VW Jetta Catalytic Converter Scrap Price – Generations And Engines

If you own a Volkswagen Jetta, you know that this is not a bad vehicle, whatever generation you have. It's quite nice in terms of design and quality, it's not very powerful but quite active, it's reliable and it doesn't need a lot of maintenance during all its life. But still, there is one thing you will need to replace at least once within the lifetime of your Jetta. And it's a catalytic converter.

A cat converter is extremely important for keeping your vehicle less dangerous to nature. It reduces the emissions of harmful gasses and catalyzes some materials that shouldn't be emitted into the air. But over time, this part gets clogged and stops working properly. You can't pass the fog test and you basically can't drive your Jetta with a broken catalytic converter.

So, here's what we'll be talking about:

1. VW Jetta cat converter scrap price - how much?
2. When should you replace a catalytic converter on your Jetta?
3. How much is a new cat for Volkswagen Jetta?
4. Where should you sell your original VW catalytic converter?

Let's get started!

Volkswagen Jetta original converters - are they valuable?

You may have heard some stories or myths that people sold their VW converters for $500 or something like that. This is possible if you have one of those rare V6 engines with big displacement and a couple of big converters integrated into their exhaust system. The Jetta will have one catalytic converter, in most cases. Only some exotic versions with big engines will have the system of three catalytic converters.

You will most likely have a Jetta with a 2.5L naturally aspirated engine (the older one, up to 2014) or with 1.4 TSI and 1.8 TSI turbocharged engines. Also, Jettas were popular in America with 2,0 TDI diesel engines, but those have cheaper cat converters that aren't worth your time - just sell them to a local scrapyard.

The gasoline-engines cat converters are valuable, and here's why:

• they contain up to 7 grams of platinum and up to 5 grams of palladium;
• you can get 1-2 grams of rhodium from a Jetta old cat;
• the converters from vehicles with 2.5L engines are the most valuable;
• these cats are of high quality, they aren't usually damaged or broken;
• these converters are relatively easy to recycle, so they are being hunted for;
• the cats are easy to identify, so buyers always know they are buying an original part.

So, now you know that a Volkswagen Jetta can give you 7 grams of platinum, 5 grams of palladium, and even up to 2 grams of rhodium. This will allow a recycling company to get up to $1,700 after selling all those metals. Hard to believe - a piece of scrap metal can get you that much money!

But we know a problem. All those metals are united into one alloy and are placed in the ceramic honeycomb. You can't get those metals out. Recycling companies use special equipment and need to spend a lot of time and money on the process of recycling. Also, they pay for a license, rent, salaries, taxes, etc. Unfortunately, a big part of their revenue is taken by expenses.

How much is a Jetta scrap converter?

We know many cases when people sold their cat converters at a low price just because they didn't know what to do with them. They went to scrapyards near them and just sold the original VW converters for $30 or something like that. We don't recommend doing this because you may get much more money for a catalytic converter made by Volkswagen.

The average price of the cat converter should be around $150. We believe that the cats from the 2.5L engine will cost around $180 while the converters from turbocharged engines (1.4 and 1.8 TSI) will cost around $120.

But don't just believe these prices, always check them before selling your converter. Here are the factors that influence the price and make it differ every week:

• price for precious metals on the market;
• demand on cat converters formed by recycling companies;
• expenses of recycling companies that may change;
• the way you sell your car converter;
• the condition of your catalytic converter.

You may see that the majority of factors don't depend on you. But you can control one of them - who you sell your cat converter. For example, you can sell it to a private buyer for $30 or you can do some job and sell it to a recycling company for $190. Do you want to get more money? Then just read our article and find some tips on how to sell your VW Jetta catalytic converter after it stopped working.

Original vs aftermarket VW cats

If you have an original cat converter, you will be able to get much more money. Mainly, the original cats contain some precious metals and can be considered valuable. But aftermarket cat converters that are usually installed after the original ones are damaged or broken can't be sold at a good price. They just don't contain any precious metals and are usually recycled as scrap metal. Their price is around $10.

Here is how you can differentiate the original cat from an aftermarket one:

• original cats usually have the VW logo (or Audi) on their body;
• also, all original Volkswagen cats will have a serial number on them;
• they aren't welded in the exhaust system, they come as an integrated part;
• they are quite big and not light at all - they are pretty heavy;
• when you shake an original cat converter, it shouldn't rattle.

These are just some simple factors you may use to check whether your cat converter is valuable and can be sold at a good price. But always remember that there can be some exceptions. For example, some manufacturers don't put their logos and serial numbers on their cat converters. So, you better consult different places about the price of your cat converter and find a company that is ready to pay more.

Selling your cat converter from a Volkswagen Jetta - who will buy it?

Unfortunately, not all companies and private buyers are ready to pay a lot. Many of them will do everything possible to just pay you $20 or $30 and get your converter. Some other companies may just give you half of the actual price. Your task is to find some company that can estimate the cost of your converter professionally and offers you a good price.

It's not that easy to do, but we have some tips for you. First, please take some pictures of your converter. Then consider which way of selling this part is the most appropriate for you. You will be able to find different options.

Here are the most popular ones:

1. A scrapyard. You can sell your catalytic converter to a scrapyard in your area. But the problem is that they only pay a little. In most cases, scrapyards will offer about $30-$50 for a Jetta catalytic converter.
2. Mechanics. A car mechanic who is specialized in exhaust systems can also buy your converter. Usually, they offer some discounts and take your converter for this. The average price you can get is $50 which is still not good. But you don't spend your time.
3. Middlemen. One more option is to sell your converter to a person who buys these parts in your city or town. You can find these people online, on social media, etc. Most of these guys will offer $50 to $100 for your converter. It's a fast option to sell a cat, but still a cheap way.
4. Recycling companies. Here's the best way, in our opinion. You can sell your catalytic converter to a company that recycles these parts and offers good prices. Just find some websites of these companies, send them pictures of your cat and get price offers. Usually, these offers will be better.

You may sell your cat converter at a good price if you find a fair recycling company. There are plenty of them available online. You can also try selling your old catalytic converter through eBay or a similar service. It's not a bad idea, but you will spend a lot of time and can still get only bad price offers.

If you are about to sell your old cat, always check the options you have. This will help you to not lose the chances for price offers. Selling your cat will not be a problem if you already know how to do it.

Final words

Volkswagen Jetta converters are actually valuable and you can sell them for more than $120. Some engines had even bigger cats with more precious metals in them and they can cost over $180. But you should find a good recycling company to sell your catalytic converter at this price. Don't lose your money - use the chance to get a solid compensation because the new cat converter for your Jetta may cost a lot. The original one costs over $2,000.