Hyundai catalytic converters run about $30 to $300 for one original unit in 2026. Sonata Hybrid and Genesis units lead at $100 to $300, Tucson and Santa Fe units bring $75 to $275, Elantra units $50 to $200, and an i10 unit $30 to $125. Later model years sit at the top of each range.
If you priced a Hyundai converter two or three years ago and are pricing one again now, expect a different conversation. Two trends have moved in the same direction at once, and both favour the seller.
The Hyundai repricing, explained
The first trend is fleet age. Hyundai’s volume years in Western markets ran from roughly 2010 onward, and those cars are only now arriving at yards in numbers. They were built during the period when petrol catalysts leaned heavily on palladium and rhodium, so the units coming off them carry loadings that older, cheaper Hyundais never had. A 2019 Santa Fe or Tucson unit is among the most valuable Hyundai converters on the market for exactly this reason — the opposite of the pattern on brands whose best units are their oldest.
The second trend is the metals themselves. Palladium has gained around a quarter over the past twelve months, and rhodium has roughly doubled from its late-2024 level. Buyer lists re-mark against those benchmarks, so a Hyundai quote from last year understates today’s market — not because the buyer is unfair, but because the underlying reference has moved.
Put together: newer stock, richer loadings, stronger metals. That is why quotes on this brand keep climbing.
Hyundai catalytic converter scrap prices by model
Model Years Notes Indicative range (USD) Measurement Model years covered What sets the unit apart Buyer quotes for one complete unit, honeycomb intact Sonata Hybrid and Ioniq 2011 to 2020 Hybrid loading; the top Hyundai unit $100 to $300 Genesis and Equus 2009 to 2016 V6 and V8, two units $100 to $300 Santa Fe 2007 to 2020 Later years lead the range; often two units $75 to $275 Tucson and ix35 2005 to 2021 The most searched Hyundai unit $75 to $275 Palisade and Veracruz 2007 to 2020 Large crossover, two units $100 to $275 Sonata 2006 to 2019 Mid-size; V6 years above four-cylinder $60 to $250 Kona 2018 to 2022 Newer small crossover, tighter loading $60 to $200 Elantra and Lantra 2007 to 2020 The volume Hyundai unit $50 to $200 Veloster 2012 to 2020 Shares Elantra-era hardware $50 to $200 Tiburon 1997 to 2008 Older coupe, worth it only if original $50 to $175 H1, Starex and iLoad (diesel) 2000 to 2018 Diesel oxidation catalyst, platinum-led $40 to $175 Accent and Verna 2005 to 2020 Small saloon, modest loading $40 to $150 i10, i20 and Getz 2002 to 2020 Smallest Hyundai units $30 to $125 Manifold pre-cat, any model Various Small unit cast into the exhaust manifold $20 to $100 Aftermarket replacement, any model All years Universal unit, trace metal $5 to $50
Ranges are compiled from published core-buyer code lists, catalyst exchange transaction data and current scrap guides; they are not a live per-code feed. Figures are for one complete unit, and larger crossovers frequently carry two.
Tucson: the model everyone searches
No other Hyundai comes close in search volume, and the reason is arithmetic rather than mystery. The Tucson has been Hyundai’s global volume crossover across three generations, so more of them reach end of life each year than any other model in the range, and more owners go looking for a number.
The practical point for a Tucson seller is that the generation matters more than the badge. Early 2005 to 2009 units sit near the bottom of the $75 to $275 band. The 2015 and later cars sit at the top. If a buyer quotes the Tucson as a single flat figure without asking the year, they are quoting the bottom.
Hyundai prices around the world
Platinum, palladium and rhodium settle in US dollars, so a Hyundai code carries the same metal value in every market. The currency and the local buyer pool are what differ. The table converts the Hyundai span, from an i10 unit at the bottom to a Sonata Hybrid unit at the top, into each market’s money at today’s rate.
Market Currency Unit Equivalent range United States USD per unit $30.00 to 300.00 United Kingdom GBP per unit £22.19 to 221.92 Canada CAD per unit C$41.49 to 414.92 Australia AUD per unit A$41.63 to 416.30 Germany EUR per unit €25.83 to 258.32 India INR per unit ₹2,836 to 28,364 Bangladesh BDT per unit ৳3,688 to 36,878 United Arab Emirates AED per unit AED110.18 to 1,102 Saudi Arabia SAR per unit SAR112.50 to 1,125 Turkey TRY per unit ₺1,454 to 14,538 South Africa ZAR per unit R478.72 to 4,787 China CNY per unit CN¥201.58 to 2,016
These conversions are the metal-value anchor rather than a local quote. This brand rewards checking the local column: Hyundai sells strongly across Europe, India, the Middle East and Asia, so many readers are not selling into the US market at all.
