LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeVehicle CodeDiv. 4Ch. 3§ 10750 Vehicle Identification Protection

§ 10750 Vehicle Identification Protection

Vehicle Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 10750 Vehicle Identification Protection

This law says you can't mess with or change the special numbers or marks on a car that are used to register it, unless you have permission from the DMV.

Key Takeaways

  • •You can't change, remove, or add any numbers or marks on a car that are used for registration.
  • •You can fix the original number if the DMV says it's okay.
  • •Car makers can put numbers on new cars or parts as part of their normal work.

Example

Someone scratches off the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on their car to hide that it was stolen.

This is illegal because they changed the car's special number without permission from the DMV.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 10750 Vehicle Identification Protection

(a) No person shall intentionally deface, destroy, or alter the motor number, other distinguishing number, or identification mark of a vehicle required or employed for registration purposes without written authorization from the department, nor shall any person place or stamp any serial, motor, or other number or mark upon a vehicle, except one assigned thereto by the department. (b) This section does not prohibit the restoration by an owner of the original vehicle identification number when the restoration is authorized by the department, nor prevent any manufacturer from placing in the ordinary course of business numbers or marks upon new motor vehicles or new parts thereof. (Amended by Stats. 1970. Ch. 824.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

motor numberdistinguishing numberidentification markwritten authorizationdepartmentvehicle identification number

Related Statutes

  • § 10753 Catalytic Converter Marking Tampering
  • § 11504 License Application Requirements
  • § 11540 Salvage Pool Vehicle Records
  • § 11541 Salvage Pool Administration
  • § 4150 Vehicle Registration Application Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 10750.
View Official Source