What's the penalty for buying a catalytic converter illegally in Minnesota?

Under Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 6, catalytic converter violations (subds. 11-13) are graduated by count: 1 cat = misdemeanor; 2 cats = gross misdemeanor; 3-10 cats = felony (up to 5 years and/or $10,000); 11-70 cats = felony (up to 10 years and/or $20,000); more than 70 cats = felony (up to 20 years and/or $100,000). Any other intentional violation of the section is a misdemeanor. A converter possessed in violation of § 325E.21 is contraband subject to forfeiture under § 609.5316. (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 Minnesota?

Required at the counter: Be a registered scrap metal dealer (DPS, annual, $50); Confirm cat is marked: removal date + source VIN; Get copy of source vehicle title or registration; Record transaction + employee ID/signature; train staff; Upload transaction to LeadsOnline database; No payment for 5 days; pay by check or seller's account; Hold converter 7 days before processing or removing. (Quick reference, not legal advice — verify against current statute and your state recycler association before relying on this.)

Minnesota · Walk-in purchase

Verified

Minnesota 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 Minnesota. Sourced from the ReMA / ISRI State Metals Theft Law Database.

Minnesota · Bottom line

NEED TITLE

Sourced fromReMA / ISRI State Metals Theft Law Database·Verified 2026-06-01

Minnesota · At a glance

Only a REGISTERED scrap metal dealer may buy a detached used cat • converter must be marked (date + source VIN) AND seller must hand over the source vehicle's title or registration • 7-day hold • no payment for 5 days, by check or to seller's bank account • LeadsOnline upload daily

Seller must qualify

Cat must be marked (date removed + source VIN) and the walk-in seller must provide the source vehicle's title or registration proving ownership

Full rule + accepted documents

Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(a): a scrap metal dealer may not purchase or acquire a used catalytic converter not attached to a motor vehicle unless (1) the converter is marked as required under subd. 11 (date removed from the vehicle plus the source vehicle's VIN, or a unique alternative number readily linkable to the VIN by law enforcement; subd. 11 makes mere possession of an unmarked detached converter unlawful unless it is so marked or is EPA-certified for reuse) AND (2) the seller provides a copy of the vehicle's title or registration demonstrating the seller's ownership interest. A person who is NOT a registered scrap metal dealer may not buy a detached used cat at all (subd. 12). A bona fide vehicle dismantler / demolisher / scrap recycler / auto repair business may sell without title/registration if it instead provides its business identity + a written or electronic signature, an itemized list of each detached converter with the donor VIN (or unique alternative number), and the removal date (subd. 13(a)). Separately, subd. 13(b) lets a dealer buy from a person with an old, no-longer-registered/titled vehicle without title/registration if that person has an official law enforcement report verifying ownership before removal.

Accepted documents

Copy of the source vehicle's Minnesota certificate of title
Copy of the source vehicle's current registration
(Bona fide business seller only) business identity + signed itemized list with donor VIN and removal date in lieu of title/registration

