Ohio Passes House Bill 210 to Crack Down on Catalytic Converter Theft

Imagine walking out to your car after Sunday service only to find it sitting lower than usual, the roar of a missing exhaust rattling your morning, that is exactly what happened to vehicles parked at Rep. Bill Roemer's church, and it is what finally pushed Ohio lawmakers to act.

Ohio passed House Bill 210 last month, a measure specifically designed to crack down on catalytic converter theft. Insurance Journal reports that the bill creates recordkeeping and transaction requirements for scrap dealers, upgrades theft to a felony, and now heads to the desk of Gov. Mike DeWine. At its peak in 2022, catalytic converter theft generated approximately 45,000 claims totaling $115 million, according to State Farm data cited by Insurance Journal, a scale that made legislative intervention unavoidable.

Ohio's new catalytic converter law, explained

House Bill 210 works on three fronts simultaneously.

First, it creates transparent guidelines for scrap dealers and other buyers of used catalytic converters, requiring them to comply with recordkeeping, reporting, and transaction requirements. Businesses that fail to meet those standards face penalties for noncompliance.

Second, the bill elevates catalytic converter theft to a felony of the fifth degree. That is a meaningful upgrade in criminal exposure for anyone caught stripping a converter from a parked vehicle.

Third, the law expands authority. The Director of Public Safety will have broader power to oversee and investigate scrap metal dealers and other buyers of used catalytic converters. The bill also takes a harder line with motor vehicle salvage dealers, outright prohibiting them from purchasing or accepting catalytic converters.

Together, these provisions attack the theft pipeline at both ends: the street-level crime and the resale market that makes it profitable.

For Ohio drivers reviewing their coverage options, understanding what this law does, and does not, cover is the next important step.

Why lawmakers acted now: the theft surge that cost drivers millions

Catalytic converter thefts did not spike by accident. Between 2020 and 2022, criminals discovered that catalytic converters contained precious metals, specifically platinum, palladium, and rhodium, that could be stripped in minutes and resold for significant sums.

The human cost landed close to home for the bill's sponsor. Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) watched converters get stolen from vehicles at his own church. He did not let the experience pass.

"I have worked on this issue for more than six years because I have seen firsthand the disruption and financial hardship these thefts can cause," Roemer said in a statement.

That personal frustration became a six-year legislative effort. The bill ultimately passed the legislature almost unanimously, an unusually strong consensus for any piece of legislation.

"Catalytic theft is a plague on working Ohioans, and I'm excited to announce House Bill 210 was sent to the governor after almost unanimously passing the legislature," Roemer said.

The precious metals angle explains why ordinary deterrents failed for so long. Thieves were not joyriding, they were running a supply chain, with scrap dealers serving as the exit ramp.

How catalytic converter theft claims played out nationally, and what changed

State Farm claims data tells the story of a crime wave that crested and then retreated. The timeline below captures the arc.

The peak is stark: roughly 45,000 claims in a single year, costing $115 million across policyholders and insurers combined. That figure comes from State Farm data, as reported by Insurance Journal.

The decline that followed 2022 is real, but its causes are difficult to isolate. Precious metal prices fluctuate, enforcement efforts ramped up in several states, and public awareness increased. Whether that decline holds, especially without legislation like Ohio's in place, remained an open question heading into 2025 and 2026.

Which vehicles and drivers are most exposed

The source does not provide a ranked list of targeted vehicle models, but the broader picture from the legislation points to patterns worth knowing.

• Vehicles parked in unsecured, public locations, such as church lots, shopping centers, and outdoor workplaces, represent the most common theft settings referenced in the legislation's backstory.
• Owners who rely on vehicles for work or daily commuting face the sharpest financial hardship when a converter is stolen, as Roemer's statement specifically calls out "working Ohioans."
• The precious metals driving theft (platinum, palladium, and rhodium) are concentrated in converters attached to vehicles with larger or less-shielded exhaust systems, though the source does not rank specific makes or models.
• Urban and suburban Ohio communities are implicated by the near-unanimous legislative response, suggesting widespread geographic exposure across the state rather than isolated hotspots.

Drivers in neighboring states such as Indiana and Pennsylvania face similar theft risks without equivalent legislation yet in place, making coverage review especially timely for those near state lines.

How comprehensive coverage fits, and where it falls short

Catalytic converter theft can be covered under an auto insurance policy, but only if that policy includes comprehensive coverage. Liability-only policies leave owners entirely unprotected.

