# Georgia — Catalytic converter sale and possession laws by US state — who can legally buy a used converter, and what a seller must prove For Georgia, who may buy a detached converter is A secondary metals recycler may purchase a catalytic converter only if it is attached to a vehicle, or is purchased from a licensed used motor vehicle dealer or used motor vehicle parts dealer, a new motor vehicle dealer, a motor vehicle repairer, a manufacturer or distributor of catalytic converters, a seller holding replacement documentation and proof of vehicle ownership, or a registered secondary metals recycler; and it is unlawful for any person to purchase a used, detached catalytic converter unless that person is a registered secondary metals recycler; documentation a seller must provide is A dealer, repairer, manufacturer or distributor must provide a copy of its valid license or business license at the time of the purchase transaction, which is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler; any other seller must provide verifiable documentation, such as a receipt or work order, indicating that the catalytic converter is the result of a replacement performed by a used motor vehicle dealer, new motor vehicle dealer, or motor vehicle repairer, noting the make, model, and year of the vehicle, together with a copy of a certificate of title or registration showing ownership of or interest in that vehicle; marking or buyer recordkeeping requirement is The secondary metals recycler must scan or photocopy the seller's license or business license, or hold it on file; a registered secondary metals recycler must provide the required information concerning the purchase transaction to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Code Section 10-1-359.5; statutory citation is 10-1-351, verified against its source on 2026-08-18. - **State:** Georgia _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_ - **Who may buy a detached converter:** A secondary metals recycler may purchase a catalytic converter only if it is attached to a vehicle, or is purchased from a licensed used motor vehicle dealer or used motor vehicle parts dealer, a new motor vehicle dealer, a motor vehicle repairer, a manufacturer or distributor of catalytic converters, a seller holding replacement documentation and proof of vehicle ownership, or a registered secondary metals recycler; and it is unlawful for any person to purchase a used, detached catalytic converter unless that person is a registered secondary metals recycler _(verified: appears in the quote below)_ - **Documentation a seller must provide:** A dealer, repairer, manufacturer or distributor must provide a copy of its valid license or business license at the time of the purchase transaction, which is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler; any other seller must provide verifiable documentation, such as a receipt or work order, indicating that the catalytic converter is the result of a replacement performed by a used motor vehicle dealer, new motor vehicle dealer, or motor vehicle repairer, noting the make, model, and year of the vehicle, together with a copy of a certificate of title or registration showing ownership of or interest in that vehicle _(verified: appears in the quote below)_ - **Marking or buyer recordkeeping requirement:** The secondary metals recycler must scan or photocopy the seller's license or business license, or hold it on file; a registered secondary metals recycler must provide the required information concerning the purchase transaction to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Code Section 10-1-359.5 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_ - **Statutory citation:** 10-1-351 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_ ## What the source says > (c) No secondary metals recycler shall purchase a catalytic converter unless such catalytic converter is: (1) Attached to a vehicle; or (2) Purchased from: (A) A used motor vehicle dealer or used motor vehicle parts dealer licensed pursuant to Chapter 47 of Title 43 or by another state that provides a copy of such valid license at the time of the purchase transaction that is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler or whose scanned or photocopied license is on file with the secondary metals recycler; (B) A new motor vehicle dealer that provides a copy of a valid business license at the time of the purchase transaction that is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler or whose scanned or photocopied business license is on file with the secondary metals recycler; (C) A motor vehicle repairer that provides a copy of a valid business license at the time of the purchase transaction that is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler or whose scanned or photocopied business license is on file with the secondary metals recycler; (D) A manufacturer or distributor of catalytic converters that provides a copy of a valid business license at the time of the purchase transaction that is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler or whose scanned or photocopied business license is on file with the secondary metals recycler; (E) A seller with: (i) Verifiable documentation, such as a receipt or work order, indicating that the catalytic converter is the result of a replacement of a catalytic converter performed by a used motor vehicle dealer, new motor vehicle dealer, or motor vehicle repairer. Such documentation shall include a notation as to the make, model, and year of the vehicle in which such catalytic converter was replaced; and (ii) A copy of a certificate of title or registration showing ownership of or interest in the vehicle in which the catalytic converter was replaced; or (F) A secondary metals recycler who provides proof of registration pursuant to Code Section 10-1-359.1 and a signed statement stating that the required information concerning the purchase transaction involving such catalytic converter was provided by such secondary metals recycler to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Code Section 10-1-359.5 . (d)(1) As used in this subsection, the term “ used, detached catalytic converter ” means motor vehicle exhaust system parts that are used for controlling the exhaust emissions from motor vehicles and that contain a catalyst metal, but shall not include a catalytic converter that has been tested, certified, and labeled for reuse, in accordance with applicable federal Clean Air Act regulations, as may from time to time be amended. (2) It shall be unlawful for any person to purchase or to solicit or advertise for the purchase of a used, detached catalytic converter, or any nonferrous metal parts of a catalytic converter, unless such person is a registered secondary metals recycler in accordance with Code Section 10-1-359.1 and in full compliance with all requirements prescribed by this article. (3) It shall be unlawful for any person to purchase, possess, transport, or sell a used, detached catalytic converter, or any nonferrous metal parts of a catalytic converter, unless such person is authorized to purchase, possess, transport, or sell catalytic converters pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section and is in possession of the licenses, registrations, or other documentation required by subsection (c) of this Code section. (4) Each unlawfully possessed or obtained used, detached catalytic converter shall be considered a separate offense. ## Source - https://codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-10-commerce-and-trade/ga-code-sect-10-1-351/ Last verified: 2026-08-18. Review by: 2027-08-18. Part of [Catalytic converter sale and possession laws by US state — who can legally buy a used converter, and what a seller must prove](https://referencesource.org/catalytic-converter-theft-laws-by-state/).