The scrap value of catalytic converters is one of the popular questions that we get from our readers. And we were surprised that many of you have been asking about the optimal price of a box truck catalytic converter.
First of all, we want to say that stealing a cat converter from a box truck is an absolutely insane idea that can lead to a prison sentence and also to a lot of other problems for you. Selling a stolen converter is not easy at all, and you will probably only get $20 for it. Are you ready to risk your freedom for 20 bucks?
If you own a box truck and have recently replaced the catalytic converter, you may wonder how you can sell this thing and how you can get decent money for it. We'll tell you a couple of secrets in this article.
Here's what we'll be talking about today:
- How much can an old catalytic converter from a box truck cost?
- Can you get a lot of precious metals from the converter?
- Where should you sell your old cat converter from a box truck?
- How to understand that you have an OEM cat converter?
Let's get started!
Box truck cats - why are they special?
A lot of box trucks use big engines. They may be diesel or gasoline, turbocharged, or naturally aspirated. But they all have one thing in common - they use one to three catalytic converters to filter the exhaust gasses. These converters catalyze some of the most dangerous gasses and allow your vehicle to bring less harm to nature.
Unfortunately, these converters don't last forever. Once they get broken and need replacement. But the fact that they are broken and don't work anymore doesn't change the fact that you can sell them. They still contain some precious metals and can be sold to scrapyards or recycling companies.
Here's what is important to know:
- box truck cat converters are usually quite big and heavy;
- they contain a lot of precious materials and this makes them quite expensive;
- some of the converters are especially valuable because they contain a lot of rhodium;
- you can't get these metals out of the converter without some special equipment;
- nearly all old converters eventually get to recycling companies and get recycled;
- unfortunately, the scrap price is not as good as the value of all precious metals inside.
One box truck catalytic converter may contain approximately 7-10 grams of platinum, up to 9 grams of palladium, and 2 grams of rhodium. These metals form a kind of alloy that helps in catalyzing exhaust gasses. The alloy covers the ceramic filter often called honeycomb.
If you count all the metals that you can get and then convert your figures into money, you will see that an average box truck converter contains precious metals for $1500 or even more. You will expect to get at least half of that, but it's too much. And now we'll tell you why.
Why don't recycling companies pay a lot for scrap cats?
The scrap value of catalytic converters is not that high usually. It may surprise you because precious metals are there and they can sell them easily to industrial companies. So, why don't they pay you at least a thousand dollars?
These companies need to buy and maintain very expensive equipment that can heat the ceramic honeycomb from your cat converter and melt out all the metals. Also, they spend a lot of money on energy sources because they need extremely high temperatures. Also, they pay taxes, rent payments, salaries, etc.
You can see that taking those wonderful precious metals out of the converter is not an easy task. So, no, you can't do it by yourself. And no, you will not get half of the value of the precious metals from your converter.
Most likely, the fair price will be around 10-15% of what the metals from your cat cost. But it may also change depending on many factors.
What's the average scrap price of a box truck catalytic converter?
We presume that the fair price for a box truck catalytic converter that malfunctions is from $100 to $400. It depends on the model, size, origin, and also many other factors. Unfortunately, telling you the precise price is impossible because it's very individual and it will change from one model of the truck to another.
It's not only about the obvious factors when we are talking about the price range for box truck converters. Some of them will cost a lot while some others will not cost much and will not be very desirable to recycling companies.
We know about some important factors:
- Year and model of your box truck. This is important, and this is the first thing any buyer will ask you.
- Origin of the converter. If it's an OEM part, it will cost a lot. But if it's an aftermarket cat converter, its price will not be very cool.
- Prices for precious metals. Market prices change every day. When they go down, recycling companies don't want to pay a lot because they will have more risks.
- Condition of your converter. Damaged cats with bad honeycombs and holes in their bodies don't cost much.
- The way you sell your converter. A scrapyard will give you $20 while some recycling companies will be glad to buy the cat for $200.
Prices may vary, and it's not only about the type of converter. You may sell your cat to a person who is called a middleman. This person will offer you a bad price and will assure you that your cat is not good, it's broken, it's not original, etc. This person will just want to make more money. Or you can just go to a scrapyard and sell your converter for $20 which is the worst idea you can think of.
We think that recycling companies are the best option for you. And at the end of this article, we'll tell you how to sell your catalytic converter directly to a recycling company.
How to say you have an original converter?
OEM parts are much more expensive than aftermarket ones. If you are selling an OEM part, you can get a lot of money. Some of them will cost $400 and even more because they contain a lot of precious metals. But aftermarket cats usually cost around $10 or something like this, not many companies will buy them anyway.
We know some important features that can show you that the converter is an OEM part:
- it has the logo of the vehicle manufacturer on it;
- it has the serial number on it;
- it's not rusty and it doesn't have holes in the body;
- it's big and heavy (aftermarket cats are often light);
- it's integrated into the pipe - no welding lines are seen.
If one of the factors is not true, you can still check. Some companies don't put their logos on the cats or don't use serial numbers on them. But if all these factors are not true, you will not be able to sell the converter at a good price just because you most likely have an aftermarket cat.
How to sell your box truck converter to a recycling company?
For getting more money, you will have to check which company is ready to pay more. For this, you will need to inquire about the prices in different companies. We mean, you may send a kind of a letter to each recycling company and just ask them how much they are ready to pay. Sounds complicated? No worries, now we'll tell you how to do this.
It actually takes just some steps:
- Take pictures of the box truck converter you have. It should be taken off the vehicle and pictured from different angles to show its actual condition. Don't forget to take a picture with the serial number.
- After that use internet to search for the recycling companies that buy out catalytic converters. You will find at least five big companies in the US.
- On the websites of the recycling companies, you may use the quote option to inquire about the price. Attach the pictures of your cat to each quote to get relevant information.
- Wait for the answers with the price offers and decide which offer is best for you.
It's not hard at all to sell the box truck catalytic converter to a company that recycles car parts. But if you just go to a scrapyard, they will offer you a little money hoping that you don't know the real price of the converter you have.
Final words
Box trucks usually have big converters, and some of them are really very expensive. You can get from $100 to $400 for one converter that was used in a box truck. But you will have to investigate the market and find the recycling company that is ready to pay you more than other businesses. Just follow the advice that you've found in our article.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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