OH

Ohio · Pull from yard

Verified

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

Ohio · Bottom line

TIE TO VIN

Sourced fromReMA / ISRI State Metals Theft Law Database·Verified

Ohio · At a glance

Not a purchase — the one-per-day walk-in limit does not apply (you own the vehicle) • keep chain-of-custody records tying the converter to the source-vehicle VIN • onward sale to a refiner is its own transaction

Counter checklist

  1. Recordkeeping

    Log source-vehicle VIN + title in dismantling record

    Record the source vehicle's VIN, year, make, model, and Ohio title information when the converter is removed. Ohio converters are not VIN-stamped, so your dismantling record is the only link tying the converter to its lawful origin.

    Statute

    Ohio Rev. Code § 4737.04(C)

  2. Recordkeeping

    Photograph cat against source vehicle at removal

    Photograph the converter at removal alongside the source vehicle (VIN visible if possible) and attach it to the vehicle's dismantling record. This is the standard chain-of-custody practice and supports inspection by ODPS or law enforcement.

  3. Reporting

    Onward sale: apply § 4737.04 dealer record + daily report

    When you sell yard-pulled converters to a refiner or downstream processor, that sale is its own transaction. As a registered scrap metal dealer you remain subject to § 4737.04 recordkeeping, the seller photograph requirement, and the daily ODPS electronic report. No statutory hold applies to converters pulled from your own stock.

    Statute

    Ohio Rev. Code § 4737.04

Statute citations

  • Ohio Rev. Code Title 47, Ch. 4737, § 4737.04 (scrap metal dealer recordkeeping); § 4737.045 (ODPS registration)
  • Ohio Rev. Code § 4517.01 (motor vehicle dealer definition); 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 Ohio?
Yes — Ohio permits this if you follow the state's recordkeeping, payment, and hold requirements. Not a purchase — the one-per-day walk-in limit does not apply (you own the vehicle) • keep chain-of-custody records tying the converter to the source-vehicle VIN • onward sale to a 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 Ohio?
Pulling a converter from a vehicle you own is not a regulated purchase, so the § 4737.04(F)(5) one-per-day limit and seller-ID rules do not apply. However, when you sell converters onward as a scrap metal dealer, the § 4737.04(C)/(I) recordkeeping, photograph, ODPS registration, and daily-report obligations attach to those transactions; failure to comply is penalized under § 4737.99 (first-degree misdemeanor, escalating to a felony of the fifth/fourth degree on prior violations). (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 Ohio?
Required at the counter: Log source-vehicle VIN + title in dismantling record; Photograph cat against source vehicle at removal; Onward sale: apply § 4737.04 dealer record + daily report. (Quick reference, not legal advice — verify against current statute and your state recycler association before relying on this.)