PART Act
Sponsored By: Senator Amy Klobuchar
Introduced
Summary
Deterring catalytic converter and precious-metal car-part theft. This bill would create federal marking rules, a stamping grant program, tighter resale controls, and new criminal penalties to make stolen parts traceable and harder to sell.
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- Vehicle owners and communities would see catalytic converters redefined to include multiple diesel and emission-control devices and required to carry a unique part identification linked to a law-enforcement database to aid tracing.
- Law enforcement, dealers, fleet owners, repair shops, and nonprofits could receive grants to die- or pin-stamp converters using a typed font and high-heat theft-deterrent paint, with funding prioritized for high-theft areas and annual reporting to Congress for 10 years.
- Scrap buyers and sellers would face new rules that bar sales of parts with removed or tampered markings, require sellers to keep records for 2 years and use traceable payments only, and create federal theft and trafficking offenses with penalties up to 5 years in prison.
*Would provide $7.0 million from unobligated American Rescue Plan Act funds to fund the VIN-stamping grant program.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New theft penalties and sale rules
If enacted, the bill would create new federal crimes for stealing catalytic converters and for knowingly buying stolen converters. Penalties could include fines and up to 5 years in prison. It would ban sale of converters whose identifying markings were removed or tampered with and require traceable payments (for example, checks or wire transfers); cash and digital-asset payments would be prohibited. Parts sellers (salvagers, dismantlers, recyclers, repair shops) would have to give buyer name, address, phone, a copy of ID, and the VIN or part ID, and keep that information for at least 2 years. The Attorney General would write regulations to carry out enforcement and penalties.
Free catalytic converter ID stamping
If enacted, you would be able to get your catalytic converter permanently marked for free. The Secretary of Transportation would start a grant program within 180 days and provide $7 million from ARPA to fund marking. Eligible groups (police, dealers, fleet owners, repair shops, and nonprofits) would die- or pin-stamp a typed ID and cover it with high-visibility, high-heat paint. Marking may use the full VIN or a unique part ID linked to a law-enforcement database, must not damage converter function, and must be provided at no cost to the vehicle owner. The Secretary would prioritize high-theft areas and report annually to Congress for 10 years on converters marked and theft outcomes.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov