Alabama Motor Vehicle Theft Laws

By Samuel Strom, J.D. | Legally reviewed by Joseph Fawbush, Esq. | Last reviewed October 29, 2024

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Stealing a motor vehicle is a misdemeanor or felony in the state of Alabama, depending on the circumstances. The criminal penalties vary based on the specific criminal charges the defendant faces.

Taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent is generally a misdemeanor. If convicted, the defendant faces up to a year of jail time. However, if the person uses force to take an occupied vehicle, they commit a Class C felony. Breaking and entering into a vehicle is a Class B felony. Felony convictions carry prison sentences of over a year, plus criminal fines.

The article provides information about Alabama’s laws regarding the theft of a motor vehicle. Visit FindLaw’s Alabama Theft Laws article for information about other theft offenses in the state. You can also browse FindLaw’s Theft Overview article for more general information about theft crimes.

Alabama Motor Vehicle Theft: Overview

Consult the chart below for an overview of Alabama’s theft crimes involving motor vehicles. The Related Resources section below the chart contains other articles related to theft crimes.

Code Section

Code of Alabama Title 13A Criminal Code, Chapter 8, Article 1 - Unauthorized Use of Vehicle; Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle

  • AL Code § 13A-8-11

Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle

A person commits the crime of unauthorized use of a vehicle when:

  • Taking, operating, exercising control over, or otherwise using a propelled vehicle, knowing that the owner has not consented to their use. (§ 13A-8-11(a)(1))

  • Intentionally using or operating a vehicle for their own purpose, without the owner’s consent, when the actor and owner have an agreement that the actor was to perform a specific service for compensation for the owner (e.g., maintenance, repair, etc.), and the actor used it in a way that grossly deviated from the agreed-upon purpose. (§ 13A-8-11(a)(2))

  • Knowingly retaining or withholding possession of a vehicle without the owner’s consent when the actor and owner had an agreement to return the vehicle by a specific time, and the retention or withholding is for so long a time that it renders it a gross deviation from the agreement. (§ 13A-8-11(a)(3))

The unauthorized use of a vehicle is a Class A misdemeanor. However, if the person used force (or the threat of force) to take, operate, usurp, or exercise control over the vehicle and one or more passengers were in it, it is a Class B felony. (§ 13A-8-11(a)(4))

Unlawful Breaking and Entering

A person who breaks into and enters a vehicle (or any part of a vehicle) without the owner’s consent and with the intent to commit a felony or theft commits the crime of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle. (§ 13A-8-11(b))

The term “enter” means any part of the actor’s body or a physical object connected with the body that intrudes on the vehicle. (§ 13A-8-11(b)(1)-(2))

Unlawful breaking and entering is a Class C felony.

Note: State laws often change through new legislation, higher court decisions, referendums, and other means. Contact an Alabama criminal defense lawyer or conduct your own research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Related Resources

For more information about Alabama law and theft crimes generally, visit the links below:

You can also visit FindLaw’s Alabama Theft Laws article, which includes information about first-degree through fourth-degree theft of property, theft of services, theft of trade secrets, and more.

Facing Theft Charges? Contact an Attorney

If a law enforcement agency has charged you with a crime involving the unauthorized control of a motor vehicle, contact an Alabama criminal defense attorney. Note that all defendants in a criminal case have a right to an attorney. You can ask the court to appoint an attorney for you if you cannot afford to hire one.

Having an experienced attorney can make a significant difference in your case, whether you face first-degree theft charges or breaking and entering into a vehicle. They can provide specific legal advice and defense strategies for your case. Contact an attorney today to get started on your defense.

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