Counter checklist

License
Be a registered scrap metal dealer (DPS, annual, $50)
Only a registered scrap metal dealer may purchase or acquire a detached used catalytic converter. Register annually with the Minnesota commissioner of public safety (BCA) and pay the $50 annual fee. A non-registered person buying a detached used (non-EPA-certified) converter commits a crime under subd. 12.
Statute
Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 4 and subd. 12
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 4 and subd. 12
Vehicle
Confirm cat is marked: removal date + source VIN
Do not buy a detached used converter unless it is marked as required under subd. 11 — the date it was removed from the vehicle and the source vehicle's VIN (or a unique alternative number, bar code, sticker, or marking that law enforcement can readily link to the VIN). Subd. 11 makes it unlawful to even POSSESS an unmarked detached converter unless it is so marked or is EPA-certified for reuse, so an unmarked detached converter cannot lawfully be purchased or held.
Statute
Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 11 and subd. 13(a)
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 11 and subd. 13(a)
Seller ID
Get copy of source vehicle title or registration
Obtain a copy of the source vehicle's title or registration demonstrating the seller's ownership interest (subd. 13(a)). Exception 1 (subd. 13(a)): a bona fide vehicle dismantler/demolisher/scrap recycler/auto repair business may instead provide its business identity, a written or electronic signature, an itemized list of each converter with the donor VIN (or unique alternative number), and the removal date. Exception 2 (subd. 13(b)): for a person with an old vehicle no longer registered or titled, you may buy without title/registration only if that person holds an official law enforcement report stating the agency verified ownership before the converter was removed.
Statute
Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(a)-(b)
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(a)-(b)
Recordkeeping
Record transaction + employee ID/signature; train staff
Record the converter transaction along with the identity and signature of the employee completing it. Ensure employees who handle catalytic converter transactions are specifically trained on the additional cat requirements. Retain records for three years.
Statute
Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(a) (transaction record + employee identity/signature), subd. 5 (training), and subd. 2 (3-year retention)
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(a) (transaction record + employee identity/signature), subd. 5 (training), and subd. 2 (3-year retention)
Reporting
Upload transaction to LeadsOnline database
Enter the catalytic converter transaction information into the electronic database available to law enforcement as approved by the commissioner of public safety (effective Aug 1, 2024). Minnesota dealers satisfy this via LeadsOnline. Note: subd. 13(c) sets no explicit deadline for converter entries — the statutory 'close of business each day' deadline in subd. 15(a) applies to motor vehicle records (subd. 1b), not converters — but uploading by end of business day is the safe practice.
Statute
Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(c)
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(c)
Payment
No payment for 5 days; pay by check or seller's account
Do not pay for the converter until at least five days after the sale to the dealer. Payment must be sent by check to the seller's address or deposited into a bank account in the seller's name — no on-the-spot cash (subd. 13(f)). Exception (subd. 13(g)): for a direct sale by a bona fide dismantler/demolisher/recycler/auto-repair business, the dealer may pay at any time, by check payable to the seller or electronic deposit into a bank account in the seller's name.
Statute
Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(f)-(g)
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(f)-(g)
Hold
Hold converter 7 days before processing or removing
Do not process, sell, or remove the converter from your premises for at least seven days after the purchase or acquisition.
Statute
Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(d)
Statute: Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 13(d)

Statute citations

Minn. Stat. § 325E.21 (Dealers in Scrap Metal; Records, Reports, and Registration) — subd. 11 (marking), subd. 12 (non-dealer purchase prohibition), subd. 13 (scrap metal dealer catalytic converter purchase requirements), subd. 4 (annual registration with commissioner of public safety)
Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 6 (graduated criminal penalties for catalytic converter violations); Minn. Stat. § 609.5316 (forfeiture of catalytic converter contraband on conviction)
Minn. Stat. § 299C.25; Minn. Stat. § 609.526

Recent amendments

2023 HF 30 (2023 Minn. Laws ch. 15): Created Minnesota's catalytic-converter regime: prohibition on possessing an unmarked detached converter (subd. 11; exception if marked with removal date + source VIN/alt number or EPA-certified), non-dealer purchase ban (subd. 12), dealer purchase/title/marking + bona fide business exception (subd. 13), 7-day hold, 5-day payment delay by check to the seller's address or to a bank account in the seller's name, and graduated misdemeanor-to-felony penalties (subd. 6). Most provisions effective Aug 1, 2023; the requirement to enter catalytic converter transactions into the law-enforcement electronic database (LeadsOnline) under subd. 13(c) is effective beginning Aug 1, 2024 (the close-of-business daily deadline in subd. 15(a) applies to motor vehicle records under subd. 1b, not converters).

Source detail

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

Last verified 2026-06-01. 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 Minnesota?: Yes — Minnesota permits this if you follow the state's recordkeeping, payment, and hold requirements. Only a REGISTERED scrap metal dealer may buy a detached used cat • converter must be marked (date + source VIN) AND seller must hand over the source vehicle's title or registration • 7-day hold • no payment for 5 days, by check or to seller's bank account • LeadsOnline upload daily (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 Minnesota?: Under Minn. Stat. § 325E.21, subd. 6, catalytic converter violations (subds. 11-13) are graduated by count: 1 cat = misdemeanor; 2 cats = gross misdemeanor; 3-10 cats = felony (up to 5 years and/or $10,000); 11-70 cats = felony (up to 10 years and/or $20,000); more than 70 cats = felony (up to 20 years and/or $100,000). Any other intentional violation of the section is a misdemeanor. A converter possessed in violation of § 325E.21 is contraband subject to forfeiture under § 609.5316. (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 Minnesota?: Required at the counter: Be a registered scrap metal dealer (DPS, annual, $50); Confirm cat is marked: removal date + source VIN; Get copy of source vehicle title or registration; Record transaction + employee ID/signature; train staff; Upload transaction to LeadsOnline database; No payment for 5 days; pay by check or seller's account; Hold converter 7 days before processing or removing. (Quick reference, not legal advice — verify against current statute and your state recycler association before relying on this.)