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HomeVehicle CodeDiv. 4Ch. 3.5§ 10803 Altering Vehicle Identification Numbers

§ 10803 Altering Vehicle Identification Numbers

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

§ 10803 Altering Vehicle Identification Numbers

This law makes it illegal to buy, sell, or own more than one car or car parts if you know the identification numbers have been messed with to hide where they came from.

Key Takeaways

  • •It’s illegal to sell or own more than one car or car parts if you know the ID numbers were changed to hide their real identity.
  • •If you sell or transfer these cars/parts, you could go to jail for 2 to 6 years or pay up to $60,000.
  • •If you just have these cars/parts to sell or trade, you could go to jail for 16 months to 3 years or pay up to $30,000.
  • •Even if you don’t go to prison, you could still go to county jail for up to a year or pay a $1,000 fine.

Example

Someone buys two cars with scratched-off VIN numbers to sell them for parts.

This person could go to jail for 2 to 6 years or pay up to $60,000 because they knew the numbers were changed to hide the cars' real identity.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 10803 Altering Vehicle Identification Numbers

(a) Any person who buys with the intent to resell, disposes of, sells, or transfers, more than one motor vehicle or parts from more than one motor vehicle, with the knowledge that the vehicle identification numbers of the motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts have been altered, counterfeited, defaced, destroyed, disguised, falsified, forged, obliterated, or removed for the purpose of misrepresenting the identity or preventing the identification of the motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts, is guilty of a public offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for two, four, or six years, or by a fine of not more than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment, or by up to one year in the county jail, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment. (b) Any person who possesses, for the purpose of sale, transfer, import, or export, more than one motor vehicle or parts from more than one motor vehicle, with the knowledge that the vehicle identification numbers of the motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts have been altered, counterfeited, defaced, destroyed, disguised, falsified, forged, obliterated, or removed for the purpose of misrepresenting the identity or preventing the identification of the motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts, is guilty of a public offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months, or two or three years, or by a fine of not more than thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both the fine and imprisonment. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 605. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

imprisonmentconvictionidentificationportvehicleoffensefineidentity

Related Statutes

  • § 12110 Towing Service Kickback Ban
  • § 13351 Driver License Revocation Crimes
  • § 23566 Multiple Dui Felony Penalties
  • § 23600 Probation Terms Dui Conviction
  • § 10801 Chop Shop Operation Penalties

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 10803.
View Official Source