Nissan Maxima Catalytic Converter Scrap Price And Where You Sell It

The average lifespan of a catalytic converter in your Nissan Maxima is about 100,000 miles or up to 10 years. Sometimes it may require replacement sooner if it malfunctions. You can also replace your stock cat with an aftermarket high-flow one to enhance the performance of your engine. 

So, you recently replaced your Nissan Maxima catalytic converter for whatever reason, and now you’re planning to sell it. Of course, as scrap. But what you would like to know is its market value. Well, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also tell you where to sell the cat and other details you don’t want to miss.

Let’s get started!

Why Catalytic Converters Have Value?

Catalytic converters contain valuable metals including rhodium, palladium, and platinum, and are always in demand in the metal recycling industry. The metals help clean toxic exhaust emissions in your vehicle’s internal combustion engine. Moreover, these metals are rare and, therefore, very expensive. For example, one gram of platinum is currently selling at $34. The price of one gram of rhodium and palladium is selling at $591 and $75 respectively. 

A typical catalytic converter may contain 3-7 grams platinum, 2-7 grams palladium, and 1-2 grams rhodium. As you can see, this part can generate a lot of money if all these precious metals are recovered successfully. However, as we’ve mentioned, the price of your cat will vary as the valuable metal price fluctuates.  

Why You Would Need To Sell Your Nissan Maxima Cat

We mentioned that a catalytic converter has an average lifespan of about 100,000 miles. The industry standards suggest that you should replace your cat after covering that distance to ensure 100% efficiency. Your catalytic converter can also develop mechanical issues such as catalytic poisoning and require replacement sooner. 

You may also want to install an aftermarket converter to increase your engine’s horsepower. Now, when you’ve replaced your cat; it’s likely that you don’t want to store the old one. Besides, catalytic converter replacement can cost you up to thousands of dollars. Selling your old cat may help you recover some of this money. 

How Many Cats Does My Nissan Maxima Have?

Most cars come with a single catalytic converter. It’s easy to tell the number of catalytic converters in your car. Vehicles with dual exhaust systems have two converters. Your Nissan Maxima has one or two converters depending on the model year. 

For instance, the 2005 SL (V6) Nissan Maxima features two catalytic converters. One is on the left and another on the right bank. It can be very expensive to replace both at the same time. The good thing is that it’s not likely that both will malfunction simultaneously. So, relax. Just make sure that your mechanic can identify the faulty one accurately.

Nissan Maxima Catalytic Converter Scrap Price

A catalytic converter is one of the most expensive auto parts. Your Nissan Maxima scrap cat can attract a price of $350 maximum, with the average being $150. Many factors will determine the actual price of your scrap cat. 

These include its condition, size of the engine, model year, and the price of the valuable metals inside. Different scrap dealers may also quote different prices for your converter. You should look for a genuine buyer who can purchase your cat at the current market price. The honeycomb of your catalytic converter should have nothing missing for it to attract the best price. 

Note that the value of your cat will be generally higher than the range we’ve mentioned above. But, there’s a lot of time needed to recover the precious metals inside. The scrap dealer you sell the converter to also needs to make a profit. These and other things will play a role in coming up with the actual amount you get for the cat.

Selling Your Nissan Maxima Catalytic Converter

Catalytic converters should be recycled when they are no longer in use. Recycling is an excellent option for anyone wanting to discard their cat. Scrapyards and refiners are the best places to sell your converter. 

You have to choose the right purchaser for your cat to sell it quickly and at the most favorable price. There are a couple of things you should know before selling your converter.

1. Catalytic Converter Information

Catalytic converters have unique serial numbers. The secret to selling yours successfully is by knowing its serial number. A legitimate buyer should have extensive knowledge of the information regarding these converters. Such a buyer will purchase your cat at the current market price and you’ll not need to bargain. 

The purchaser will utilize the serial number of your cat to determine its current value. Experienced cat recycling companies will request your serial number before providing you with their quotes. The serial number helps the buyers learn the make and model of your car, engine size, and year of production. 

2. Purchasing Price

You don’t have to sell your catalytic converter cheaply just because you’re discarding it. In other words, there’s no need to sell your Nissan Maxima cat at $50 while you could sell it at $300. A genuine buyer will purchase at the current market cost. A buyer that buys converters in large numbers is the best to deal with when selling your cat. 

What If You Can’t Find A Serial Number?

It may be difficult to obtain the serial number for your catalytic converter. That’s especially if the cat’s case has corroded. Here’s what to do if that’s the case with yours:

• Look for some sandpaper and rub the surface clean to uncover the serial number
• Don’t worry if you still can’t find the number. A reputable catalytic converters buyer can help you by making an informed guess about the estimated value of your cat. The buyer can analyze the cat precisely and pay you accordingly. 

 Where To Sell Your Nissan Maxima Catalytic Converter

1. Auto Salvage Yard Near You

This is the easiest option for you. Auto salvage yards always buy used auto parts and can also buy your cat. Note that salvage yards want to make a lot of profit as they have much overhead to pay. That means they will likely offer the lowest price for the part to get as much profit as possible. They usually don’t care much about the value of the precious metals inside. What matters to them is the value of the cat in general. So, salvage yards or junkyards aren’t the best places the sell your cat if you want to obtain the best price. 

Another reason why you won’t get a favorable payout at the junkyard is that they don’t deal with valuable metals. They will probably not even ask you the serial number of your cat. 

2. Scrap Metal Dealer Near You

A local scrap metal dealer is another easy option for you. You’re likely to get a better payout for your cat here. Most scrap metal dealers stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the metal market and have a vast knowledge of the rates of the materials inside the converters. Still, though, there are reasons you won’t get the highest price selling your cat to these folks:

• They won’t offer the best quote based on the specific model. Like the case of local junkyards; they probably won’t ask you the serial number of your converter. 
• They don’t deal with precious metals and won’t probably care about palladium, platinum, and rhodium. 

3. Online Cat Buyers

They are the best option for you. You just need to identify the reputable dealers and you’re good to go. These are the steps you need to follow to sell your cat:

1. Identify the best buyer online
2. Send pictures of your cat to them along with your cat’s serial number
3. Wait for one business day to receive quotes
4. Ship your catalytic converter to the team once you’re happy with the quotes

Note: You should check with different buyers, compare and choose the buyer with the highest quote. Don’t be in a hurry to sell your cat. 

Conclusion

The Nissan Maxima catalytic converter scrap price ranges from $80 to $350. Many factors determine the actual price of your cat, including the cat condition, the production year of your vehicle, and its engine size. The price will also be determined by the amount of precious metals inside and their current market value. You should make sure that the honeycomb of your catalytic converter has nothing missing to obtain the highest price.

There are many places you can sell your catalytic converter. Local salvage yard, local scraps metal yard, and online cat buying sites. Don’t be in a hurry while selling.  You should trade your cat online to fetch the highest price. Selling online is fast and convenient. Compare quotes from different buyers and choose the buyer with the highest quote.