter. Under 815 ILCS 325/4.1(a)(4) it is a violation for any person to possess, purchase, attempt to purchase, sell, or attempt to sell any catalytic converter or its contents not attached to a motor vehicle at the time of the transaction unless the SELLER is licensed as an automotive parts recycler or scrap processor. (815 ILCS 325/4.1(b) is blank — there is NO written-documentation-of-ownership exception; the only way out of the 4.1 restriction is the seller's automotive-parts-recycler/scrap-processor license.) Separately, 815 ILCS 325/4.4(a) makes it unlawful for any person to purchase or otherwise acquire a used, detached catalytic converter or any nonferrous part thereof unless ALL of the following apply: (1) the purchaser is a licensed recyclable metal dealer, (2) the sale or purchase occurs at the fixed business address of a licensed recyclable metal dealer that is a party to the transaction, and (3) the purchaser has maintained the Section 3 records. A typical walk-in seller holding a random detached converter is not a licensed automotive parts recycler or scrap processor, so a recyclable metal dealer cannot lawfully buy it — DO NOT BUY. And under 815 ILCS 325/4.4(b) a recyclable metal dealer may not pay cash for a catalytic converter or its contents valued at $100 or more. (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 Illinois?
Knowing failure to comply with the Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law (including the 815 ILCS 325/4.1 and 815 ILCS 325/4.4 detached-converter restrictions) is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense (815 ILCS 325/8). Each day a recyclable metal dealer fails to comply is a separate offense, and any metal obtained not in accordance with the Act is subject to immediate forfeiture. (Quick reference, not legal advice — verify against current statute and your state recycler association before relying on this.)
Who can you legally buy a catalytic converter from in Illinois?
Permitted seller types: Sellers licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State as an automotive parts recycler (815 ILCS 325/4.1(a)(4)); Sellers licensed as a scrap processor (815 ILCS 325/4.1(a)(4)) — and even then the purchase must occur at the licensed dealer's fixed business address with full Section 3 records and no cash of $100 or more (815 ILCS 325/4.4); Note: a converter still attached to the motor vehicle is outside the detached-converter prohibition (the 4.1/4.4 restrictions apply only to converters not attached to a vehicle at the time of the transaction). (Quick reference, not legal advice — verify against current statute and your state recycler association before relying on this.)