SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings’ measure to provide vehicle owners with a defense against the rise in theft of catalytic convertors was signed into law on Friday. 

“This law will provide drivers with another line of defense to make it difficult for those stealing catalytic converters to profit off the illegal sale of these parts,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Our hope is this measure will discourage bad actors and end these crimes from occurring in our communities.”

Hastings’ measure, House Bill 4589, will require recyclable metal dealers to keep records of the vehicle identification number of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed and any numbers, bar codes, stickers, or other unique markings of the catalytic convertor.

It will also require them to obtain and retain a copy of the certificate of title or uniform invoice showing the seller's ownership of the vehicle in transactions involving catalytic convertors.

A report released in 2023 from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, ranked Illinois fourth in the nation with 2,021 catalytic converter theft claims from 2020-2022. Nationally, insurance claims for these thefts increased from 16,660 claims in 2020 to 64,701 in 2022.

A catalytic converter is a crucial part of a vehicle's exhaust system. It helps lower the number of pollutants released into the air by converting hazardous combustion gases into less harmful substances. A replacement can cost from $1,000 to $3,500, according to AAA.

“No one enjoys unnecessary paperwork,” said Hastings. “These irresponsible and illegal actions force drivers to undergo the process of filing an insurance claim and replacing catalytic converters. By instituting these extra safeguards, we are trying to curve the uptick of these crimes.”

House Bill 4589 goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.