Vauxhall catalytic converters run about $25 to $300 for one original unit in 2026. The GM 142 family leads at $100 to $300, Insignia and Vectra units bring $75 to $275, Astra, Zafira and Mokka units $75 to $225, Corsa and Agila units $50 to $175, and CDTI diesel catalysts $25 to $125.
Same part as an Opel, different rules
A Vauxhall is an Opel with the steering wheel on the other side. Catalyst databases do not even separate them: the same reference entries list both marques together, covering the Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira, Insignia and Mokka under either name.
So the prices below match the Opel figures, and that page explains the GM reference system these units are catalogued under.
What is genuinely different is the transaction. The United Kingdom regulates scrap metal sales more tightly than most markets covered on this site, and a seller who does not know the rules can waste a trip or, worse, deal with someone breaking them.
Vauxhall 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 GM 142 family (Insignia 1.8, Astra J) 2008 to 2017 Johnson Matthey; same reference as the Opel Insignia $100 to $300 Insignia, Vectra, Omega and Carlton 1986 to 2017 Larger saloons; two units on V6 models $75 to $275 Frontera and Monterey 1991 to 2004 Isuzu hardware under a Vauxhall badge $75 to $250 Astra, Zafira, Meriva and Mokka (petrol) 1991 to 2020 The volume Vauxhall units $75 to $225 GM 36 family (1.7 CDTI and DTI) 1998 to 2012 Ceramic plus ceramic plus ceramic; three bricks in one shell $75 to $200 Movano and Vivaro (diesel vans) 1998 to 2020 Commercial; Renault-shared on later models $50 to $225 Corsa, Adam, Agila, Viva and Tigra 1993 to 2020 Small hatchback range $50 to $175 CDTI diesel particulate filter 2005 onward Platinum-bearing filter, priced separately $50 to $250 CDTI diesel oxidation catalyst 1998 to 2020 Mostly platinum, almost no rhodium $25 to $125 Manifold pre-cat, any model Various Small unit close to the engine $20 to $100 Aftermarket replacement, any model All years Minimum legal loading; a fraction of an original $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 per unit.
Nobody can pay you cash
This is the rule most sellers do not know, and it is absolute.
Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, which came into force on 1 October 2013 in England and Wales, it is an offence for a scrap metal dealer to buy scrap metal with cash. Government guidance is explicit that there are no exemptions, including for small amounts or private sellers.
Payment must be by non-transferable cheque or electronic transfer. Bank transfers, BACS, faster payments, standing orders, direct credits and online, phone or mobile banking are all acceptable.
Scotland has the same rule under the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, with the cash ban in force since 1 September 2016.
The practical consequence is worth stating plainly. If a buyer offers you cash for a converter in 2026, they are breaking the law, and a business willing to break that rule is not a business whose valuation you should trust. Ask for a bank transfer and deal with someone licensed.
What you need to bring
Dealers are legally required to verify who you are before buying anything, so turning up without documents means turning around again.
You need either a photographic identity document showing your full residential address, or photo identification plus a separate proof of address. Acceptable photo identification is a passport or a photocard driving licence. Acceptable address documents include a bank or building society statement, a utility bill or a council tax document, and guidance points to these being recent, within roughly three months.
One detail catches people out: an expired driving licence is not valid identification, however well the photograph still resembles you.
The dealer copies and retains these records, typically for at least three years, and must hold a scrap metal dealer's licence from the local council. Motor salvage operators need the same licence. A yard that does not ask for identification is not following the Act, which tells you something about how they operate.
Original or aftermarket, and why it matters here
UK converter specialists draw the distinction sharply, and it is the single biggest factor in what you will be paid.
Original factory units carry substantially higher loadings of platinum, palladium and rhodium. Aftermarket replacements are built to the minimum legal emissions standard and contain a fraction of that, which is why the table above puts them at $5 to $50 regardless of model.
Specialist buyers identify each unit against a reference database rather than guessing by category, and the better ones will explain which reference yours matched. That is the difference between a valuation and an offer.
Finding the GM number
Vauxhall units are catalogued under short GM references rather than long serials: codes such as GM 28, GM 36 and GM 142, usually printed alongside a longer factory number.
Two are worth looking for specifically. GM 36 covers the 1.7 CDTI and DTI diesels in the Astra, Corsa and Meriva, and is unusual in having three ceramic bricks in one shell; its recent six-month high was about 193 US dollars, well above an ordinary diesel catalyst. GM 142 covers the Insignia 1.8 and later Astra, and reached about 293 US dollars over the same period.
Photograph the code and send the image. On this brand the number does far more work than the model name.
Vauxhall prices around the world
Platinum, palladium and rhodium settle in US dollars, so a Vauxhall reference holds the same metal value in every market. Currency and local buyer depth are what change. The table converts the Vauxhall span into each market's money at today's rate.
Market Currency Unit Equivalent range United States USD per unit $25.00 to 300.00 United Kingdom GBP per unit £18.49 to 221.92 Canada CAD per unit C$34.58 to 414.92 Australia AUD per unit A$34.69 to 416.30 Germany EUR per unit €21.53 to 258.32 India INR per unit ₹2,364 to 28,364 Bangladesh BDT per unit ৳3,073 to 36,878 United Arab Emirates AED per unit AED91.81 to 1,102 Saudi Arabia SAR per unit SAR93.75 to 1,125 Turkey TRY per unit ₺1,212 to 14,538 South Africa ZAR per unit R398.94 to 4,787 China CNY per unit CN¥167.98 to 2,016
Vauxhall is sold in the United Kingdom, and the same vehicles appear as Opel across Europe and as Holden in Australia. Whichever badge is on the car, the GM reference is the same.
Questions people actually ask
How much is a Vauxhall catalytic converter worth as scrap?
Between roughly $25 and $300 for one original unit in 2026. CDTI diesel catalysts bring $25 to $125, Corsa and Agila units $50 to $175, Astra, Zafira and Mokka units $75 to $225, Insignia and Vectra units $75 to $275, and GM 142 family units $100 to $300.
Is it legal to sell a catalytic converter for cash in the UK?
No. Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 it is an offence for a dealer to buy scrap metal with cash in England and Wales, with no exemptions, and Scotland has had the same rule since September 2016 under separate legislation. Payment must be by cheque or electronic transfer.
What identification do I need to sell a converter in the UK?
Either photographic identification showing your full residential address, or photo identification such as a passport or photocard driving licence plus a recent proof of address like a bank statement, utility bill or council tax document. An expired driving licence does not count.
Are Vauxhall and Opel converters the same?
Yes. Catalyst databases list both marques on the same reference entries, covering the Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira, Insignia and Mokka under either name. Vauxhall is the right-hand drive version of the same vehicles.
Why is my Vauxhall unit worth so much less than the table suggests?
Most often because it is an aftermarket replacement rather than an original. Aftermarket units are built to minimum legal emissions standards and contain a fraction of the precious metal loading of a factory unit, which puts them at $5 to $50 whatever the model.
Figures on this page are indicative buyer ranges for complete, uncut original units and are not offers to buy. Legal requirements described apply to the United Kingdom and are a general summary rather than legal advice. Converter types, codes and selling rules are covered on the main catalytic converter price page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Vauxhall catalytic converter worth as scrap?
Between roughly $25 and $300 for one original unit in 2026. CDTI diesel catalysts bring $25 to $125, Corsa, Agila and Viva units $50 to $175, Astra, Zafira and Mokka units $75 to $225, Insignia, Vectra and Omega units $75 to $275, and GM 142 family units $100 to $300.
Is it legal to sell a catalytic converter for cash in the UK?
No. Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 it is an offence for a scrap metal dealer to buy scrap metal with cash in England and Wales, and government guidance states there are no exemptions. Scotland has had an equivalent cash ban since September 2016. Payment must be by cheque or electronic transfer.
What identification do I need to sell a catalytic converter in the UK?
Either a photographic identity document showing your full residential address, or photo identification such as a passport or photocard driving licence together with a recent proof of address like a bank statement, utility bill or council tax document. An expired driving licence is not valid.
Are Vauxhall and Opel catalytic converters the same?
Yes. Catalyst databases list both marques on the same reference entries, covering the Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira, Insignia and Mokka under either name, because Vauxhall is the right-hand drive version of the same vehicles sold in the United Kingdom.
Which Vauxhall catalytic converter is worth the most?
The GM 142 family at $100 to $300, covering the Insignia 1.8 and later Astra, which reached about $293 over a recent six-month window. The GM 36 diesel unit fitted to 1.7 CDTI models is notable too, with three ceramic bricks in one shell and a high near $193.
Why is my Vauxhall converter worth less than the table suggests?
Usually because it is an aftermarket replacement rather than a factory unit. Aftermarket converters are built to minimum legal emissions standards and carry a fraction of the platinum, palladium and rhodium of an original, which places them at $5 to $50 whatever the model.