Driving a Stolen Car Without a License. What Could Go Wrong?

So you want to take a joy ride in someone else’s car? What could be more illegal than that? Doing it without a license of course! If you’re concerned about driving a stolen car, especially without a license, you have every right to be.

You can read about countless stories on the web like the 12-year old boy who stole a car in Washington D.C. back in 2015. While that might sound cute and cuddly, it’s just one of many situations that has played out over and over throughout the country since then – usually with far more sinister motivations.

Looking at his situation, and that of others, it’s obvious what’s going to happen to you if you drive a stolen car without a license – you run a high risk of being arrested and going to jail.

There are endless ways you could get caught driving a stolen car OR driving without a license and combining the two is madness, so let’s break it down and talk about what could happen when your luck runs out. Keep in mind that we are not attorneys and this article is not legal advice. If you need legal advice, consult an attorney.

Stolen Car Charges: Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle vs. Grand Theft Auto

While the laws might vary from state to state, what’s happening in Texas is a pretty good guideline. If you get pulled over driving a stolen car there, whether you have a license or not, you are looking at some variant of a felony charge.

If you’re pulled over while driving a stolen vehicle, you could receive one of two charges:

• Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle means the prosecution doesn’t need to go through the trouble of proving that you actually stole a vehicle. All they have to do is determine that you used it without permission of the owner. That means you could be sold a stolen car without knowing and commit a crime just by driving it.

• Grand Theft Auto requires the state to prove that you stole the vehicle or that you helped someone else steal it.

What’s the penalty? In Texas, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle is a state felony that comes with a maximum punishment of two years in prison. On the other hand, Grand Theft Auto is a third-degree felony depending on the value of the car. This carries a sentence of up to ten years in prison. Sometimes the prosecution will even push for a GTA charge over the UUMV if you are driving a higher-priced vehicle.

Because you can be charged with a crime for accidentally driving a stolen car, we always suggest running a detailed VIN check before you buy a car. This inexpensive service could save you thousands down the road. Click the link to learn more.

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Additional Penalties for Driving Without a License

Let’s be logical for a minute. If you are caught with a stolen car, the last thing the cops are worried about is whether you have a license or not. However, it’s certainly possible to get charged for that because driving without a license is illegal in all 50 states. Charges vary based on whether you have been caught before:

• First offense: In most states, you are looking at a misdemeanor which has larger penalties than a standard traffic citation.

• Subsequent offenses: If you get caught a second time, you might face a felony depending on what state you are in. You could even face jail time.

Fines and suspensions range from $50 to $2,500 based on your state. You’ll also face suspension of your license and up to a year in jail. You might be forced to go without a license for up to two years and serve up to another five years of time in jail if you keep it up. Your permanent record is going to indicate everything clearly. Check your local laws to confirm.

But I never had a driver’s license. If you have never had a driver’s license the consequences are often less severe than if you are driving with a revoked or suspended license instead. It’s usually still a misdemeanor, so don’t expect to get away with a simple traffic ticket. Check your local laws to confirm.

It’s clear that driving a stolen car without a license isn’t a smart choice to make. Your joy ride in a stolen car could land you in the slammer.

What if You Accidentally Bought a Stolen Vehicle?

If you are wondering what to do if you find out the car you just bought is stolen, I’ll give you a quick breakdown.

First of all, if you’re ever pulled over you are going to get arrested. The police aren’t going to attempt to sort out the situation on the spot. When the cops ran your license plate, all they heard is that you were driving a stolen vehicle. Now you’re stuck to answer for it.

Even if you didn’t know about it, the reality is that the car is stolen. You will have to prove that you bought the car by accident and had no idea it was stolen. By that time, the police will have taken possession of your vehicle and returned it to the rightful owner, if possible.

Of course, if you were driving without a license as well, you are also going to have to convince the judge that there was a good reason for that – and there are very few of those.

To summarize, if you’re caught driving a stolen car without knowing it:

• You will be arrested

• You will not get your money back

• You will not be able to make an insurance claim since the car wasn’t yours

Want your money back? Too bad. Everything you spent on that car is now gone. You could attempt to sue the seller to get back your money. The problem is, the seller isn’t often easy to find after selling a stolen vehicle. They are probably long gone. That’s why it’s best to run a VIN Check on any vehicle you plan to buy. It’s a few dollars well spent.

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Protecting Yourself from Buying a Stolen Car

There are some ways you can protect yourself from purchasing a stolen car in the first place. First, inspect the vehicle or take it to a trusted mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection to uncover signs of theft.

You want to make sure that the VIN matches in every location on the car and on the title as well. If it is unreadable on the dash or door, this is a warning sign that something might not be right.

Then, you should run the VIN through a VIN Check. These inexpensive actions help protect you from buying a stolen car and will also uncover a bevy of other reasons you might want to walk away from buying a car.

Bottom Line: Don’t Steal a Car

If there’s one thing you should learn from this article, it’s that you don’t want to drive a stolen car with or without a license. Your few minutes of pleasure could land you in prison for years and it’s simply not worth it. If you don’t have a license, hail a ride instead. It’s much more comfortable than prison and you can arrive in style.

Dirt Legal offers title replacement for cars, motorcycles, and almost anything with wheels. Click the link to learn more about our services.

We are not attorneys. This article is not legal advice. Cover image source