Car Theft and Joyriding Laws by State (2026)
How each state handles car theft and joyriding and the penalties, from each state's code.
| State | Car theft and joyriding |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Stealing a motor vehicle is theft of property in the first degree regardless of the vehicle's value, a Class B felony (2 to 20 years). Joyriding, called unauthorized use of a vehicle (knowingly taking or using a vehicle without the owner's consent, or badly misusing or keeping a vehicle left for repair or rental), is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year), but becomes a Class B felony if the person takes control of the vehicle by force or threat while a driver or passenger is aboard. Breaking into a vehicle to commit a felony or theft is a Class C felony (1 year and 1 day to 10 years). Ala. Code 1975 §§ 13A-8-3(b), (d), 13A-8-11; §§ 13A-5-6, 13A-5-7 |
| Alaska | Taking or driving someone else's vehicle without any right to do so is vehicle theft. It is vehicle theft in the first degree, a class C felony (up to 5 years), if the vehicle is a car, truck, motorcycle, motor home, bus, aircraft or watercraft, or if another propelled vehicle is damaged by $750 or more, the owner loses $750 or more or loses its use for seven days or more, it is a marked police or emergency vehicle, or the person has a vehicle-theft conviction within the previous seven years. Taking any other propelled vehicle (such as an ATV or snowmachine), or keeping a rental or loaned vehicle unreasonably long past the agreed return time, is vehicle theft in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). AS 11.46.360, 11.46.365; AS 12.55.035, 12.55.125, 12.55.135 |
| Arizona | Stealing a vehicle is called 'theft of means of transportation' (taking control of someone's vehicle intending to keep it from them permanently, keeping a vehicle entrusted for a limited purpose, getting one by misrepresentation, or controlling a vehicle known to be stolen). It is a class 3 felony (first-offense range 2 to 8.75 years). Joyriding, called 'unlawful use of means of transportation' (taking control of another's vehicle without intending to keep it), is a class 5 felony, and knowingly riding in a vehicle someone else has taken that way is a class 6 felony. A person reporting a vehicle stolen must sign an affidavit warning that false reports can be prosecuted. A.R.S. §§ 13-1814, 13-1803; § 13-702(D) |
| Arkansas | Arkansas has no separate grand theft auto offense: stealing a vehicle is charged as theft of property, graded by the vehicle's value (a felony above $1,000, as set out in the state's general theft tiers; the theft statute read has no vehicle-specific grade). Joyriding, called unauthorized use of a vehicle (knowingly taking, operating or exercising control over another person's vehicle without consent), is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). Ark. Code §§ 5-36-103, 5-36-108; §§ 5-4-201, 5-4-401 |
| California | Taking or driving someone else's vehicle without consent, intending to deprive the owner of it even temporarily ('joyriding' or unlawful taking), is punishable by up to 1 year in county jail or a felony term under Pen. Code 1170(h), and/or a fine up to $5,000, so it can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony. It is a felony of 2, 3 or 4 years (fine up to $10,000) if the vehicle is an ambulance or marked police or fire vehicle on an emergency call, or a vehicle modified for a disabled person. Stealing an automobile is also grand theft regardless of value, punishable by up to 1 year in county jail or under Pen. Code 1170(h). A person with a prior felony vehicle-theft conviction faces 2, 3 or 4 years and/or a $10,000 fine. Cal. Veh. Code 10851; Pen. Code 487(d)(1), 489(c), 666.5; Pen. Code 17, 18, 19, 1170(h) |
| Colorado | Colorado has a separate motor vehicle theft offense in three degrees. Third degree (knowingly taking or controlling another person's vehicle, or receiving one from a non-owner, knowing or reasonably should know it is unauthorized) is a class 5 felony (1 to 3 years). Second degree applies when the thief keeps it more than 24 hours, disguises it or alters the VIN, takes it out of state, puts on false plates, causes $1,000 or more in damage or injures someone, uses it in another crime, or it bore a disability plate; it is a class 4 felony (2 to 6 years). First degree (with two prior auto-theft or unauthorized-use convictions) is a class 3 felony (4 to 12 years). Joyriding, called unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (the car is returned or recovered undamaged within 24 hours and no other crime is committed), is a class 1 misdemeanor, and a class 5 felony for a second or later offense. C.R.S. §§ 18-4-409, 18-4-409.5; §§ 18-1.3-401, 18-1.3-501 |
| Connecticut | Larceny of a motor vehicle (stealing a car, construction equipment, farm tractor or a major part of one) is a class E felony (up to 3 years) for a first offense, a class D felony (up to 5 years) for a second, and a class B felony (1 to 20 years) for any later offense, regardless of the vehicle's value. Forcible entry, a forced ignition or an altered VIN is prima facie evidence that the person knew the vehicle was stolen. Using a motor vehicle or boat without the owner's permission (joyriding) or tampering with a vehicle is a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year) for a first offense and a class D felony for each later offense. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-119b, 53a-119c; §§ 53a-35a, 53a-36 |
| Delaware | Theft of a motor vehicle (taking or controlling someone else's vehicle intending to deprive the owner of it) is a class G felony (up to 2 years) regardless of value; mopeds, off-highway vehicles and similar devices are excluded. Unauthorized use of a vehicle (joyriding, or keeping a rented or borrowed vehicle past the agreed time or purpose) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). 11 Del. C. §§ 841, 841A, 853; 11 Del. C. §§ 4205, 4206 |
| District of Columbia | Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (taking, using or operating someone else's vehicle without consent) is punishable by up to 5 years in prison; if the vehicle was used in or to help commit a crime of violence, up to 10 years consecutive to that sentence, and if serious bodily injury results, a mandatory minimum of 5 years. A person with two or more prior convictions for unauthorized use or first-degree theft faces 30 months to 15 years. Failing to return a rental vehicle within 18 days of a written demand is punishable by up to 3 years. Stealing a car can also be charged as first-degree theft ($1,000 or more, up to 10 years). D.C. Code §§ 22-3215, 22-3212, 22-3571.01 |
| Florida | Stealing a motor vehicle is grand theft of the third degree, a third-degree felony (up to 5 years, $5,000), regardless of the vehicle's value, unless the vehicle is worth $100,000 or more, which makes it first-degree grand theft (up to 30 years). Theft also becomes a first-degree felony if the thief uses a motor vehicle as a tool (not just a getaway car) and damages someone's real property, or causes more than $1,000 in property damage during the theft. Fla. Stat. § 812.014(2)(a), (2)(c)6.; §§ 775.082, 775.083 |
| Georgia | Stealing a car is generally prosecuted as theft by taking, graded by value: a misdemeanor up to $1,500, 1 to 5 years for more than $1,500 up to $5,000, 1 to 10 years for $5,000 up to $25,000, and 2 to 20 years above $24,999.99 (the judge may treat the lower felony tiers as misdemeanors). Hijacking a motor vehicle in the first degree (taking a vehicle by force, violence or intimidation while having a weapon) carries 10 to 20 years and a $10,000 to $100,000 fine, and life for a repeat offense; hijacking in the second degree (obtaining a vehicle from a person without consent) carries 1 to 10 years, rising to 3 to 15 years and then 5 to 20 years for repeat convictions. O.C.G.A. §§ 16-8-12(a)(1), 16-5-44.1; § 17-10-3 |
| Hawaii | Stealing a motor vehicle or motorcycle is theft in the first degree, a class B felony (10 years), regardless of its value. Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (intentionally or knowingly operating someone else's vehicle without consent, or changing its identity without consent) is a class C felony (5 years); it is a defense that the person had authorization from the owner's agent, was lawfully repossessing it, or bought it reasonably believing they were the owner. HRS §§ 708-830.5(1)(g), 708-836; § 706-660 |
| Idaho | Stealing a car is charged under Idaho's general theft law, graded by value: grand theft (a felony, 1 to 14 years in prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both) when the property is worth more than $1,000, and petit theft (a misdemeanor, up to 1 year in jail and $1,000) otherwise. Joyriding, called 'operating vehicle without owner's consent' (driving someone else's vehicle meaning to keep it only temporarily, not to steal it), is a misdemeanor, but a felony if the damage to the vehicle and property taken from it exceed $1,000; it also covers boats, snowmobiles, ATVs and aircraft. Receiving, transferring or possessing a vehicle one knows or has reason to believe is stolen is a felony (up to 5 years, a fine up to $50,000, or both). Failing to return a rented vehicle within 48 hours after the agreed time is a form of theft. Idaho Code §§ 18-2403, 18-2407, 18-2408, 49-227, 49-228, 49-236, 18-112, 18-113 |
| Illinois | Stealing a car is charged as theft, graded by the vehicle's value (for example more than $500 up to $10,000 is a Class 3 felony, more than $10,000 up to $100,000 a Class 2 felony). The Vehicle Code adds separate crimes: knowingly receiving, possessing, concealing, selling or transferring a stolen or converted vehicle or essential part, or altering or removing a vehicle identification number, is a Class 2 felony (3 to 7 years). The aggravated version (for example 3 or more stolen vehicles or parts within a year, a stolen vehicle worth $25,000 or more, a stolen police vehicle, or fleeing police in a vehicle the driver knows is stolen) is a Class 1 felony (4 to 15 years). Tampering with a vehicle, going into it or trying to set it in motion without authority (often called joyriding) is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second. 720 ILCS 5/16-1(b); 625 ILCS 5/4-102, 5/4-103, 5/4-103.2; 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-25 to -65 |
| Indiana | Indiana treats car theft as theft: knowingly or intentionally exerting unauthorized control over another person's property with intent to deprive the owner of its value or use. Theft of a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle component part is a Level 6 felony (6 months to 2 1/2 years) regardless of value, and a Level 5 felony (1 to 6 years) if the person has a prior conviction for stealing a motor vehicle or part, or if the value is $50,000 or more. Taking a car without intent to deprive the owner (criminal conversion, often called joyriding) is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year), but a Level 6 felony if the car is taken to help commit a crime and a Level 5 felony if it is used to help commit a felony; failing to return a leased motor vehicle after a written agreement and demand is a Level 6 felony. IC 35-43-4-2(a), 35-43-4-3; IC 35-50-2-4 to -7, 35-50-3-2 to -4 |
| Iowa | Stealing a motor vehicle worth $10,000 or less is second-degree theft, a class D felony (up to 5 years and a fine of $1,025 to $10,245), regardless of the lower value tiers that apply to other property; a vehicle worth more than $10,000 is first-degree theft, a class C felony (up to 10 years and a fine of $1,370 to $13,660). Joyriding, called 'operating vehicle without owner's consent' (taking possession or control of another's vehicle, aircraft or motorboat without consent but without intent to keep it permanently), is an aggravated misdemeanor (up to 2 years and a fine of $855 to $8,540). Failing to return a leased or rented vehicle within 72 hours after the agreed time is evidence of theft by misappropriation. Iowa Code §§ 714.1, 714.2(1)-(2), 714.7, 902.9, 903.1 |
| Kansas | Stealing a car is charged under the general Kansas theft law, graded by value: less than $1,500 is a class A nonperson misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $2,500); $1,500 to under $25,000 is a severity level 9 nonperson felony; $25,000 to under $100,000 is severity level 7; and $100,000 or more is severity level 5. Joyriding, called 'criminal deprivation of property' (taking a vehicle to use temporarily without consent, without intending to keep it), is a class A nonperson misdemeanor with a mandatory 30 days to 1 year and a fine of at least $100 on a first conviction and 60 days to 1 year and at least $200 on a second; a third or later conviction is a severity level 9 nonperson felony. The mandatory minimums do not apply where they would cause manifest injustice. Felony prison ranges come from the sentencing grid, which combines the severity level with criminal history. K.S.A. 21-5801(b), 21-5803(b)(1), (4), 21-6602, 21-6611, 21-6804 |
| Kentucky | Stealing a car is charged as theft by unlawful taking, graded by value: under $500 is a Class B misdemeanor; $500 to under $1,000 a Class A misdemeanor; $1,000 to under $10,000 a Class D felony (1 to 5 years); $10,000 to under $1 million a Class C felony (5 to 10 years); and $1 million or more a Class B felony. Thefts committed within one year may be combined and their values added together. Joyriding, called 'unauthorized use of an automobile or other propelled vehicle' (knowingly operating or using a vehicle without the owner's consent), is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 12 months), but a Class D felony if the person has a prior conviction for this offense or for stealing a vehicle. KRS 514.030(2), (4), 514.100, 532.060, 532.090 |
