CARB CATALYTIC CONVERTER REQUIREMENTS

Since January 1, 2009, new aftermarket catalytic converters sold or installed in California must be manufactured to California Air Resource Board (CARB) standards and designed to meet all of the following requirements: 

• Be labeled or tagged with a CARB EO (Executive Order) number indicating the converter complies with California’s requirements for aftermarket converters.
• Be installed only on applications listed in the manufacturer’s Vehicle Application Catalog and per CARB’s Installation Guidelines.
• Be warranted for 5 years/50,000 miles, and cover the cost of parts and labor.
• Be compatible with OBD catalyst monitors. This includes making sure converters won't cause false catalyst codes, while also making sure that the OBD system will continue to set a catalyst fault code if the aftermarket converter fails.
  
  NOTE: CARB permits any aftermarket converter to be installed on vehicles older than 5 years and for which the OE emission warranty has expired.

SERVICE PROVIDER’S CHECKLIST FOR NEW AFTERMARKET CATALYTIC CONVERTERS

• The vehicle's emissions warranty for the OE converter has expired. Warranties range from 7 years/70,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles. Consult the owner's manual for details.
  
• The service provider has confirmed the need for a replacement catalytic converter. If the OEM converter is still present, a diagnosis that it is malfunctioning is required.
  
• The vehicle is specifically included in the application list for the catalytic converter, and the converter is legal for use in California.
  
• The replacement converter is installed in the same location as the OE converter (the front face location will be within 3" compared to the OE).
  

Effective January 1, 2021, new aftermarket catalytic converters sold or installed in Colorado must be manufactured to California Air Resource Board (CARB) standards and designed to meet all of the following requirements: 

• Be labeled or tagged with a CARB EO (Executive Order) number indicating the converter complies with California’s requirements for aftermarket converters.
• Be installed only on applications listed in the manufacturer’s Vehicle Application Catalog and per CARB’s Installation Guidelines.
• Be warranted for 5 years/50,000 miles, and cover the cost of parts and labor.
• Be compatible with OBD catalyst monitors. This includes making sure converters won't cause false catalyst codes, while also making sure that the OBD system will continue to set a catalyst fault code if the aftermarket converter fails.
  
  NOTE: CARB permits any aftermarket converter to be installed on vehicles older than 5 years and for which the OE emission warranty has expired.

When looking up a CARB-compliant replacement converter, you will need to reference the VECI label to identify the Engine Family Number which will be required to identify the correct part number for replacement.

Effective June 1, 2018, CARB-compliant aftermarket replacement converters are required for California Emissions Certified vehicles and model years 2001 and newer, operated in the state of Maine. EPA-compliant converters may be used on vehicle model years 2000 and older, OR all Federal/EPA-only Emissions Certified vehicles, regardless of model year. 

ATTENTION: Under California regulations, it is illegal to install a CARB-compliant catalytic converter based solely on physical shape, size, configuration or pipe diameter. See the Walker State Converter catalog for the right replacement based on application year, make, model and engine family number. 

If the vehicle is 2000 or older use an EPA-Compliant part:

• Lookup the part by Year, Make, Model and Engine in the Walker EPA Compliant Converter Catalog (All Other States) 
  • The vehicle’s emissions compliance may be necessary to determine the correct fitting part.

If the vehicle is 2001 or newer:

1. Locate the Vehicle Emissions Control Information (VECI) label.
2. Determine if the vehicle is California or 50 State emissions compliant.
   • If EPA/Federal Emissions certified, lookup the part by Year, Make, Model and Engine in the Walker Maine State Converter Catalog.

1. If CARB emissions certified, lookup the part by Year, Make, Model, Engine, and Engine Family Number (EFN) in the Walker Maine State Converter Catalog.

Effective January 1, 2023, new aftermarket catalytic converters sold in New York or installed on vehicles registered in the state of New York must be manufactured to California Air Resource Board (CARB) standards. This applies to all aftermarket converter repairs regardless of the vehicle’s OEM emissions certification. Federal / EPA -certified vehicles as well as California emissions certified vehicles both require aftermarket converters manufactured to CARB standards in the state of New York. CARB converters must meet all of the following requirements: 

• Be labeled or tagged with a CARB EO (Executive Order) number indicating the converter complies with California’s requirements for aftermarket converters.
• Be installed only on applications listed in the manufacturer’s Vehicle Application Catalog and per CARB’s Installation Guidelines.
• Be warranted for 5 years/50,000 miles, and cover the cost of parts and labor.
• Be compatible with OBD catalyst monitors. This includes making sure converters won't cause false catalyst codes, while also making sure that the OBD system will continue to set a catalyst fault code if the aftermarket converter fails.
  
  NOTE: CARB permits any aftermarket converter to be installed on vehicles older than 5 years and for which the OE emission warranty has expired.

If you are a Distributor selling to customers In New York:

• As of January 1^st, 2023 only aftermarket catalytic converters manufactured to California Air Resource Board standards will be permitted.

If you are a Distributor selling to customers outside of New York:

• You can continue to stock EPA-compliant converters to sell through to customers in states where EPA-compliant converters are permitted.