TYSONS, Va. (September 10, 2025)—The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) strongly supports the Preventing Auto Recycling Thefts (PART) Act (H.R. 5221/S. 2238), which was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday. The U.S. Senate previously reintroduced the legislation in late July. This bipartisan bill provides a robust response to the surge in catalytic converter thefts affecting communities nationwide.

“Catalytic converter theft is a significant national issue for law enforcement, businesses, and vehicle owners. Federal action is needed to combat this dangerous criminal activity,” said NADA President and CEO Mike Stanton. “These thefts not only impact hardworking Americans but also put lives at risk.”

By requiring each catalytic converter to be marked with a traceable identification number, the PART Act will strengthen the ability of law enforcement officials to combat these thefts. This measure will deter criminals from reselling these costly stolen vehicle parts in the secondary market, as they can be easily traced back to the original vehicle.

Vehicle owners who have fallen victim to these crimes, along with law enforcement officials responding to them, have faced violent encounters with criminals determined to escape with the valuable items. Earlier this year, a man in California was fatally shot while attempting to stop thieves from stealing his catalytic converter, becoming yet another victim of these senseless but preventable crimes.

Catalytic converter theft skyrocketed in recent years due to the precious metals contained in this vehicle part. Stolen catalytic converters can garner anywhere from $20 to $350 on the black market, with the replacement cost to vehicle owners averaging over $2,500. The significant financial burden on the vehicle owners, who are already struggling with the rising costs of vehicle maintenance and insurance, further emphasizes the urgent need for action to stop these dangerous criminal activities.

The bipartisan PART Act achieves the following:

• Requires manufacturers to stamp new vehicle converters with a unique identifier, a VIN or other traceable number, to allow law enforcement to trace stolen parts back to the original vehicle.
• Creates a grant program through which entities can stamp identification numbers onto catalytic converters of existing vehicles.
• Improves record-keeping standards for purchasers of used catalytic converters; and
• Establishes federal criminal penalties for catalytic converter theft to allow for stronger enforcement of these crimes.

NADA applauds Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), as well as Representatives Jim Baird (R-Ind.) and Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), for their leadership on this important legislation. The House sponsors were joined by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Tracey Mann (R-Kansas), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), and Brian Babin (R-Texas).

For more information, see NADA’s Issue Brief on the Preventing Auto Recycling Thefts (PART) Act.