Motor Vehicle Theft by State

Grand theft auto is the act of stealing a car or other vehicle. In most states, this crime is a felony. Motor vehicle theft laws vary between jurisdictions, but they all adhere the same general legal principles.

Car Thief Stealing A Car

What Is Grand Theft Auto?

Theft crimes can be grouped into petty theft and grand theft. Petty theft refers to the misdemeanors that are usually punished with a maximum of one year sentence. On the other hand, grand theft crimes are felonies, and perpetrators can serve several years in prison, depending on the merits of the case. Thefts of property worth at least $500 to $1,000 are regarded as grand theft in many states. Even if an older car's value doesn't rise to that amount, car theft is usually considered a grand theft.

Proving Grand Theft Auto

A prosecutor has to prove the following before a person can be convicted of grand theft auto.

  1. The defendant drove or took a vehicle
  2. The vehicle belongs to someone else
  3. The defendant had no plan to return the vehicle to the owner

There are several ways a car can be stolen, including hotwiring the car, using a stolen key to start the ignition, and even taking it with a tow truck. Some states apply the grand theft auto laws to other vehicles such as bikes, boats, and campers. In some jurisdictions, grand theft auto only occurs when the vehicle is taken on public roads. This requirement automatically rules out boats in those states.

Defenses For Grand Theft Auto

There are two major defenses to grand theft auto. First, the defendant may argue that the owner was aware and gave consent before the car was taken away. Second, they may argue that the intention was not to permanently deprive the owner of ever having the the car back.


"Joyriding" is the act of unlawfully taking a car or driving a car that is not yours, but with full intent to return it to the owner. If a person has the intention of returning the car to the owner, it might not be prosecuted as grand theft auto.


There is definitely no crime if the owner gave consent for the defendant to take the vehicle. However, consent does not apply when the owner previously gave permission on a different occasion. If the owner gives permission for a particular time, and the person takes the car again without fresh permission, the consent defense doesn't apply.

What if someone normally has permission to drive a car but takes it without the owner's consent in one particular instance? For example, a child drives his parent's car, or a worker takes his employer's truck. These scenarios might not be considered a theft, and instead they might lead to a misdemeanor charge of taking the vehicle without owner's consent.

Crimes Related To Grand Theft Auto

There are some other charges that may be applicable, depending on the circumstance around which the car was stolen. If the defendant broke into the car or into a garage before stealing the car, the defendant may have to face burglary charges as well. If a weapon was used in the process of stealing the car, a defendant might also be charged with robbery or assault.

Sentences For A Grand Theft Auto Conviction

For minor convictions, a defendant might receive punishments such as community service, fines, and probation. A court might also punish an offender by seizing their driver's license. Repeat offenders are usually the ones that get the long prison sentences. The prison sentence is also influenced by the way the car was stolen, if a weapon was used, or if any form of violence was threatened against the owner before the car was stolen.

Car Thief Hot Wiring A Car

Grand Theft Auto Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Grand Theft Auto A Felony?

In most states, grand theft is usually a felony. However, some states will charge a defendant with misdemeanor if they have no priors, the value of the vehicle was low, or there are special circumstances.

2. What Is Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft?

Aggravated motor vehicle theft is an offense under Colorado state law. When a person steals a car from the owner, it's regarded as a first-degree motor vehicle theft, as long as the following aggravating factors are in place:

  1. Car is kept for more than 24 hours
  2. Vehicle is taken out of the state of Colorado for over 12 hours
  3. Someone is injured during the crime
  4. The defendant attaches a different license plate to the stolen vehicle
  5. The defendant commits another crime with the vehicle
  6. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is altered or removed
  7. The stolen car suffers $500 worth of damage or more

How Prevalent Is Motor Vehicle Theft?

In 2013, the FBI reported that there were 699,594 recorded cases of vehicle theft nationwide. That number reflects a general year-over-year decline in auto thefts.

Year Motor Vehicle Theft Motor Vehicle Theft Rate
2008 959,059 315.4
2009 796,652 259.2
2010 739,565 239.1
2011 716,508 230
2012 723,186 230.4
2013 699,594 221.3


However, industry experts warn that criminals are continually devising more ways to steal vehicles. Some of the known tactics include using smart keys, changing the identification numbers on the vehicle, and using a stolen identity to secure loans for expensive vehicles.

3. Who Commits Motor Vehicle Theft?

Motor vehicle theft is overwhelmingly committed by people between the ages of 15 and 20. According to the Department of Justice, 58,980 US males were arrested for motor vehicle theft in 2010, but only 12,500 females were arrested for the same crime that year.

Motor Vehicle Theft Statistics By Age

4. How Can You Prevent Motor Vehicle Theft?

A survey on motor vehicle theft carried out in 2007 for the National Insurance Crime Bureau discovered the following:

  1. 93% of respondents never leave spare keys in their vehicle
  2. 79% of respondents always lock their vehicles

However, the survey also discovered that Americans put their car and valuables at risk:

  1. One-third of Americans admit to leaving their car while the vehicle is running
  2. 47% sometimes park in poorly lit areas
  3. 40% don't hide their valuables in their car

A car theft can literally happen in under a minute. Here's how car owners can protect themselves:

  1. Even if you only have to leave the car for a moment, ensure the car doors, windows, and trunk are shut and locked
  2. Don't leave a running vehicle unattended
  3. When you park your vehicle, search for a well-lit environment with pedestrian traffic
  4. Park the vehicle so the front faces an obstacle, tilt the wheels to the curb, and lock the steering wheel
  5. You can disable a vehicle by using a starter interrupt switch, also known as kill switch
  6. Make use of VIN etching, which refers to the use of a chemical to etch the VIN or registration number on the window of your vehicle. This prevents many criminals from attempting to steal your car in the first place. Most “chop shops” prefer vehicles with easily sellable parts.
  7. If you intend to leave the vehicle for long periods, disconnect the power supply and take off the fuses (consult with with your mechanic if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself)
  8. The fact that your car is in your garage doesn't mean it cannot be stolen. Follow the precautions listed above, and ensure the garage doors and any doors that access the garage are securely shut.
  9. Don't leave your keys with car wash employees or car park employees
  10. Your keys should never be marked with your name and address. If you must mark them, list your business name and suburb or driver's license number
  11. Don't leave the keys lying around your hooks, desks, or tables in the workplace or home

Grand theft auto and motor vehicle theft may appear in a TruthFinder criminal background report. To find court and police records, search for a name with Learn more about the people you know today!

Motor Vehicle Theft by State Per Capita Crimes commited per 1,000 people Rate Crimes commited per 100,000 people
3.11 310.63
3.12 312.15
4.08 407.99
2.54 253.6
4.62 462.07
3.26 326.18
2.17 216.77
2.89 288.91
2.94 294.48
4.03 402.64
4.36 436.44
1.23 123.23
2.51 250.54
3.34 334.46
1.88 187.99
2.93 292.56
2.39 239.44
3.45 345.37
0.76 75.61
5.02 502.31
1.6 159.61
3.82 382.46
2 200.36
2.86 285.76
3.9 389.52
2.44 243.96
3.16 315.75
5.08 508.37
0.78 78.35
1.75 175.19
4.6 459.96
1.13 112.75
2.54 254
1.94 194.43
2.64 264.48
3.59 359.41
3.38 337.92
1.55 154.83
2.03 203.28
3.23 322.69
1.54 154.09
2.95 294.86
3.18 318.17
2.72 271.64
0.63 63.03
1.9 190.02
5.25 525.36
1.66 166.3
2.3 230.03
1.29 129.21