diff --git a/samples/cxx/bvp/BoundaryValueProblem.h b/samples/cxx/bvp/BoundaryValueProblem.h
index 446aad134..cedb72535 100644
--- a/samples/cxx/bvp/BoundaryValueProblem.h
+++ b/samples/cxx/bvp/BoundaryValueProblem.h
@@ -42,23 +42,6 @@ public:
         refine(true), name("") {}
 };
 
-
-/**
- * Exception thrown for illegal parameter values when setting up
- * the problem.
- */
-class BVP_Error
-{
-public:
-    /**
-     * Constructor. Write an error message.
-     */
-    BVP_Error(string msg) {
-        writelog("BVP Error: "+msg+"\n");
-    }
-};
-
-
 /**
  * Base class for boundary value problems. This class is designed
  * to provide a simplified interface to the capabilities Cantera
@@ -137,7 +120,8 @@ public:
             start();
         }
         if (n < 0 || n >= m_nv) {
-            throw BVP_Error("Illegal solution component number");
+            throw Cantera::CanteraError("BoundaryValueProblem::setComponent",
+                                        "Illegal solution component number");
         }
         // set the upper and lower bounds for this component
         setBounds(n, c.lower, c.upper);
diff --git a/src/base/xml.cpp b/src/base/xml.cpp
index 0a5393359..417f923c0 100644
--- a/src/base/xml.cpp
+++ b/src/base/xml.cpp
@@ -118,34 +118,6 @@ public:
     virtual ~XML_NoChild() throw() {}
 };
 
-//! Class representing a specific type of XML file formatting error
-/*!
- * An XML_Node's units attribute has the wrong type of units.
- */
-class XML_IllegalUnits : public XML_Error
-{
-public:
-
-    //! Constructor
-    /*!
-     *  Wrong units string.
-     *
-     *  @param  name        Name of the current XML node
-     *  @param  units       Units string in the "units" attribute
-     *  @param  line        Line number where the error occurred.
-     */
-    XML_IllegalUnits(std::string name, std::string units, int line=0) :
-        XML_Error(line) {
-        m_msg += "Illegal units (" + units +
-                 ") specified for node " + name + ".\n";
-        setError("XML_IllegalUnits", m_msg);
-    }
-
-    //! Destructor
-    virtual ~XML_IllegalUnits() throw() {}
-};
-
-
 
 //////////////////// XML_Reader methods ///////////////////////
 
diff --git a/src/transport/MMCollisionInt.h b/src/transport/MMCollisionInt.h
index f840d3244..c599b3b0b 100644
--- a/src/transport/MMCollisionInt.h
+++ b/src/transport/MMCollisionInt.h
@@ -17,31 +17,6 @@ namespace Cantera
 
 class XML_Writer;
 
-
-//! Error handler class for collision integrals
-/*!
- * This class doesn't
- */
-class MMCollisionIntError
-{
-public:
-
-    //! Constructor
-    /*!
-     *  @param logfile    ostream reference for writing out errors
-     *  @param  msg       error message
-     */
-    MMCollisionIntError(std::ostream& logfile, std::string msg) {
-        logfile << "#### ERROR ####" << std::endl;
-        logfile << "MMCollisionInt: " << msg << std::endl;
-        std::cerr << "Error in fitting collision integrals. "
-                  << "Execution terminated." << std::endl
-                  << "See transport log file for more information." << std::endl;
-    }
-};
-
-
-
 //! Calculation of Collision integrals
 /*!
  * This class provides functions that