TX

Texas · Walk-in purchase

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

Texas · Bottom line

HOLD 5 DAYS

Sourced fromReMA / ISRI State Metals Theft Law Database·Verified

Texas · At a glance

5-business-day hold • Seller thumbprint or valid cash transaction card • source-vehicle title + VIN required (§ 1956.0321) • electronic report to DPS by close of 2nd working day

Seller must qualify

Record Seller name, address + ID number; cat purchases require the Seller's thumbprint unless they present a valid cash transaction card, PLUS the source-vehicle year/make/model/VIN and a copy of the certificate of title or other proof of ownership interest (§ 1956.0321)

Full rule + accepted documents

Tex. Occ. Code § 1956.033 requires the Recycler's record of each purchase to include the name and address of the Seller and the identifying number of the Seller's personal identification document, and for a catalytic converter a clear and legible thumbprint of the Seller unless the Seller presents a valid cash transaction card. SEPARATELY, § 1956.0321 (added by HB 4110, eff. Sept 1, 2021) requires that a person attempting to sell a cat provide the year, make, model, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle the converter was removed from AND a copy of the certificate of title or other documentation indicating the person has an ownership interest in the vehicle. Under § 1956.0321 the Recycler may not buy the cat unless it determines the converter is consistent with the manufacturer's specifications for that vehicle, and the Recycler must mark each cat it buys with a unique number. Separately, § 1956.123 limits buying a cat from a person described by § 1956.002(1) (commercial/industrial sellers in the ordinary course of business) to those who acquired it in the ordinary course of a listed automotive business (salvage yard, repair shop, dealer, used parts recycler, demolisher, etc.) acting with apparent authority.

Accepted documents

  • Seller's government-issued personal identification document (record the ID number)
  • Seller's thumbprint (required for catalytic converters unless a valid cash transaction card is presented)
  • Valid cash transaction card (substitutes for thumbprint and is required for cash/debit payment)
  • Source-vehicle year, make, model, and VIN (required for a catalytic converter under § 1956.0321)
  • Copy of the certificate of title or other documentation of the Seller's ownership interest in the source vehicle (required for a catalytic converter under § 1956.0321)

Counter checklist

  1. License

    Verify state registration (renews every 2 yrs)

    Confirm the Recycler holds a current certificate of registration from the Department (DPS). A certificate is valid for two years; the Department sends written notice of impending expiration no later than 45 days before it expires (§ 1956.023). A county, municipality, or political subdivision may also require a license or permit and may charge a fee not to exceed $250 (§ 1956.003(b)).

    Statute

    Tex. Occ. Code § 1956.023; local authority § 1956.003

  2. Seller ID

    Record name, address, ID #, thumbprint + title/VIN

    Record the name and address of the Seller and the identifying number of the Seller's personal identification document. For a catalytic converter, the record must also include a clear and legible thumbprint of the Seller unless the Seller presents a valid cash transaction card (§ 1956.033). ALSO required for a cat: the Seller must provide the year, make, model, and VIN of the vehicle the converter came from and a copy of the certificate of title or other documentation of an ownership interest in that vehicle (§ 1956.0321(a)). Note § 1956.123 separately restricts buying a cat from a commercial/industrial seller (a § 1956.002(1) person) to one who acquired it in the ordinary course of a listed automotive business and is acting with apparent authority.

    Statute

    Tex. Occ. Code § 1956.033; § 1956.0321(a); § 1956.123

  3. Recordkeeping

    Verify cat matches vehicle specs; mark cat w/ unique #

    Before buying, determine that the catalytic converter is consistent with the manufacturer's specifications for a converter from the vehicle the Seller identified — § 1956.0321(c) prohibits the purchase if it is not. After purchase, the Recycler must mark each catalytic converter it buys with a unique number in the manner prescribed by commission rule (§ 1956.0321(d)). The converter itself is not VIN-stamped unless pre-etched. Operational best practice beyond the statute: also photograph the converter and the Seller, and the source vehicle if present, to strengthen chain-of-custody.

    Statute

    Tex. Occ. Code § 1956.0321(c), (d)

  4. Payment

    If paying cash/debit: confirm TX cash transaction card

    A Recycler may pay a Seller for regulated material by cash or debit card only if, before payment, the Seller presents a valid cash transaction card issued by a Texas metal recycling entity OR the Recycler obtains a copy of the Seller's card from its records. The card carries the Seller's name, address, digital photo, a unique number, and an expiration date (no later than two years).

    Statute

    Tex. Occ. Code § 1956.0382 (cash transaction card); § 1956.0381 (payment)

  5. Hold

    Tag and hold 5 business days

    A Recycler may not dispose of, process, sell, or remove a catalytic converter from the premises until 5 days (excluding weekends and holidays) have passed since acquisition. Other regulated metal carries different periods under the same section: 8 days for cemetery items, 72 hours for other regulated metal. A peace-officer hold can extend retention up to 60 days.

    Statute

    Tex. Occ. Code § 1956.037

  6. Reporting

    Upload to LeadsOnline by close of 2nd business day

    Send the electronic transaction report to the Department via the Department's Internet website no later than close of business on the Recycler's 2nd working day after the purchase or acquisition. The amount paid is NOT required to be included in the report (§ 1956.036(d-1)). Run uploads daily as a matter of practice to avoid missing the 2-working-day window.

    Statute

    Tex. Occ. Code § 1956.036

    Note
    The statute requires reporting via the Department's website; LeadsOnline is the common third-party vendor Texas recyclers use to file, not a statutory mandate.

Statute citations

  • Texas Occupations Code Title 12, Subtitle B, Ch. 1956 § 1956.001 – § 1956.204
  • Texas Occupations Code Ch. 1956 § 1956.0321 (catalytic converter seller documentation, manufacturer-spec check, and unique-number marking) and Subchapter C-1 (Certain Transactions Involving Catalytic Converters Removed From Motor Vehicles) § 1956.121 – § 1956.124
  • Texas Transportation Code Ch. 683 (abandoned motor vehicles / demolishers); 49 U.S.C. § 30502 (NMVTIS)

Recent amendments

  • 2019 HB 1545: Recordkeeping changes (effective Sept 1, 2021)
  • 2021 HB 4110: Added § 1956.0321 (seller must provide source-vehicle year/make/model/VIN + copy of title or proof of ownership; entity must verify converter matches vehicle specs and mark each cat with a unique number), the cat thumbprint requirement, and the 5-day cat hold (eff. Sept 1, 2021)
  • 2023 SB 224: Increased recordkeeping + reporting requirements for cats

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 Texas?
Yes — Texas permits this if you follow the state's recordkeeping, payment, and hold requirements. 5-business-day hold • Seller thumbprint or valid cash transaction card • source-vehicle title + VIN required (§ 1956.0321) • electronic report to DPS by close of 2nd working day (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 Texas?
General violations of Ch. 1956 are a Class C misdemeanor (§ 1956.204). Intentionally or knowingly failing to keep a required catalytic-converter purchase record is a Class A misdemeanor (§ 1956.124). Prohibited acts are addressed in § 1956.038 and the chapter's criminal-penalty provision in § 1956.040. (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 Texas?
Required at the counter: Verify state registration (renews every 2 yrs); Record name, address, ID #, thumbprint + title/VIN; Verify cat matches vehicle specs; mark cat w/ unique #; If paying cash/debit: confirm TX cash transaction card; Tag and hold 5 business days; Upload to LeadsOnline by close of 2nd business day. (Quick reference, not legal advice — verify against current statute and your state recycler association before relying on this.)