The PART Act tackles the growing problem of catalytic converter theft by requiring car manufacturers to mark these parts with identification numbers and establishing a grant program to help mark existing vehicles. Catalytic converters are valuable because they contain precious metals, making them frequent theft targets that can cost car owners thousands of dollars to replace.

The law requires the government to update safety standards so that all new cars have catalytic converters marked with either the vehicle's identification number or a unique part number linked to that vehicle. This marking must be done with special paint and stamping to make it visible and harder to remove. The government will also give grants to police departments, car dealers, repair shops, and nonprofits to mark catalytic converters on vehicles already on the road, prioritizing areas with the highest theft rates.

On the enforcement side, the bill makes it a federal crime to steal a catalytic converter or knowingly buy one that's been stolen, with penalties up to five years in prison. It also requires businesses that buy or sell catalytic converters to keep detailed records of sellers and use traceable payment methods like checks or wire transfers—cash and cryptocurrency sales are banned. Scrap yards and repair shops must keep seller information for at least two years. These rules make it much harder for thieves to sell stolen converters without getting caught, since law enforcement can now trace marked parts back to the original vehicle.