| Louisiana | Car theft is a separate crime called theft of a motor vehicle: taking another's vehicle intending to keep it permanently, keeping a lost or misdelivered vehicle without trying to find the owner, or taking control of a vehicle one knows or should know is stolen. It is graded by value: under $1,000, up to six months, a fine up to $1,000, or both (up to 2 years with two or more prior theft convictions); $1,000 to under $5,000, up to 5 years with or without hard labor and/or a fine up to $3,000; $5,000 to under $25,000, up to 10 years and/or $10,000; $25,000 or more, up to 20 years at hard labor and/or $50,000. Joyriding is called unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (taking or using it without intent to keep it): a fine up to $5,000, up to 2 years with or without hard labor, or both, or up to six months and/or $1,000 if the value is under $1,000. Filing a false stolen-vehicle affidavit carries up to 5 years and/or $5,000. La. R.S. 14:67.26; R.S. 14:68.4 |
| Maine | Maine has no separate car-theft grade; stealing a vehicle is charged as theft by unauthorized taking, graded by value: Class E (up to 6 months) for $500 or less, Class D (less than 1 year) for more than $500 up to $1,000, Class C (up to 5 years) for more than $1,000 up to $10,000 or with 2 or more prior theft-type convictions, and Class B (up to 10 years) for more than $10,000 or if the thief was armed. Joyriding is called unauthorized use of property: knowingly taking, operating or controlling a vehicle without the owner's consent, or riding in one knowing it was taken that way, is a Class D crime, and Class C with 2 or more prior theft-type convictions. A repair shop or similar custodian that grossly misuses a customer's vehicle commits the same Class D crime. 17-A M.R.S. §§ 353(1), 360(1); 17-A M.R.S. §§ 1604(1), 1704 |
| Maryland | Unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle (knowingly and willfully taking a vehicle out of the owner's custody or use without consent, the offense used for joyriding) is a felony called taking a motor vehicle, punishable by up to 5 years, a fine up to $5,000, or both, and the person must return the vehicle or pay its full value. Stealing a vehicle can instead be charged as general theft, graded by value: under $100, a misdemeanor up to 90 days; $100 to under $1,500, a misdemeanor up to 6 months (1 year for a repeat conviction); $1,500 to under $25,000, a felony up to 5 years and $10,000; $25,000 to under $100,000, up to 10 years and $15,000; $100,000 or more, up to 20 years and $25,000. If convicted of both for the same act, the taking conviction merges into the theft conviction. Md. Code, Crim. Law §§ 7-105, 7-104(g) |
| Massachusetts | Stealing a motor vehicle or trailer, maliciously damaging one, knowingly buying, receiving or possessing a stolen one, or taking a vehicle and stealing its parts is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in state prison, up to 2½ years in jail, and/or a fine up to $15,000; a second or later offense carries at least 1 year with no probation or parole, and the case cannot be continued without a finding. A conviction also brings an immediate driver's license revocation of 1 year (5 years for a later offense). Joyriding, called using a motor vehicle without authority, carries a $50 to $500 fine and/or 30 days to 2 years for a first offense, up to 5 years in state prison for a second, and 6 months to 5 years for a third within five years. Mass. G.L. c. 266, § 28; G.L. c. 90, § 24(2)(a) |
| Michigan | Unlawfully driving away a motor vehicle (intentionally taking possession of another's vehicle without authority and driving or taking it away, or helping to do so) is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in state prison. Joyriding, called taking a motor vehicle without authority but without intent to steal, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 2 years or a fine up to $1,500, which the court may reduce to 3 months or $500 for a first offense; it does not apply to employees whose job gives them authority to drive the vehicle. Knowingly receiving, possessing or concealing a stolen motor vehicle is a felony with up to 5 years and/or a fine up to $10,000 or three times the vehicle's value, and up to 10 years with a prior conviction. MCL 750.413, 750.414, 750.535(7)-(8) |
| Minnesota | Taking or driving a motor vehicle without the owner's consent, knowing or having reason to know consent was not given, is theft under Minnesota's general theft law, which covers both stealing a car and joyriding. When the property stolen is a motor vehicle, the offense is punishable by up to 5 years and/or a $10,000 fine even if the vehicle is worth $1,000 or less; a vehicle worth more than $5,000 carries up to 10 years and/or $20,000. If the theft creates a reasonably foreseeable risk of bodily harm to another, the maximum sentence is increased by 50 percent. Minn. Stat. § 609.52, subds. 2(a)(17), 3(2), 3(3)(d)(v), 3a |
