How much is a catalytic converter worth at a scrap yard in Canada?

An OEM (original factory) catalytic converter is worth $80–$200 CAD at Canadian scrap yards depending on vehicle size. Trucks and full-size SUVs are at the top of that range. Aftermarket replacement cats are worth $20–$50. A missing catalytic converter adds nothing and reduces your overall offer.

Why is the catalytic converter so valuable?

Catalytic converters contain platinum, palladium, and rhodium — precious metals used to process exhaust emissions. These metals trade at thousands of dollars per troy ounce. A single OEM cat from a full-size truck can contain $150–$300 worth of precious metals at current commodity prices.

How do I know if my catalytic converter is OEM or aftermarket?

Check your vehicle's service history. If you've never had a catalytic converter replaced and the car hasn't been in a major accident, it's almost certainly OEM. You can also look at the cat itself — OEM units typically have manufacturer markings and are welded directly to the exhaust system. Aftermarket units often have visible clamps or different finish quality.

Does a stolen catalytic converter hurt my scrap value?

Yes — losing the cat reduces your scrap offer by $80–$150. However, the steel weight of the vehicle still drives the majority of scrap value. A full-size truck without a catalytic converter is still worth $350–$700 depending on province and condition.

Will a scrap yard tell me how much they're paying for the catalytic converter?

Most won't volunteer the breakdown — they quote a total price for the vehicle. If you ask, some will tell you. The more useful approach is to calculate the cat value yourself and include it in your negotiation: "The OEM cat is worth about $150 — I'm pricing that into what I accept."

Is it legal to sell a catalytic converter separately in Canada?

Yes, it's legal to remove and sell your catalytic converter separately before scrapping the rest of the car. Many specialized buyers purchase cats separately and can pay more than a general scrap yard. However, removing it first means the scrap yard will deduct the cat value from their offer for the remaining vehicle.

Why do catalytic converter prices vary by province?

Precious metal content is fixed regardless of province, but regional supply and demand affects what yards will pay. BC and Ontario tend to have the most competitive markets. Saskatchewan and Manitoba tend to pay slightly less due to fewer buyers and higher transport costs to processors.

Which vehicles have the highest catalytic converter scrap value in Canada?

Full-size gas-powered pickups consistently have the highest catalytic converter scrap value in Canada. A Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, or Dodge/Ram 1500 or 2500 with an original OEM catalytic converter is worth $150–$210 CAD. Full-size SUVs like the Tahoe and Expedition fall in the same range. Small cars — Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra — are at the lower end at $80–$115. Diesel trucks (Cummins, Powerstroke, Duramax) have diesel oxidation catalysts instead of traditional three-way converters, worth $50–$130 depending on the model.

What is a scrap catalytic converter price list by vehicle?

A scrap catalytic converter price list by vehicle groups each make and model by converter type and precious metal content. The table on this page provides current Canadian values for the most common vehicles. Quick reference: Honda Civic, Corolla, Mazda 3, Focus fetch $80–$115; Honda Accord, Camry, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion fetch $100–$155; full-size pickups (F-150, Silverado, Ram) are the most valuable at $150–$210. Aftermarket replacement converters are worth only $20–$50 regardless of vehicle type. Values fluctuate with platinum, palladium, and rhodium commodity prices.

How do I know if my catalytic converter was stolen?

You'll know immediately: the car will start and run, but the exhaust will be extremely loud — like a race car with no muffler. You may also see an engine warning light. Look under the vehicle and you'll see a gap where the converter used to be, often with freshly cut or damaged exhaust pipe. If your car suddenly sounds much louder than normal, catalytic converter theft is the most likely cause. File a police report and contact your auto insurer before calling a scrap yard — comprehensive insurance often covers cat theft.

Which vehicles are most targeted for catalytic converter theft in Canada?

Toyota Prius and other Toyota hybrids are the most targeted in Canada because their catalytic converters contain higher concentrations of precious metals and are easily accessible under the car. Honda CRV, Honda Element, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-series trucks, and SUVs with high ground clearance are also frequently targeted. Vehicles parked outside overnight in urban areas — particularly Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary — are at highest risk. The Prius is targeted so frequently that specialized aftermarket cat shields exist for it.

What is a scrap catalytic converter worth in 2026?

