Ford Transit Catalytic Converter Scrap Price – We Investigated the Values

If you have a used catalytic converter from a Ford Transit, you can sell it to scrap dealers for a considerable sum. There are also dealers who specialize in buying and recycling old catalytic converters.

But, before you sell your used catalytic converter, it is important to know how much you can get in exchange for it. In this article, we give you an idea of how much your used Ford Transit catalytic converter is worth.

What is the scrap price of a Ford Transit catalytic converter?

The exact amount one can get for a used Ford Transit catalytic converter will depend on many factors. Generally, the price will range from $40 to $250 for a catalytic converter from a Ford Transit with a gasoline engine.

On the other hand, it is difficult to estimate the scrap price of catalytic converters from Ford Transit with diesel engines. These could fetch a price above $200. But surprisingly, some are worth nothing at all! The worthless ones are mostly those from Ford Transit models earlier than 2007. These have no scrap value as there is very little that can be extracted from it because of their age and damages.

Factors that determine your Ford Transit catalytic converter scrap price

Before we get into the details of these factors, it is important to explain why scrap yards are interested in buying your used catalytic converter. Dealers in used catalytic converters will either recycle or resell your old cats.

Some used catalytic converters are still good enough even after they have been sold as scrap. Auto mechanics and scrap yards can test these to check if they are still usable. And those that could be resold just get some repair and are sold to buyers.

But most catalytic converters that are sold as scrap end up being recycled. The recycling process is done to recover expensive metals in the catalytic converter. These precious metals include platinum, palladium, and rhodium.

So, the dealers buy catalytic converters, extract the precious metals in them, and sell these metals for profit. However, some dealers resell the catalytic converters to other recyclers and even to second-hand users.

Now that we have explained the basics, here are some of the factors that determine how much you will get in exchange for your used catalytic converter.

The current price of Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium

The biggest factor that determines the scrap price of your Ford Transit catalytic converter is the current price of the metals in it (platinum, palladium, and rhodium). These prices fluctuate and whenever they are high, the demand for scrap catalytic converters rises. Consequently, the scrap price of your catalytic converter will rise as well.

On the other hand, the scrap prices of catalytic converters fall whenever prices of platinum, palladium, and rhodium drop.

So, to get the best offer for your used catalytic converter, you may need to monitor the current prices of these precious metals. That way, you can sell your used catalytic converter at the perfect time when the price is high.

The potential buyers you can contact

The first step to take if you desire to sell the used catalytic converter from your Ford Transit is to contact potential buyers. Now, potential buyers of old catalytic converters are usually scrap yards or local auto shops. But there are companies that specialize in buying and recycling used catalytic converters. Some of these recyclers have websites you can visit. On these websites, you can send details and photos of your catalytic converters to receive a quote.

Between the scrap yards, auto shops, and specialized recyclers, the latter are more likely to make the highest offers. On the other hand, your local auto shops will probably make offers that are less than the true value of your catalytic converter.

The general rule is that those who buy larger amounts of used catalytic converters are in a better position to know the correct valuation for each one. But those who trade in smaller volumes (like your local auto shop) depend on a bit of guesswork when determining the value of a used catalytic converter.

Also, those who trade smaller volumes do not recycle catalytic converters themselves. They often have to resell them to the main dealers. So, you would be getting a better offer if you cut off the middlemen and sell directly to the recyclers.

Finally, there is the issue of trustworthiness. Some dealers who buy used catalytic converters are somewhat dubious. These dealers would want to squeeze as much profit as possible out of every single trade. To counter this, we recommend you get an offer from more than one dealer. This will allow you to compare offers and get the best deal.

All in all, the potential buyers you contact will (to an extent) determine how much you get.

Your Ford Transit model

Used catalytic converters extracted from Ford Transits are not all the same. Most fresh Ford Transit models are fitted with a catalytic converter that is different from those in earlier models. Also, Ford Transits with diesel engines have a completely different set of catalytic converters.

So, the scrap price of your Ford Transit catalytic converter is partly determined by the model year. It is also determined by the engine type (diesel or gasoline).

Experienced dealers can determine the exact Ford Transit model your catalytic converter belongs to using the serial number printed on it. All you need to do is show them the serial number. It is not even advisable to disclose the car model your catalytic converter was pulled from. The dealer's ability to determine the exact model from the serial number should be a test. If they pass the test, you can be confident that they will give your used catalytic converter an accurate valuation.

As we mentioned earlier, Ford Transit catalytic converters from diesel engine models tend to have a higher scrap price. But those from some earlier models (before 2007) could be completely worthless.

Seller's location

Another important factor that determines how much you get in exchange for your Ford Transit catalytic converter is your location. This is one factor many never really consider. But in some cases, it could affect the scrap price of a catalytic converter more than all the other factors.

Now, let us explain how your location could affect the scrap price of your used catalytic converter.

In some locations, there are more experienced dealers who buy used catalytic converters. This is especially the case in large cities like New York and Los Angeles. If you reside somewhere like this, you will have far more options. Consequently, you will be more likely to find a dealer who will make you a good offer.

On the other hand, in some locations, you will find very few dealers. And in some cases, the few options available will be local auto shops that may not have enough experience to value your catalytic converter accurately. This inevitably affects the scrap price of catalytic converters sold in such locations.

So, if you live in some sparsely populated rural area in the middle of nowhere, do not expect to sell your used catalytic converter for the same price as someone living in New York or Boston.

Prevalence of thefts

Whenever there is a rise in cases of theft of catalytic converters, the scrap prices tend to drop. This happens mainly because of the principle of demand and supply.

As you probably know, most stolen catalytic converters end up being sold to recyclers. So, when more of these are stolen, there is an increase in supply. This inevitably lowers the scrap price of catalytic converters.

Seller's reputation

Still on the issue of thefts, dealers may be reluctant to buy a catalytic converter from someone who has a bad reputation. If they have any reason to suspect the catalytic converter may be stolen, they will probably reject it. This would limit the seller's options and make it difficult to get a good offer.

This is especially the case whenever there is a rise in cases of catalytic converter thefts. So, before you ask a friend to help you sell your used catalytic converter, do bear in mind that your friend's reputation could affect the offers you get. In some close-knit communities where everyone knows everyone, some dealers may even refuse to buy from someone they don't know.

Conclusion

The only way to know the exact scrap price of your Ford Transit catalytic converter is to contact the dealers who buy them. It is hard to predict how much they will offer you. This is because there are so many factors that determine the price. And the scrap prices of catalytic converters tend to fluctuate a lot.

However, to get a good offer for your catalytic converter, you should try contacting more than one dealer. If you contact just one buyer, you may be getting an offer that is far below the true value.

You can also try checking the current prices of platinum, palladium, and rhodium. If there has been a recent dip in the prices of these precious metals, you may need to wait a while for the prices to recover. When they do, you will get better offers for your used catalytic converter.