| Mississippi | Stealing a car (called taking possession of or taking away a motor vehicle) means willfully and without authority taking a motor vehicle 'of any value' belonging to someone else, meaning to keep it permanently or temporarily. It is a felony punishable by a fine up to $10,000, up to 15 years in prison, or both. A second or later offense carries a fine up to $20,000 and/or 5 to 20 years, and taking a vehicle from a business that buys, sells, rents, stores or transports vehicles carries a fine up to $20,000 and/or 10 to 30 years. The court must order restitution for damage to the vehicle. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-17-42 |
| Missouri | Stealing a car (charged as stealing) is a class D felony regardless of the vehicle's value, punishable by up to 7 years. It becomes a class B felony (5 to 15 years) if the person has two prior stealing-related offenses on separate occasions within 10 years. Knowingly receiving, possessing, selling or operating a car, motorcycle, boat or other motor vehicle without the owner's consent (joyriding, called tampering in the first degree) is also a class D felony. RSMo §§ 570.030.3(3), 570.030.5(3)(a), 569.080, 558.011 |
| Montana | Stealing a car or other light vehicle is theft and is punishable by up to 10 years in state prison, a fine up to $50,000, or both, regardless of value. Joyriding (called unauthorized use of motor vehicles: knowingly operating someone else's car, motorcycle, motorboat, airplane or other motor vehicle without consent) is punishable by up to 6 months in county jail and/or a $500 fine; it is a defense that the person reasonably believed the owner would have consented. MCA 45-6-301(7)(d), 45-6-308 |
| Nebraska | Stealing a car is charged as theft and graded by the car's value: $5,000 or more is a Class IIA felony (up to 20 years), $1,500 to under $5,000 a Class IV felony (up to 2 years plus 12 months of post-release supervision and/or $10,000). Joyriding (called unauthorized use of a propelled vehicle: intentionally operating someone else's car, motorcycle, motorboat, airplane or other motor vehicle without consent) is a Class III misdemeanor for a first offense, a Class I misdemeanor for a second, and a Class IV felony for a third or later offense. It is a defense that the person reasonably believed the owner would have agreed. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-516, 28-518, 28-105, 28-106 |
| Nevada | Stealing a car (called grand larceny of a motor vehicle) is a category C felony for a first offense (1 to 5 years and a fine up to $10,000); a second or later offense within 5 years is a category B felony with 1 to 6 years and a fine up to $5,000. The court must order restitution. Taking or driving away someone else's vehicle without consent but without intending to keep it permanently (joyriding, called unlawful taking of a vehicle) is a gross misdemeanor. NRS 205.228, 205.2715; NRS 193.130, 193.140, 193.150 |
| New Hampshire | Stealing a car is charged as theft and graded by value: over $1,500 is a class A felony (up to 15 years), more than $1,000 up to $1,500 a class B felony (up to 7 years), and $1,000 or less a misdemeanor; with two prior theft convictions (as a felony or class A misdemeanor) it is a class B felony. Unauthorized use of a vehicle (a repair shop or service provider using a customer's car for its own purposes, or a renter who abandons or refuses to return a rented car) is also charged as theft. RSA 637:3, 637:9, 637:11, 651:2 |
| New Jersey | Theft of a motor vehicle (taking or controlling another person's vehicle intending to deprive them of it) is a crime of the third degree (3-5 years), or second degree (5-10 years) if the vehicle is worth $75,000 or more or more than one vehicle is stolen; thefts in one scheme may be added together. Joyriding (unlawful taking of a motor vehicle to keep it temporarily) is a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months), third degree if the vehicle is driven in a way that risks injury or property damage; knowingly riding in a vehicle taken without consent is fourth degree. On top of the sentence, the court imposes a $500/$750/$1,000 penalty for a first/second/third offense and may suspend driving privileges for up to 1, 2 or 10 years. A prosecutor may seek an extended term for a persistent offender with two or more prior vehicle theft, receiving or carjacking convictions. N.J.S. 2C:20-10.1, 2C:20-10, 2C:20-2.1, 2C:20-10.3; N.J.S. 2C:43-6 |