In 2026, a scrap catalytic converter is worth $80–$210 CAD for OEM (original factory) units depending on vehicle size and province. Full-size gas pickups — Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge/Ram 1500 and 2500 — command the highest values at $150–$210. Small cars (Civic, Corolla, Elantra) are at the lower end at $80–$115. Aftermarket replacement catalytic converters are worth only $20–$50 regardless of vehicle. The value comes from platinum, palladium, and rhodium in the ceramic honeycomb core.

How do I find the current scrap price for my specific catalytic converter?

Identify your vehicle type (small car, compact SUV, full-size truck) and confirm whether the converter is OEM or aftermarket. Use the make/model table on this page to find your vehicle, then call two local yards for quotes. For the most accurate pricing, serial number lookup databases exist — but these are most useful if you're selling the cat separately rather than scrapping the whole car.

Are catalytic converter scrap prices going up or down in 2026?

Catalytic converter scrap prices in Canada track PGM (platinum group metal) markets. Palladium peaked above $3,000 USD/oz in 2022 and has since moderated to the $900–$1,200 range. Rhodium dropped sharply from its 2021 peak near $29,000/oz but remains the rarest and most price-volatile of the three metals. Net effect: 2024–2026 OEM cat values are below the 2021–2022 peak but still significant at $80–$210 per unit. Prices can recover quickly if industrial PGM demand increases or EV adoption slows demand destruction for combustion engine vehicles.

Catalytic Converter Scrap Prices in Canada

The catalytic converter is often the single most valuable part of a scrap car — and most people never mention it when negotiating. This free guide covers the value of catalytic converter scrap by make and model across Canada, so you know exactly what yours is worth before you call a yard.

Updated 2026-09-28Prices in CAD

OEM (original)

$85–$250

Ontario — per unit

Aftermarket

$20–$55

Ontario — per unit

Missing / stolen

−$80–$150

Impact on total offer

Quick answer

In Canada, an OEM (original factory) catalytic converter is worth $80–$200 CADat a scrap yard depending on vehicle size. Full-size gas pickups — Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge/Ram 1500 and 2500 — are at the top of that range at $150–$210. Small cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai Elantra are at the low end at $80–$115. An aftermarket replacement catalytic converter is worth only $20–$50 regardless of the vehicle. A missing or stolen catalytic converter adds nothing and reduces the total scrap offer by $80–$150. The value comes from platinum, palladium, and rhodium contained in the converter's ceramic core. BC and Ontario pay the most for catalytic converters; Saskatchewan and Manitoba pay the least due to fewer buyers and longer transport distances to processors.

Why catalytic converters have scrap value

A catalytic converter processes your engine's exhaust gases before they leave the tailpipe. Inside the honeycomb ceramic core are trace amounts of platinum, palladium, and rhodium — precious metals that act as catalysts. These metals are worth thousands of dollars per troy ounce on commodity markets.

An OEM catalytic converter from a full-size truck or SUV can contain $150–$300 worth of precious metals. Aftermarket replacement cats use far less precious metal content, which is why they pay much less at scrap yards.

The three metals inside your catalytic converter

PGM (platinum group metal) spot prices drive cat scrap values. All three are rarer than gold.

Metal	Approx. spot price	Role in the converter	Highest in
Palladium	~$1,000–$1,200 USD/oz	Primary catalyst for gasoline engines — processes hydrocarbons and CO	Gas cars and SUVs
Platinum	~$900–$1,100 USD/oz	Used in diesel cats and as a secondary catalyst in gas vehicles	Diesel trucks (Cummins, Duramax)
Rhodium	~$4,000–$6,000 USD/oz	Converts NOx emissions — the rarest and most volatile PGM	Full-size gas trucks and SUVs

Spot prices fluctuate daily. Cat scrap values at Canadian yards reflect these markets with a processing discount built in.

Catalytic converter value by vehicle type

OEM values — Ontario prices. Larger vehicles have larger converters with more precious metal content.

Vehicle	Type	Cat value
Small car (Civic, Corolla, Elantra)	Low platinum/palladium content	$80–$120
Midsize car (Camry, Accord, Fusion)	Moderate precious metal content	$100–$150
Full-size car (Charger, Crown Vic)	Higher precious metal content	$120–$175
Compact SUV (CR-V, RAV4, Escape)	Moderate to high content	$110–$160
Full-size pickup (F-150, Silverado, RAM)	High platinum/palladium — most valuable	$150–$200
Full-size SUV (Tahoe, Expedition)	High precious metal content	$150–$200
Aftermarket replacement (any vehicle)	Minimal precious metals	$20–$50
Missing / stolen (any vehicle)	—	$0

Catalytic converter scrap price list by make and model

OEM (original factory) values — Ontario prices. Aftermarket replacements are worth $20–$50 regardless of vehicle.

