The National Automobile Dealers Association, joined by 120 other organizations representing the auto industry including the National Auto Auction Association, consumer advocates and law enforcement, sent a letter on Thursday to congressional leaders urging passage of federal legislation to combat catalytic converter theft.

The groups urged Congress to adopt an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act that is identical to the bipartisan “Preventing Auto Recycling Theft” (PART) Act (S. 154) introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

NADA explained this proposal gives law enforcement additional tools to fight catalytic converter theft, which has risen by nearly 900% between 2019 and 2023.

The association said the urgency of addressing catalytic converters thefts has risen as these thefts have increasingly turned violent, with some victims sustaining injuries and even losing their lives when confronting thieves.

“Catalytic converter theft continues to rise across the country, with no clear end in sight,” NADA president and CEO Mike Stanton said in a news release. “This commonsense legislation would help give law enforcement the tools they need to combat catalytic converter thefts.”

Due to valuable precious metals used in the devices, experts said stolen catalytic converters can garner $20 to $350 on the black market, and the replacement cost to vehicle owners can be as high as $2,500.

The organizations contend catalytic convertors can be stolen in less than a minute from unattended vehicles and because they lack identifying marks, they are not easily traceable, making it difficult to prosecute many cases.

According to the letter, the legislation would give local law enforcement additional resources to prosecute thieves by requiring new vehicles to have traceable numbers stamped on the catalytic converter.

The proposal also increases record keeping requirements for purchasers and establishes a federal criminal penalty for the theft, sale, trafficking or known purchase of stolen catalytic converters of up to five years in jail.

“America’s franchised dealers commend Sens. Klobuchar and Braun for their leadership on this important legislation and urge passage of this measure by the end of this year,” Stanton said.

Signers of the letter were:

  • National Automobile Dealers Association
    • American Property Casualty Insurance Association
    • American Rental Association
    • American Truck Dealers
    • American Trucking Associations
    • Automotive Recyclers Association
    • CAR Coalition
    • Elite Catering & Event Professionals
    • International Association of Chiefs of Police
    • Major Cities Chiefs Association
    • Major County Sheriffs of America
    • NAFA Fleet Management Association
    • National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
    • National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies
    • National Auto Auction Association
    • National Automatic Merchandising Association
    • National Consumer League
    • National District Attorneys Association
    • National Insurance Crime Bureau
    • National Private Truck Council
    • National RV Dealers Association
    • National Salvage Vehicle Reporting Program
    • National Sheriffs’ Association
    • National Tank Truck Carriers
    • NTEA – The Work Truck Association
    • Truck Renting and Leasing Association
    • UPS
    • Alaska Trucking Association
    • Arizona Automobile Dealers Association
    • Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association
    • Austin Automobile Dealers Association
    • Auto Dealers Association of Mega Milwaukee
    • Automobile Dealers Association of Alabama
    • Automobile Dealers Association of Indiana
    • Automobile Dealers Association of Kansas City
    • Automobile Dealers Association of North Dakota
    • California New Car Dealers Association
    • California Trucking Association
    • Chicago Automobile Trade Association
    • Colorado Automobile Dealers Association
    • Colorado Motor Carriers Association
    • Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association
    • Delaware Automobile and Truck Dealers’ Association
    • Detroit Auto Dealers Association
    • Florida Automobile Dealers Association
    • Georgia Automobile Dealers Association
    • Georgia Motor Trucking Association
    • Greater Cincinnati Automobile Dealers Association
    • Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association
    • Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association
    • Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association
    • Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association
    • Idaho Automobile Dealers Association
    • Idaho Trucking Association
    • Illinois Automobile Dealers Association
    • Illinois Trucking Association
    • Indiana Motor Truck Association
    • Iowa Automobile Dealers Association
    • Iowa Motor Truck Association
    • Kansas Automobile Dealers Association
    • Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association
    • Kentucky Trucking Association
    • Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association
    • Maine Automobile Dealers Association
    • Maine Motor Transport Association
    • Maryland Automobile Dealers Association
    • Maryland Motor Truck Association
    • Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association
    • Michigan Automobile Dealers Association
    • Minnesota Auto Dealers Association
    • Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association
    • Mississippi Trucking Association
    • Missouri Automobile Dealers Association
    • Missouri Trucking Association
    • Montana Automobile Dealers Association
    • Montana Trucking Association
    • Motor Transport Association of Connecticut
    • Nebraska New Car & Truck Dealers Association
    • Nevada Franchised Auto Dealers Association
    • Nevada Trucking Association
    • New Car Dealers Association San Diego County
    • New Car Dealers of Utah
    • New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association
    • New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers
    • New Jersey Motor Truck Association
    • New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association
    • New Mexico Trucking Association
    • New York State Automobile Dealers Association
    • North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association
    • North Dakota Motor Carriers Association
    • Ohio Automobile Dealers Association
    • Oklahoma Automobile Dealers Association
    • Oklahoma Trucking Association
    • Oregon Auto Dealers Association
    • Oregon Trucking Association
    • Pennsylvania Automotive Association
    • Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
    • Rhode Island Automobile Dealers Association
    • Rhode Island Trucking Association
    • Rochester Automobile Dealers Association
    • South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association
    • South Carolina Trucking Association
    • South Dakota Auto Dealers Association
    • South Dakota Trucking Association
    • Tennessee Automotive Association
    • Tennessee Trucking Association
    • Texas Automobile Dealers Association
    • Texas Trucking Association
    • Trucking Association of Massachusetts
    • Trucking Association of New York
    • Utah Trucking Association
    • Vermont Vehicle and Automotive Distributors Association
    • Virginia Automobile Dealers Association
    • Virginia Trucking Association
    • Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association
    • Washington State Auto Dealers Association
    • Washington Trucking Associations
    • West Virginia Automobile Dealers Association
    • Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association
    • Wyoming Automobile Dealers Association