Comprehensive coverage handles theft, which is why a stolen converter qualifies. But the practical math matters here. If your deductible is $500 or $1,000 and the converter replacement costs only modestly more than that, filing a claim may not make financial sense once you factor in the potential effect on your premium.

The Save Max Quote Index, drawn from 3.3 million+ real quote requests, consistently shows that drivers who carry only state-minimum liability coverage are the most financially exposed to out-of-pocket theft losses. The SMQI underscores that comprehensive coverage is one of the more cost-effective protections available, particularly for drivers in high-theft areas.

There is also a gap worth naming: even with comprehensive coverage, you are responsible for towing, rental car costs (unless rental reimbursement is added), and the time your vehicle is out of service. None of those are automatically included.

What this means for you

Review your policy today and confirm you carry comprehensive coverage, if you do not, get a quote before the bill is signed and theft activity potentially shifts in response to the new law. If a converter is stolen, file a police report immediately, document the damage with photos, and contact your insurer before authorizing any repairs. Ohio drivers can explore current Ohio car insurance rates and coverage options to compare what comprehensive coverage would add to their monthly premium. Prevention measures like converter protection plates and parking in well-lit, enclosed spaces are worth the upfront cost given the disruption even a single theft causes.

What comes next as the bill heads to the governor

The bill has cleared the legislature and now awaits the signature of Gov. Mike DeWine. No timeline for signing was specified in the source reporting, but the near-unanimous legislative passage suggests the bill is not expected to face significant resistance at the executive level.

Once signed, enforcement mechanisms tied to the Director of Public Safety's expanded authority will take effect. Scrap dealers and salvage businesses operating in Ohio will need to align their practices with the new recordkeeping and transaction requirements or face penalties.

Whether other states follow Ohio's lead is an open question. Kentucky and West Virginia drivers in particular may watch Ohio's implementation closely, given shared regional theft patterns and the near-unanimous support the bill received. The source does not name specific states with pending legislation, but the problem of catalytic converter theft has been a national issue since the 2020-2022 surge, making similar measures plausible elsewhere.

For now, Ohio stands as one of the more aggressive states in targeting the full theft pipeline, from the parking lot to the scrap yard.

FAQ

Does car insurance cover catalytic converter theft in Ohio?

Yes, but only if your policy includes comprehensive coverage. Liability-only policies do not cover theft of any kind. If you carry comprehensive, a stolen converter qualifies as a covered loss, subject to your deductible.

What is a fifth-degree felony in Ohio?

House Bill 210 upgrades catalytic converter theft to a felony of the fifth degree under Ohio law. The source does not specify the exact sentencing range, but a felony classification carries significantly higher penalties than a misdemeanor charge.

Will House Bill 210 lower my car insurance rates?

The source does not make that claim directly. However, State Farm data showed catalytic converter theft claims peaked at approximately 45,000 claims and $115 million in 2022 before declining. If Ohio's law reduces theft volume further, it could reduce comprehensive claims frequency over time, but individual premium effects depend on many factors.

What should I do if my catalytic converter is stolen?

File a police report immediately, photograph the damage, and contact your auto insurer before approving any repair work. Confirm that your policy includes comprehensive coverage and ask your insurer about rental reimbursement if your vehicle needs to be in the shop.

Can scrap dealers still buy used catalytic converters in Ohio?

Under House Bill 210, scrap dealers can still transact in used catalytic converters, but they must comply with new recordkeeping, reporting, and transaction requirements. Motor vehicle salvage dealers, however, are outright prohibited from purchasing or accepting catalytic converters under the new law.

About Kyle Greenwood

Kyle Greenwood is a Writer and Researcher at Save Max Auto with a decade of consumer-content experience. He specializes in explainers, longer-form features, and Q&A guides on the topics auto drivers actually search for. Read more from Kyle Greenwood →

Edited by Cassidy Richey.

Methodology

This article is grounded in the source linked above. Save Max Auto data points referenced here are drawn from the Save Max Quote Index (SMQI), a proprietary instrument reflecting 3,364,317 real consumer quote requests submitted to savemaxauto.com. State and carrier rankings reflect the lifetime dataset; year-over-year shifts reflect a rolling 12-month window. The index is refreshed monthly. External authority figures referenced (NAIC, NHTSA, state regulators) reflect the most recent public data releases available at time of writing.

Sources

• Primary source: Insurance Journal, "Ohio Lawmakers Pass Bill to Combat Catalytic Converter Thefts"