PA

Pennsylvania · Pull from yard

Verified

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

Pennsylvania · Bottom line

TIE TO VIN

Sourced fromReMA / ISRI State Metals Theft Law Database·Verified

Pennsylvania · At a glance

PA hard-stop on walk-in PURCHASES does not apply — you own the vehicle. Recordkeeping on the source vehicle is the operative rule. Onward sale to refiner triggers its own rules.

Counter checklist

  1. License

    Verify State Police registration is current

    Confirm registration with PA State Police is current. Registration is biennial at $100 per location. State Police maintain a public registry — your registration number must appear on all PA advertisements and be displayed at your place of business.

  2. Recordkeeping

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

    Record the source vehicle's VIN, year, make, model, title number, and date of acquisition when the converter is removed. The dismantling record is your chain of custody — preserve it for the statutory retention period (minimum 2 years).

  3. Recordkeeping

    Photograph cat against source vehicle at removal

    Photograph the converter at removal alongside the source vehicle (with VIN visible if possible). Attach to the dismantling record.

Statute citations

  • 73 P.S. § 1943.1 – § 1943.8 (Scrap Material Theft Prevention Act, Act 113 of 2008)
  • 75 Pa.C.S. § 3723 (Theft of Catalytic Converter)
  • 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 Pennsylvania?
Yes — Pennsylvania permits this if you follow the state's recordkeeping, payment, and hold requirements. PA hard-stop on walk-in PURCHASES does not apply — you own the vehicle. Recordkeeping on the source vehicle is the operative rule. Onward sale to refiner triggers its own rules. (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 Pennsylvania?
Failure to maintain registration with PA State Police is a summary offense with a $1,000 fine. Failure to maintain transaction records is a summary offense with a fine up to $2,500 (first offense), escalating to a third-degree misdemeanor on subsequent offenses. (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 Pennsylvania?
Required at the counter: Verify State Police registration is current; Tie cat to source-vehicle VIN + title in your records; Photograph cat against source vehicle at removal. (Quick reference, not legal advice — verify against current statute and your state recycler association before relying on this.)