After which year is a vehicle required to have a catalytic converter?

The requirement for a vehicle to have a catalytic converter is tied to emissions standards set by environmental regulations. In the United States, the year 1975 is significant because that was when most new cars were first mandated to include catalytic converters to help reduce harmful emissions.

The correct answer, 1983, is crucial because by this year, the regulations were expanded, and virtually all gasoline-powered vehicles produced from then on were required to have catalytic converters as part of a broader approach to improve air quality and meet increasingly stringent environmental standards. The use of catalytic converters significantly reduces pollutants like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides from vehicle exhaust, making them essential for compliance with environmental safety regulations.

Earlier vehicles, such as those manufactured before 1975, were exempt from this requirement, and while some manufacturers began incorporating catalytic converters in models before this date, it was not a universal requirement until 1983. Subsequent years saw further regulations and refinements to emissions standards, but the baseline requirement for all conventional gasoline vehicles was firmly established by 1983.