Sell now or hold?
The honest answer is that nobody times metals reliably, but you can avoid the two clear mistakes.
Do not sell on a quote more than a week old. Lists re-mark as the three metals move, and in a rising market a stale number costs you rather than protects you.
Do not hold a unit indefinitely waiting for a peak. A converter does not improve in storage, the paperwork attaching it to your vehicle gets harder to produce over time, and rhodium in particular has a history of sharp reversals as well as sharp rises. If the number in front of you is close to the table above and the buyer prices by code, that is a reasonable point to transact.
Hyundai and Kia: the same question, twice
Hyundai and Kia share platforms, engines and in many cases the exact converter. Catalyst databases list some references — the Sonata’s 2GAVO among them — against both brands at once, because it is one part with two badges.
So if you are comparing a Tucson against a Sportage, or a Santa Fe against a Sorento, do not expect a meaningful difference. Quote the code rather than the badge. If a buyer offers noticeably less for the Kia version of an identical unit, that is a negotiating position rather than a valuation.
Common mistakes
- Accepting a flat Hyundai price without stating the model year, which costs most on the Tucson and Santa Fe.
- Assuming an older Hyundai is worth more than a newer one; on this brand it is usually the reverse.
- Missing the manifold pre-cat fitted alongside the main unit on many four-cylinder models.
- Treating a diesel H1 or Starex unit as if it prices like a petrol Tucson.
- Quoting one unit on a Santa Fe or Palisade that carries two.
- Selling against a quote from a previous year in a market that has moved up.
Questions people actually ask
Why is my Hyundai worth more than I expected?
Because the 2010s cars carry heavier palladium and rhodium loadings than the brand’s earlier units, and both metals have risen since 2024. Sellers whose expectations were set by older Hyundais or by 2024 pricing are working from a lower baseline than the current market.
Where do I find the code on a Hyundai converter?
Stamped or printed on the shell, usually a short alphanumeric string in formats such as 2ETC0, 2EHC0 or 2GAVO. Photograph it in daylight and quote that code rather than the model name, since one code can cover several models and both Hyundai and Kia.
Is it worth replacing a Hyundai converter instead of scrapping the car?
Rarely, on economics alone. A Santa Fe replacement is commonly quoted in the region of $2,800 at a workshop, against a scrap return of $75 to $275 for the original unit. The replacement cost breakdown covers when the repair does make sense.
Figures on this page are indicative buyer ranges for complete, uncut original units and are not offers to buy. Converter types, codes and selling rules are covered on the main catalytic converter price page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Hyundai catalytic converter worth as scrap?
Between roughly $30 and $300 for one original unit in 2026. The i10 and i20 run $30 to $125, Accent units $40 to $150, Elantra units $50 to $200, Tucson and Santa Fe units $75 to $275, and Sonata Hybrid or Genesis units $100 to $300.
Why are Hyundai catalytic converter prices rising?
Two reasons at once. Hyundai's 2010s volume cars are only now reaching scrap age, and they carry heavier palladium and rhodium loadings than the brand's older units. Meanwhile palladium has gained around a quarter over the past year and rhodium has roughly doubled since late 2024.
Which Hyundai catalytic converter is worth the most?
Sonata Hybrid and Ioniq units at $100 to $300, followed by Genesis and Equus units with their V6 and V8 pairs. Among the mainstream models, later Tucson and Santa Fe units sit at the top of the $75 to $275 band.
Is a newer Hyundai converter worth more than an older one?
Usually yes, which is the reverse of most brands. Hyundai's 2015 and later units carry richer precious metal loadings than the 2005 to 2009 cars, so a late Tucson sits near the top of its range while an early one sits near the bottom.
Do Hyundai and Kia catalytic converters price the same?
Generally yes. The two brands share platforms, engines and often the exact converter, and catalyst databases list some references against both marques at once. Compare by the stamped code rather than the badge, since a Tucson and a Sportage unit can be the same part.
How many catalytic converters does a Hyundai Tucson have?
Most four-cylinder Tucsons carry one main unit plus a small pre-cat cast into the exhaust manifold. Larger crossovers including the Santa Fe, Palisade and Veracruz commonly carry two main units, so ask for a price on each rather than one total.