You have one old catalytic converter sitting in your garage. Here is what to do with it.
If you are in Winnipeg and you ended up with a detached converter after a legitimate repair or replacement, you do not need to guess what it is worth or drive around looking for a buyer. SMASH buys catalytic converters directly from the public. You can start the process from home, right now.
Request a quote from SMASH directly and let us review the unit you actually have.
A Converter Is Not Priced Like Ordinary Scrap Steel
If you have ever sold a load of iron or steel, you already know that most scrap is priced by weight and grade. Catalytic converters do not work that way.
What matters is the specific unit itself. The precious metals inside — platinum, palladium, rhodium — vary significantly depending on the make, model and generation of the vehicle it came from. Two converters that look almost identical from the outside can be valued very differently.
That is why a photo and some basic information about your unit gets you a real quote. A guess based on weight alone does not.
What SMASH Needs From You to Give a Quote
Getting a quote is straightforward. You do not need to be an expert. You do need to give SMASH enough to work with.
Send whole-unit photos — all sides, including the shell. If there are readable markings stamped or printed on the converter body, photograph those clearly. Good lighting matters, especially in November in Winnipeg. A dry, well-lit spot inside your garage or under a shop light works well. Avoid shooting in dim conditions where markings wash out or disappear.
Include the vehicle make the converter came from, if you know it. If you genuinely do not know the make, say so explicitly — write "make unknown" rather than leaving it blank. Source unknown and make unknown are two different things. Source unknown means you cannot explain where the unit came from. Make unknown simply means you do not have that detail. SMASH will ask about source regardless, so be ready to describe how you came to have the unit.
Also include your postal code and contact information. The quote request is not a sale, and it is not permission to ship anything. It opens a conversation.
Start your quote request here.
Source and Ownership: What You Need to Know Before You Quote
SMASH will ask where your converter came from. This is not a formality. Catalytic converter theft is a real problem across Manitoba and the rest of Canada, and buyers — including SMASH — take provenance seriously.
If a shop replaced your converter, ask the shop for the repair invoice or work order. That document connects the unit to your vehicle and your name. Keep it. Having that paperwork ready does not just help the sale — it protects you.
If you have a repair invoice, keep it available. If you have a vehicle registration or other documentation linking the vehicle to you, retain that as well. SMASH reviews source and ownership details before confirming any purchase. Full written evidence of source will be reviewed as part of the process.
An unknown make does not, on its own, establish ownership. Keep the available records that explain how you obtained the unit; SMASH will review the source and any authority needed for the sale. If you cannot explain where the unit came from, that is a material problem regardless of what the unit may be worth.
Do not cut, process or modify the converter before quoting. Keep it intact. Describe any existing damage in your enquiry so SMASH can assess the unit as it is.
How the Process Works After You Quote
Once you submit your photos, markings, vehicle make, postal code and source details, SMASH reviews the unit and responds with a written offer if the unit qualifies. No public price is provided in advance — the actual offer depends on the specific unit.
Review the offer carefully before you accept anything. If the offer works for you, accept it in writing. Only then will SMASH confirm shipping instructions. Do not ship anything before you have confirmed instructions from SMASH directly.
When packaging for shipping, protect the unit so it does not move around inside the package and so the shell is cushioned against impact. Canada Post provides general guidance on packaging and wrapping that covers the basics of protecting fragile contents. The confirmed instructions from SMASH govern the actual carrier and method — follow those, not general advice.
Once SMASH receives and inspects the unit, payment is by Interac e-Transfer in Canadian dollars. Payment follows receipt and inspection. That sequence does not change.
SMASH does not guarantee acceptance of every unit submitted, and not every damaged or non-qualifying unit will result in a confirmed offer. The quote request starts the review — it is not a commitment by either side.
If You Have Other Metal Lots: A Separate Option for Businesses
This article is about selling one catalytic converter directly to SMASH as a private owner. If you operate a recycling yard or business in Manitoba and you have other non-ferrous or ferrous metal lots to move — cores, non-ferrous loads, other scrap categories — that is a different conversation entirely.
The Canadian SMASH auction platform serves businesses selling metal lots. For your detached catalytic converter, stay with the direct SMASH quote on this site. You do not need a business metal auction to ask about a single unit.
For everything else SMASH publishes about buying and selling converters, the SMASH converter blog is a useful place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a price over the phone before I send photos?
Start with clear whole-unit photos and any readable markings. The actual unit determines the assessment. If you need help providing those details, ask SMASH before relying on an estimate for a different converter.
My converter came off my own vehicle but I do not have paperwork. Can I still sell?
You can still submit a quote request. SMASH will review source details as part of the process. The stronger your documentation, the smoother the review. If you can get a copy of the repair invoice from the shop that did the work, do that before you quote.
I do not know the vehicle make. Does that stop the process?
Not automatically. Write "make unknown" explicitly when you submit. That is different from omitting the detail entirely. SMASH will assess what it can from the photos and markings. The available source and ownership evidence still needs review.
Should I remove the heat shield or clean the unit before photographing?
No. Keep the unit intact and photograph it as-is. Do not cut, grind or process any part of the converter. Markings on the shell are important — do not obscure or damage them.
What if the offer does not work for me?
You review the written offer before you commit to anything. If it does not work, you are not obligated to proceed. The quote request is not a sale.
How long does it take to get a quote?
SMASH does not publish specific timelines. Submit complete information — good photos, markings, make or explicit unknown, postal code, contacts and source details — and the review can move forward without back-and-forth delays.
Your Next Step
You have one converter. It is sitting in your garage in Winnipeg. You can find out whether SMASH can make you an offer without committing to a sale.
Keep it intact. Find a dry, well-lit spot and take clear whole-unit photos. Note any markings you can read on the shell. Write down where the unit came from and have your repair documentation ready.
Then go here and submit your quote request: best-scrap-cat-prices.ca.
Send one clear quote request directly to SMASH. You can review the response and ask any questions before deciding whether to accept an offer.