| New Mexico | Taking a vehicle or motor vehicle without the owner's consent (unlawful taking), embezzling a vehicle, fraudulently obtaining one, and receiving, transferring or possessing a vehicle one knows or has reason to believe was stolen are each felonies graded by the number of offenses, not value: a fourth degree felony (18 months) for a first offense, a third degree felony (3 years) for a second, and a second degree felony (9 years) for a third or later, regardless of which of these provisions the earlier offenses were under. Violating several of these provisions with one vehicle counts as a single offense. An owner's earlier consent is never presumed to carry over. Injuring or tampering with a motor vehicle, including starting its engine without the owner's authority, is a misdemeanor. NMSA 1978, 30-16D-1, 30-16D-4, 30-16D-4.1, 30-16D-5; NMSA 1978, 31-18-15, 31-19-1 |
| New York | Stealing a motor vehicle (other than a motorcycle) worth more than $100 is grand larceny in the fourth degree, a class E felony (up to 4 years); higher values follow the grand larceny tiers (over $3,000 class D, over $50,000 class C, over $1 million class B). Unauthorized use of a vehicle in the third degree ('joyriding': knowingly taking, operating or riding in a vehicle without the owner's consent, or keeping a rented or serviced vehicle in gross deviation from the agreement) is a class A misdemeanor; second degree (with a prior conviction within 10 years) is a class E felony; first degree (using the vehicle to commit or flee from a class A, B, C or D felony) is a class D felony. N.Y. Penal Law 155.30(8), 155.35, 155.40, 155.42; 165.05, 165.06, 165.08 |
| North Carolina | Stealing a vehicle is larceny: a Class H felony if the property is worth more than $1,000 (and a felony regardless of value in listed cases such as larceny from the person or after four prior larceny convictions); otherwise a Class 1 misdemeanor. Unauthorized use of a motor-propelled conveyance ('joyriding': taking or operating someone's motor vehicle, motorboat or other conveyance without consent) is a Class 1 misdemeanor, or a Class H felony for an aircraft. Receiving, transferring or possessing a vehicle known or believed to be stolen, with intent to procure or pass title, is a Class H felony. N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-72(a)-(b), 14-72.2, 14-71.2 |
| North Dakota | Stealing a vehicle is theft graded by value: over $1,000 is a class C felony (up to 5 years), over $10,000 a class B felony (up to 10 years), and over $50,000 a class A felony (up to 20 years); lower values are misdemeanors. Unauthorized use of a vehicle ('joyriding': knowingly taking, operating or controlling another's automobile, motorcycle, motorboat, aircraft or other motor vehicle without the owner's consent) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 360 days), or a class C felony if the vehicle is an aircraft or the value of the use plus the cost of retrieving and restoring the vehicle exceeds $1,000. N.D.C.C. 12.1-23-02, 12.1-23-05, 12.1-23-06; 12.1-32-01 |
| Ohio | Stealing a motor vehicle is grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony (6-18 months) regardless of value under the theft statute. Unauthorized use of a vehicle ('joyriding': knowingly using or operating someone's car, motorcycle, motorboat, aircraft or other motor vehicle without consent) is a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 180 days), or a fifth-degree felony if the vehicle is taken out of Ohio or kept more than 48 hours; higher grades apply if an elderly or disabled victim suffers a loss. Receiving a stolen motor vehicle is a fourth-degree felony. R.C. 2913.02(B)(5), 2913.03, 2913.51(D) |
| Oklahoma | Stealing a car or other motor vehicle (also aircraft, construction or farm equipment) is a Class D1 felony (up to 5 years) if the vehicle is worth less than $50,000, and a Class C2 felony (up to 7 years) if it is worth $50,000 or more, with a fine of up to three times the vehicle's value (capped at $500,000) and mandatory restitution. Taking or driving someone else's vehicle without consent with intent to deprive the owner even temporarily (unauthorized use of a vehicle, Oklahoma's joyriding offense) is a Class D3 felony (up to 2 years), as is receiving or possessing a vehicle known to be stolen. 21 O.S. § 1720; 47 O.S. §§ 4-102, 4-103; 21 O.S. §§ 20M, 20N, 20P |
| Oregon | Taking, driving or otherwise using someone else's car, boat or aircraft without the owner's consent (including knowingly riding in it, or a mechanic or renter keeping or using it far beyond what was agreed) is 'unauthorized use of a vehicle,' a Class C felony (up to 5 years). Permanently stealing a vehicle is charged as theft by value; aggravated theft in the first degree (property of $10,000 or more) excludes a motor vehicle used primarily for personal transportation. ORS 164.135, 164.057; ORS 161.605 |