Make / Model	Common years	Cat value (CAD)
Honda Civic	2000–2015	$80–$110
Honda Accord	2000–2015	$100–$150
Honda CR-V	2000–2015	$110–$155
Honda Odyssey	2000–2015	$100–$145
Ford F-150 (gas)	1997–2020	$150–$200
Ford Escape	2001–2015	$105–$155
Ford Focus	2000–2015	$80–$115
Ford Fusion	2006–2020	$100–$150
Chevrolet Silverado (gas)	1996–2020	$150–$200
Chevrolet Cruze	2011–2019	$80–$110
Chevrolet Malibu	2004–2020	$100–$145
Dodge / Ram 1500 (gas)	1994–2020	$150–$200
Dodge / Ram 2500 (gas)	1994–2020	$155–$210
Dodge Grand Caravan	2000–2020	$100–$145
Toyota Camry	2000–2020	$100–$155
Toyota Corolla	2000–2020	$80–$115
Toyota RAV4	2000–2020	$110–$160
Toyota Yaris	2006–2020	$70–$100
Mazda 3	2003–2020	$80–$115
Nissan Altima	2002–2020	$100–$150
Hyundai Elantra	2000–2020	$80–$110
Jeep Liberty / Cherokee	2002–2015	$110–$155
Cadillac CTS	2003–2019	$120–$175
Diesel (Cummins, Powerstroke, Duramax)	various	$50–$130
Aftermarket (any vehicle)	any	$20–$50

Values shown are for OEM converters in good condition. Diesel values cover the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) — separate from the diesel particulate filter (DPF).

Catalytic converter prices by province

Regional market differences affect what yards will pay.

Province	OEM cat	Aftermarket cat
Ontario	$80–$200	$20–$50
British Columbia	$85–$210	$22–$55
Alberta	$75–$190	$18–$45
Manitoba	$75–$185	$18–$45
Quebec	$80–$195	$20–$50
Saskatchewan	$70–$180	$16–$42
Nova Scotia	$75–$185	$18–$45

How to use your cat converter in negotiation

Most people never mention their catalytic converter when calling a yard. Yards know the cat value — they factor it into their offer either way. When you mention it first, you signal that you know what your car is worth, which tends to result in a better offer.

Say: "The catalytic converter is original OEM — I know that's worth around $150 on its own. I'm factoring that into what I'm looking to get."

Catalytic converter theft in Canada

Catalytic converter theft has surged across Canada because the precious metals inside — platinum, palladium, and rhodium — are worth more per gram than gold. A skilled thief can remove a catalytic converter in under two minutes using a battery-powered angle grinder. Thieves typically target vehicles parked overnight in surface lots and driveways, where there is little lighting or foot traffic.

The most targeted vehicles in Canada are Toyota Prius and other Toyota hybrids— their converters contain higher concentrations of precious metals and the car's high ground clearance makes access easy. Other frequent targets: Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, and any SUV with high ground clearance that allows a person to slide underneath without a jack.

How to tell if your cat was stolen

Your car will start but sound extremely loud— like a race car with no muffler. You'll likely see an engine warning light. Look under the car: you'll see a gap in the exhaust pipe with fresh cut marks where the converter was removed. File a police report immediately. Then contact your auto insurer — comprehensive insurance typically covers catalytic converter theft, minus your deductible. After insurance, the remaining scrap value of the vehicle is unaffected (the rest of the car still has steel, aluminum, and other scrap value).

Theft prevention options

→Cat shield / converter guard — bolt-on steel cage that makes removal slow enough to deter most thieves. Cost: $200–$400 installed. Most effective for high-risk vehicles (Prius, CR-V).
→Park in well-lit, enclosed spaces — indoor or underground parking eliminates most cat theft risk.
→Serial number etching — some police services offer free VIN etching on catalytic converters, making stolen cats harder to sell. Check with your local service.
→Comprehensive car insurance — confirms your policy covers cat theft before you need it. Most standard comprehensive policies in Canada include it.

Frequently asked questions

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