---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 512"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "512"
heading: "Forfeiture of certain motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/512"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery"
---

# §512. Forfeiture of certain motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts

- (a) If 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 is removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered, such vehicle or part shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture to the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) unless—
  - (1) in the case of a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) part, such part is attached to a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) and the [owner](/usc/18/1839.md?p=4) of such [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) does not know that the identification number has been removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered;
  - (2) such [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) or part has a replacement identification number that—
    - (A) is authorized by the Secretary of Transportation under [chapter 301](/usc/49/chstVI/ptA/ch301.md) of title 49; or
    - (B) conforms to applicable [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) law;
  - (3) such removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration is caused by collision or fire or is carried out as described in [section 511(b) of this title](/usc/18/511.md?p=b); or
  - (4) such [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) or part is in the possession or control of a [motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) scrap processor who does not know that such identification number was removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered in any manner other than by collision or fire or as described in [section 511(b) of this title](/usc/18/511.md?p=b).
- (b) All provisions of law relating to—
  - (1) the seizure and condemnation of vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage for violation of customs laws, and procedures for summary and judicial forfeiture applicable to such violations;
  - (2) the disposition of such vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage or the proceeds from such disposition;
  - (3) the remission or mitigation of such forfeiture; and
  - (4) the compromise of claims and the award of compensation to informers with respect to such forfeiture;

  shall apply to seizures and forfeitures under this section, to the extent that such provisions are not inconsistent with this section. The duties of the [collector](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-13) of customs or any other [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) with respect to seizure and forfeiture under such provisions shall be performed under this section by such [persons](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) as may be designated by the [Attorney General](/usc/18/841.md?p=k).

- (c) As used in this section, the terms “identification number”, “[motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6)”, and “[motor vehicle](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-6) scrap processor” have the meanings given those terms in [section 511 of this title](/usc/18/511.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–547, title II, § 201(a), Oct. 25, 1984, 98 Stat. 2769; amended Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(e)(4), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1373.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103–272 substituted “chapter 301 title 49” for “the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”.