Minnesota

For Minnesota, who may buy a detached converter is It is unlawful for a person who is not a registered scrap metal dealer to purchase or acquire a used catalytic converter that is not EPA certified for reuse as a replacement part except when the catalytic converter is attached to a motor vehicle; a used catalytic converter that is EPA certified for reuse as a replacement part may be sold to a person or business for reuse as a replacement part for a motor vehicle when the marking requirements are met; documentation a seller must provide is The seller must provide a copy of the vehicle's title or registration in order to demonstrate the seller's ownership interest in the property; a bona fide business engaged in vehicle dismantling, vehicle demolishing, scrap metal recycling, or automotive repair services may instead provide an itemized list of each detached catalytic converter being sold that includes the donor vehicle identification number or a unique alternative number, and the date of the removal of each catalytic converter; marking or buyer recordkeeping requirement is The converter must be marked with the date the converter was removed from the vehicle and the identification number of the vehicle from which the converter was removed, or an alternative number under a numbering system that can be immediately linked to the vehicle identification number by law enforcement; the scrap metal dealer must record that information, make it available upon request to law enforcement, and, effective beginning August 1, 2024, enter the information into an electronic database available to a law enforcement agency as approved by the commissioner of public safety; mandatory holding period before resale is A scrap metal dealer is prohibited from processing, selling, or removing a catalytic converter from the dealer's premises for at least seven days after the catalytic converter purchase or acquisition by the scrap metal dealer; criminal penalty is Misdemeanor if the person possesses, purchases, or acquires one catalytic converter; gross misdemeanor for two; felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years or a fine of not more than $10,000 for at least three but not more than ten; felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten years or a fine of not more than $20,000 for more than ten but not more than 70; and felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than $100,000 for more than 70, verified against its source on 2026-08-18.

Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.

