Veh. Code, § 24020

(a) No dealer or person holding a retail seller’s permit shall sell a new or used vehicle equipped with a catalytic converter unless the catalytic converter has been permanently marked with the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle to which it is attached.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) A collector motor vehicle.

(2) A vehicle sold in any of the of the following circumstances:

(A) By a licensed automobile dismantler after being reported for dismantling pursuant to Section 11520.

(B) By or through a salvage pool after obtaining a salvage certificate pursuant to Section 11515, a nonrepairable vehicle certificate pursuant to Section 11515.2, a certificate of title for a vehicle described in subdivision (f) of Section 11515 or subdivision (f) of Section 11515.2, or a similar ownership document issued by another state.

(C) By or through a salvage disposal auction. For purposes of this section, “salvage disposal auction” means an auction where a person or entity, engaged primarily in the business of selling total loss salvage vehicles on behalf of insurance companies and that has more than eight business locations in California, sells total loss salvage vehicles.

(D) By or through a wholesale motor vehicle auction. For purposes of this section, “wholesale motor vehicle auction” means an auction where the dealer conducting the auction does not take ownership of the vehicle and the vehicle is sold to a nonretail buyer for resale.

(3) A vehicle where the buyer declines the seller’s offer to permanently mark the catalytic converter pursuant to subdivision (a) and the dealer discloses the catalytic converter permanent marking as a body part marking product in accordance with Sections 2981 and 2982.2 of the Civil Code.

(4) A motorcycle, as defined in Section 400.

(c) As used in this section, “permanently marked” means prominently engraved, etched, welded, metal stamped, acid marked, or otherwise permanently imprinted using a similarly reliable method of imparting a lasting mark on the exterior case of the catalytic converter.

(d) A dealer or person holding a retail seller’s permit who violates this section shall be guilty of an infraction punishable pursuant to Section 42001.

(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2025.