| Pennsylvania | Stealing a car, motorcycle, motorboat, airplane or other motor-propelled vehicle is theft graded as a felony of the third degree (up to 7 years and $15,000) regardless of value, or higher if the value reaches the general felony tiers ($100,000 or more is a second-degree felony; $500,000 or more first degree). Driving someone else's vehicle without the owner's consent ('unauthorized use of automobiles and other vehicles,' Pennsylvania's joyriding offense) is a second-degree misdemeanor (up to 2 years and $5,000); it is a defense that the driver reasonably believed the owner would have consented. 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 3903(a.1), 3928; 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 1103, 1104 |
| Rhode Island | Driving someone else's vehicle without the owner's or lessee's consent, intending to deprive them of it temporarily but not to steal it (joyriding), is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000; helping or being an accomplice is also a felony. Knowingly possessing, receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, or knowingly dealing in stolen vehicle parts, is a felony, and a second or later conviction carries 1 to 10 years and/or up to $10,000. Stealing a vehicle outright is larceny, punished by value (more than $10,000: up to 10 years). R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-9-1, 31-9-2, 11-41-5 |
| South Carolina | Taking, using or driving someone else's vehicle without consent with intent to deprive the owner, temporarily or otherwise, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 years; if the taking was only temporary and not connected with any other crime (joyriding), it is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 1 year. Knowingly receiving, possessing, hiding, selling or disposing of a stolen vehicle is graded by the vehicle's value: $2,000 or less, a magistrate-level misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and/or 30 days); more than $2,000 but under $10,000, a felony (up to 5 years); $10,000 or more, a felony (up to 10 years). S.C. Code §§ 16-21-60, 16-21-80 |
| South Dakota | Stealing a vehicle is theft graded by the vehicle's value under the general theft tiers (for example, more than $1,000 up to $2,500 is grand theft, a Class 6 felony; more than $2,500 up to $5,000 a Class 5 felony; more than $5,000 up to $100,000 a Class 4 felony). Driving or operating someone else's motor vehicle or boat without the owner's consent but without intent to deprive the owner of it (joyriding) is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $2,000). SDCL 22-30A-12, 22-30A-17; SDCL 22-6-1, 22-6-2 |
| Tennessee | Stealing a car is charged under Tennessee's general theft law, graded by the vehicle's value: $1,000 or less is a Class A misdemeanor; more than $1,000 to under $2,500 a Class E felony; $2,500 to under $10,000 a Class D felony; $10,000 to under $60,000 a Class C felony; $60,000 to under $250,000 a Class B felony; and $250,000 or more a Class A felony. Taking someone else's car, boat, motorcycle, bicycle, airplane or other vehicle without consent but without intending to keep it (joyriding, called unauthorized use of a vehicle) is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 11 months, 29 days and a $2,500 fine). Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-14-103, 39-14-105(a), 39-14-106; § 40-35-111 |
| Texas | Stealing a car is theft, graded by the vehicle's value: for example $2,500 to under $30,000 is a state jail felony, $30,000 to under $150,000 a third-degree felony, $150,000 to under $300,000 a second-degree felony, and $300,000 or more a first-degree felony. Joyriding, called unauthorized use of a vehicle in Texas (intentionally or knowingly operating another person's boat, airplane or motor vehicle without the owner's effective consent), is a state jail felony (180 days to 2 years in a state jail and up to a $10,000 fine) regardless of value. Tex. Penal Code §§ 31.03(e), 31.07; §§ 12.21-12.35 |
| Utah | Stealing an operable motor vehicle is theft, a second degree felony (1 to 15 years) regardless of value. Taking a vehicle only to use it temporarily is 'unauthorized control for extended time,' a class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days), which becomes a third degree felony (up to 5 years) if the vehicle is not returned within 24 hours, is damaged $500 or more or damaged to get in or start it, or is used to commit a felony. Under the Criminal Code, temporarily taking an operable motor vehicle without consent (unauthorized possession of property) is also a third degree felony. Utah Code §§ 76-6-404(3)(a), 76-6-404.5(3)(a); 41-1a-1314; §§ 76-3-203, 76-3-204 |
