---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 511"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "511"
heading: "Altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/511"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery"
---

# §511. Altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers

- (a) A [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who—
  - (1) knowingly removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters an identification number for a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) or [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) part; or
  - (2) with intent to further the theft of a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6), knowingly removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters a decal or device affixed to a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) pursuant to the [Motor Vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) Theft Prevention Act,

  shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

- (b)
  - (1) [Subsection (a)](#a) of this section does not apply to a removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration by a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection (unless such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) knows that the vehicle or part involved is stolen).
  - (2) The [persons](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection are—
    - (A) a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) scrap processor or a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) demolisher who complies with applicable [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) law with respect to such vehicle or part;
    - (B) a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who repairs such vehicle or part, if the removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration is reasonably necessary for the repair;
    - (C) a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who restores or replaces an identification number for such vehicle or part in accordance with applicable [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) law; and
    - (D) a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters a decal or device affixed to a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) pursuant to the [Motor Vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) Theft Prevention Act, if that [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) is the [owner](/usc/18/1839.md?p=4) of the [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6), or is authorized to remove, obliterate, tamper with or alter the decal or device by—
      - (i) the [owner](/usc/18/1839.md?p=4) or his authorized agent;
      - (ii) applicable [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) or local law; or
      - (iii) regulations promulgated by the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k) to implement the [Motor Vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) Theft Prevention Act.
- (c) As used in this section, the term—
  - (1) “identification number” means a number or symbol that is inscribed or affixed for purposes of identification under [chapter 301](/usc/18/chptIII/ch301.md) and part C of subtitle VI of [title 49](/usc/49.md);
  - (2) “[motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6)” has the meaning given that term in [section 32101 of title 49](/usc/49/32101.md);
  - (3) “[motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) demolisher” means a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), including any [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) dismantler or [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) recycler, who is [engaged in the business](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-21) of reducing [motor vehicles](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) or [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) parts to metallic scrap that is unsuitable for use as either a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) or a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) part;
  - (4) “[motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) scrap processor” means a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5)—
    - (A) who is [engaged in the business](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-21) of purchasing [motor vehicles](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) or [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) parts for reduction to metallic scrap for recycling;
    - (B) who, from a fixed location, uses machinery to process metallic scrap into prepared grades; and
    - (C) whose principal product is metallic scrap for recycling;

    but such term does not include any activity of any such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) relating to the recycling of a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) or a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) part as a used [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) or a used [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) part.

- (d) For purposes of [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, the term “tampers with” includes covering a program decal or device affixed to a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) pursuant to the [Motor Vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) Theft Prevention Act for the purpose of obstructing its visibility.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–547, title II, § 201(a), Oct. 25, 1984, 98 Stat. 2768; amended Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(e)(3), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1373; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXII, § 220003(a)–(c), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2076, 2077; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(8), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3507.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2), (b)(2)(D), and (d), is title XXII of Pub. L. 103–322, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2074, which enacted section 511A of this title and section 12611 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement, amended this section, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 10101 of Title 34. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1994 Act note set out under section 10101 of Title 34 and Tables.

### Codification

Another section 511 was renumbered section 513 of this title.

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 104–294 realigned margins.

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 220003(a), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “Whoever knowingly removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters an identification number for a motor vehicle, or motor vehicle part, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”

Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 103–322, § 220003(b), added subpar. (D).

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(e)(3)(A), substituted “chapter 301 and part C of subtitle VI of title 49” for “the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, or the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(e)(3)(B), substituted “section 32101 of title 49” for “section 2 of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–322, § 220003(c), added subsec. (d).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–294 effective Sept. 13, 1994, see section 604(d) of Pub. L. 104–294, set out as a note under section 13 of this title.