What the source says

Subd. 6. Criminal penalty. (a) A person who intentionally violates a provision of this section, except for subdivision 11, 12, or 13, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) A person who violates subdivision 11, 12, or 13 is guilty of a: (1) misdemeanor, if the person possesses, purchases, or acquires one catalytic converter; (2) gross misdemeanor, if the person possesses, purchases, or acquires two catalytic converters; (3) felony, and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both, if the person possesses, purchases, or acquires at least three but not more than ten catalytic converters; (4) felony, and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both, if the person possesses, purchases, or acquires more than ten but not more than 70 catalytic converters; and (5) felony, and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 20 years or to payment of a fine of not more than $100,000, or both, if the person possesses, purchases, or acquires more than 70 catalytic converters. The number of catalytic converters possessed, purchased, or acquired by a person within any six month period may be aggregated and the person charged accordingly. When two or more offenses are committed by the same person in two or more counties, the person may be prosecuted in any county in which one of the offenses was committed for all of the offenses aggregated under this paragraph. § Subd. 6a. Restitution. When the court imposes a criminal penalty pursuant to subdivision 6, and orders the offender to pay restitution to any identifiable victim, the amount of the out-of-pocket losses considered by the court must include the costs and expenses of replacing a catalytic converter and may include any other restitution costs allowed under section <https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/2025/cite/611A.04> 611A.04 . § Subd. 7. Exemption. A scrap metal dealer may purchase aluminum cans without complying with this section. § Subd. 8. Investigative holds; confiscation of property. (a) Whenever a law enforcement official from any agency has probable cause to believe that property in the possession of a scrap metal dealer is stolen or is evidence of a crime and notifies the dealer not to sell the item, the scrap metal dealer shall not (1) process or sell the item, or (2) remove or allow its removal from the premises. This investigative hold must be confirmed in writing by the originating agency within 72 hours and will remain in effect for 30 days from the date of initial notification, or until the investigative hold is canceled or renewed, or until a law enforcement notification to confiscate or directive to release is issued, whichever comes first. (b) If an item is identified as stolen or evidence in a criminal case, a law enforcement official may: (1) physically confiscate and remove it from the scrap metal dealer, pursuant to a written notification; (2) place the item on hold or extend the hold under paragraph (a) and leave it in the licensed premise; or (3) direct its release to a registered owner or owner's agent. When an item is confiscated, the person doing so shall provide identification upon request of the scrap metal dealer, and shall provide the name and telephone number of the confiscating agency and investigator, and the case number related to the confiscation. (c) A dealer may request seized property be returned in accordance with section <https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/2025/cite/626.04> 626.04 . (d) When an investigative hold or notification to confiscate is no longer necessary, the law enforcement official or designee shall so notify the licensee. (e) A scrap metal dealer may process or otherwise dispose of the scrap metal if: (1) a notification to confiscate is not issued during the investigative hold; or (2) a law enforcement official does not physically remove the motor vehicle from the premises within 15 calendar days from issuance of a notification to confiscate. (f) If a scrap metal dealer is required to hold the metal at the direction of law enforcement for purposes of investigation or prosecution or it is seized by law enforcement, the scrap metal dealer, and any other victim, shall be entitled to seek restitution against the person who delivered the metal to the scrap metal dealer in any criminal case that may arise from the investigation, including any out-of-pocket expenses for storage and lost profit. § Subd. 9. Video security cameras required. (a) Each scrap metal dealer shall install and maintain at each location video surveillance cameras, still digital cameras, or similar devices positioned to record or photograph a frontal view showing a readily identifiable image of the face of each seller of scrap metal who enters the location. The scrap metal dealer shall also photograph the seller's vehicle, including license plate, either by video camera or still digital camera, so that an accurate and complete description of it may be obtained from the recordings made by the cameras. Photographs and recordings must be clearly and accurately associated with their respective records. (b) The video camera or still digital camera must be kept in operating condition and must be shown upon request to a properly identified law enforcement officer for inspection. The camera must record and display the accurate date and time. The video camera must be turned on at all times when the location is open for business and at any other time when scrap metal is purchased. (c) Recordings and images required by paragraph (a) shall be retained by the scrap metal dealer for a minimum period of 60 days and shall at all reasonable times be open to the inspection of any properly identified law enforcement officer. (d) If the scrap metal dealer does not purchase some or any scrap metal at a specific business location, the dealer need not comply with this subdivision with respect to those purchases. § Subd. 10. Preemption of local ordinances. This section preempts and supersedes any local ordinance or rule concerning the same subject matter. § Subd. 11. Prohibition on possessing catalytic converters; exception. (a) It is unlawful for a person to possess a used catalytic converter that is not attached to a motor vehicle except when: (1) the converter is marked with the date the converter was removed from the vehicle and the identification number of the vehicle from which the converter was removed or, as an alternative to the vehicle identification number, any numbers, bar codes, stickers, or other unique markings, whether resulting from the pilot project created under subdivision 2b or some other source; or (2) the converter has been EPA certified for reuse as a replacement part. (b) If an alternative number to the vehicle identification number is used, it must be under a numbering system that can be immediately linked to the vehicle identification number by law enforcement. The marking of the vehicle identification or alternative number may be made in any permanent manner, including but not limited to an engraving or use of permanent ink. The marking must clearly and legibly indicate the date removed and the vehicle identification number or the alternative number and the method by which law enforcement can link the converter to the vehicle identification number. § Subd. 12. Prohibition. It is unlawful for a person who is not a registered scrap metal dealer to purchase or acquire a used catalytic converter that is not EPA certified for reuse as a replacement part except when the catalytic converter is attached to a motor vehicle. A used catalytic converter that is EPA certified for reuse as a replacement part may be sold to a person or business for reuse as a replacement part for a motor vehicle when the requirements of subdivision 11 are met. § Subd. 13. Purchase or acquisition of catalytic converters. (a) It is unlawful for a scrap metal dealer to purchase or acquire a used catalytic converter not attached to a motor vehicle unless the converter is marked as required under subdivision 11 and the seller provides a copy of the vehicle's title or registration in order to demonstrate the seller's ownership interest in the property. A bona fide business engaged in vehicle dismantling, vehicle demolishing, scrap metal recycling, or automotive repair services may remove a converter as part of auto repair work or auto recycling without a copy of the vehicle's title or registration, if the business provides: (1) the identity of the seller's business and a written or electronic signature of the seller; (2) an itemized list of each detached catalytic converter being sold that includes the donor vehicle identification number or a unique alternative number that can be readily linked to the vehicle identification number by law enforcement; and (3) the date of the removal of each catalytic converter. The registered scrap metal dealer purchasing or acquiring the catalytic converters must keep the transaction record, along with the identity and signature of the employee completing the transaction. (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a scrap metal dealer may purchase or acquire a catalytic converter from a person possessing an old vehicle that is no longer registered and titled without a copy of the registration or title, if the person has an official law enforcement report stating that the agency has verified the person's ownership prior to the removal of the converter from the vehicle. (c) A scrap metal dealer who purchases or acquires a used catalytic converter not attached to a motor vehicle must record the information received under this subdivision and subdivision 11, including the vehicle identification number or alternative number and the method by which law enforcement can link the converter to the vehicle identification number; make the information available upon request to law enforcement; and, effective beginning August 1, 2024, enter the information into an electronic database available to a law enforcement agency as approved by the commissioner of public safety. (d) A scrap metal dealer is prohibited from processing, selling, or removing a catalytic converter from the dealer's premises for at least seven days after the catalytic converter purchase or acquisition by the scrap metal dealer. (e) Paragraphs (c) and (d) do not apply to a scrap metal dealer that purchases or acquires a catalytic converter directly from a different scrap metal dealer that has certified in writing that it has fully complied with paragraphs (c) and (d) with respect to the catalytic converter. (f) A payment for a catalytic converter must not be made until at least five days after sale to the scrap metal dealer. Payment must be sent by check to the seller's address or a bank account in the seller's name. (g) Notwithstanding paragraph (f), a scrap metal dealer may pay a bona fide business engaged in vehicle dismantling, vehicle demolishing, scrap metal recycling, or automotive repair services at any time for a direct sale of a catalytic converter by the bona fide business to the scrap metal dealer. Payment must be made by check payable to the seller or deposited electronically in a bank account in the seller's name.

— revisor.mn.gov, retrieved 2026-08-18

Source

• revisor.mn.govhttps://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/325E.21

Last verified against source: 2026-08-18. Due for re-check by 2027-08-18. This page as Markdown · OKF bundle · full dataset as JSON.