---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2321"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2321"
heading: "Trafficking in certain motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2321"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 113 — Stolen Property"
---

# §2321. Trafficking in certain motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts

- (a) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) buys, receives, possesses, or obtains control of, with intent to sell or otherwise dispose of, a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) or [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) part, knowing that an identification number for such [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) or part has been removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
- (b) [Subsection (a)](#a) does not apply if the removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration—
  - (1) is caused by collision or fire; or
  - (2) is not a violation of [section 511 of this title](/usc/18/511.md).
- (c) As used in this section, the terms “identification number” and “[motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6)” have the meaning given those terms in [section 511 of this title](/usc/18/511.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–547, title II, § 204(a), Oct. 25, 1984, 98 Stat. 2770, § 2320; renumbered § 2321, Pub. L. 99–646, § 42(a), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3601; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $20,000”.