How do I know the actual platinum, palladium, and rhodium content of my catalytic converter before selling it?
Short answer: You generally can't know the exact PGM content without a professional assay, since it depends on the specific converter's make, model, and design — reference price guides that estimate value by part number or converter type give a rough starting point, but for genuine certainty, a buyer offering to assay your specific unit, or an independent testing service, is the only way to get an actual measured figure.
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List Free →Why PGM content varies so much between converters
Different vehicle makes, models, and years use different converter designs with genuinely different platinum, palladium, and rhodium loadings — there’s no single, universal PGM content that applies across all catalytic converters, which is exactly why guessing at value without more specific information is unreliable.
What reference guides can and can’t tell you
Part-number-based price guides, which some buyers and services publish, give a reasonable estimate based on known typical content for that specific converter type — this is a useful starting reference, but it’s still an estimate rather than a measured result for your specific physical unit.
How to get an actual measured figure
A genuine assay, either performed by your buyer as part of their purchasing process or through an independent testing service, is the only way to get a real, measured PGM content figure rather than an estimate — worth considering for a higher-value converter where the extra certainty matters.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Comparing offers from multiple ScrapTrade buyers for the same converter gives you a practical sense of value even without a formal assay, since consistent offers across buyers suggest a reasonably accurate estimate.
Ready to sell your catalytic converters or precious metal scrap without the guesswork? ScrapTrade connects verified buyers and sellers with escrow-protected payments and transparent weighing.
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