| Vermont | Operating someone else's motor vehicle without the owner's consent is a crime: if the person should have known they lacked consent, the fine is up to $500; if they knew, up to two years in prison and a $1,000 fine. Aggravated operation without consent (knowingly, plus the car is not recovered within 24 hours, suffers $500 or more in damage, is disguised or has its VIN or plates altered, is used in a felony, is abandoned out of state, or someone is injured) carries up to five years and a $2,000 fine. Stealing a car can also be charged as larceny: grand larceny over $900 carries up to 10 years and $5,000, and petit larceny up to one year and $1,000. Taking a boat or aircraft without consent carries up to one year and $500. 23 V.S.A. § 1094; 13 V.S.A. §§ 2501, 2502, 2505 |
| Virginia | Stealing a car is larceny: grand larceny if the vehicle is worth $1,000 or more (1 to 20 years in prison, or up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine), petit larceny (a Class 1 misdemeanor) if less. Taking, driving or using someone else's vehicle, boat or aircraft without consent, intending only to deprive the owner temporarily (joyriding, called unauthorized use), is a Class 6 felony (1 to 5 years), or a Class 1 misdemeanor if the vehicle is worth less than $1,000. Accomplices face the same punishment. Va. Code §§ 18.2-95, 18.2-96, 18.2-102; §§ 18.2-10, 18.2-11 |
| Washington | Theft of a motor vehicle is a class B felony (up to 10 years and $20,000) regardless of value, and so is possessing a stolen motor vehicle. Taking a motor vehicle without permission (joyriding), or knowingly riding in one that was unlawfully taken, is taking a motor vehicle without permission in the second degree, a class C felony (up to 5 years). It is first degree, a class B felony, if the person also changes the vehicle's appearance or VIN, strips parts to sell, exports it for profit, intends to sell it, or is part of a vehicle-theft-for-profit conspiracy or recruited a juvenile. RCW 9A.56.065, 9A.56.068, 9A.56.070, 9A.56.075; RCW 9A.20.021 |
| West Virginia | Stealing a car is charged as larceny: grand larceny (a felony of 1 to 10 years, or up to 1 year in jail at the court's discretion, and a fine up to $2,500) if the vehicle is worth $1,000 or more, petit larceny if less. Joyriding (unlawful taking of a vehicle: driving someone else's vehicle without consent, meaning to deprive the owner only temporarily) is a misdemeanor for a first offense (up to a $500 fine, up to 6 months in jail, or both), and a felony for a second offense (up to a $3,000 fine, 1 to 3 years in prison or up to 1 year in jail, or both) and for a third or later offense (up to a $5,000 fine, 1 to 3 years, or both). Theft of a rental vehicle obtained by fraud is a felony of 1 to 2 years (or up to 1 year in jail) and a fine up to $500. W. Va. Code §§ 17A-8-4, 17A-8-9, 61-3-13 |
| Wisconsin | Taking and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent is a Class H felony (up to 6 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both), or Class F (up to 12 years and 6 months) for a second or later offense; for a commercial motor vehicle it is Class G. Driving or operating a vehicle without consent (without having taken it) is a Class I felony (up to 3 years and 6 months), or Class G for a repeat offense. If the defendant proves the vehicle was abandoned undamaged within 24 hours, the offense is reduced to a Class A misdemeanor (up to 9 months). Knowingly riding as a passenger in a vehicle being driven without consent is a Class A misdemeanor, and removing a major part of a vehicle without consent is a Class I felony. A vehicle theft may also be charged as theft, graded by value. Wis. Stat. §§ 943.23, 943.20(3), 939.50(3), 939.51(3) |
| Wyoming | Wyoming charges vehicle theft under its general theft law: knowingly taking or exercising control over another's property without authorization, by threat or by deception, intending to deprive the owner of its use or benefit. Theft is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both if the property is worth $1,000 or more, and a misdemeanor (up to 1 year, a fine up to $1,500, or both) if it is worth less. A third or later theft offense is a felony (up to 10 years, a fine up to $10,000, or both) regardless of value. W.S. 6-3-402(a), (c), (j) |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.