Even if you know next to nothing about cars, there’s a strong chance you’ve probably heard of a catalytic converter. However, did you know they’re probably one of the single most valuable components attached to your old motor? Let Scrap Car Comparison guide you through everything you need to know about these potential jackpots, and whether or not you should leave them in place when the time comes to scrap your car.
What is a catalytic converter?
Catalytic converters, often known simply as the ‘cat’ are a component that many regard as one of the most important parts of a car. Forming a part of a car’s exhaust system, catalytic converters control the amount of harmful emissions that are pumped out. These emissions are limited by UK law to try and keep pollution as low as possible, which is why you may have noticed a growing number of Clean Air Schemes (such as London’s ULEZ) popping up in cities up and down the country.
Engines produce six different types of gases during the combustion process, with three of these being carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen oxide – all of which are considered harmful. Within the converter is a honeycomb-like structure made up of a mixture of minerals such as palladium, rhodium and platinum. These convert the harmful gases into carbon dioxide and water. Without a catalytic converter, these gases would contribute to environmentally damaging effects such as smog and acid rain.
Can I scrap a car without a catalytic converter?
While there is nothing stopping you from scrapping a car without a catalytic converter, your quote is going to be nowhere near as much as it would be if the cat was still in place. Even in the most broken of cars, an intact catalytic converter will still hold its value. All price offers are made assuming that the catalytic converter is still fitted, and you must inform the sales representative if it has been removed, otherwise your offer will not be guaranteed and you’ll see your price reduced upon collection.
A key point to remember, however, is that removing a catalytic converter is not a job for an inexperienced mechanic. If you don’t know what you’re doing, there is every possibility that you’ll be exposing yourself to all of the harmful substances that they’re designed to suppress.
What are the benefits of scrapping a car with a catalytic converter?
When you scrap a car, the most important factor in everyone’s mind is the price that you’ll get for your knackered old set of wheels. With that in mind, you’re not going to want to do anything that’s going to potentially damage the value of the car that’s currently clogging up your driveway. Removing the catalytic converter is not only a dangerous task, but it will also seriously harm the overall value and subsequent quotes that you’ll receive.
Quite often cars will be broken up before they are sent through the crusher, and their parts are often sold on or reused elsewhere. It’s these reusable parts that can really help boost your scrap value, and with an item as important as a catalytic converter, you’ll want to ensure it is still on the car to make the most from your scrapping experience.
You may be sitting there thinking “well if it’s worth so much why don’t I take it off and sell it separately”, and we’ve basically already covered this. To remove a catalytic converter is not a simple task, and you could be at risk of not only damaging the car, but causing yourself problems with the risk of being exposed to harmful substances. The easiest, and safest, way to ensure you get the most out of your car is to leave it to the experts. We only deal with trusted salvage and scrap experts, so you know that you’re leaving the car in the safest of hands while simultaneously ensuring that the biggest sum of money possible gets deposited into your account.
Get the best price for your car with Scrap Car Comparison
If your car is starting to look a little broken and beaten, then why not call in the experts – and that’s where we come in. We provide quotes for thousands upon thousands of cars every week, and every single time we ensure that only the very best price is put forward to you. With a network of specialist buyers across the country, not only will we get you the highest value possible for your car, but we’ll also come and collect it from you, wherever you are, absolutely free of charge.
Whatever the condition of your car, no matter its age, make or model, we’re here to make your scrapping experience the easiest, quickest and most lucrative possible. Get started today with a quote in just 60 seconds and find out just how much your old banger could be worth.
