Auto Theft Laws in New Jersey

Stealing a motor vehicle is a serious crime in New Jersey. New Jersey also criminalizes other actions involving the use of a motor vehicle, including carjacking and joyriding. Learn how New Jersey defines and punishes vehicle theft and related crimes.

What Are the Penalties for Stealing a Vehicle in New Jersey?

A person commits vehicle theft—an indictable crime—by unlawfully taking or exercising control over another person's motor vehicle to deprive that person of their motor vehicle. "Deprive" means to:

• withhold another's property permanently
• withhold the property long enough that its economic value is lost to the owner, or
• dispose of the property in such a way that the owner won't likely recover it.

(N.J. Stat. § 2C:20-1 (2025); N.J. Stat. § 2C:20-3 (2025).)

Criminal Penalties for Vehicle Theft

Although most theft crimes in New Jersey dole out punishments based on the value of the stolen property, car theft differs slightly. In these cases New Jersey doesn't apply lowest theft penalties, which start at disorderly persons offenses. Rather, vehicle theft starts as an indictable crime of the third degree, punishable by imprisonment for three to five years and a fine of up to $15,000.

For vehicles valued at $75,000 or more, or if the theft involved more than one motor vehicle, the offense becomes a crime of the second degree with penalties of five to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $150,000.

If a stolen vehicle isn't recovered, higher fines can be imposed. If the lost vehicle and the property inside were worth more than $7,500, then the thief can be fined for the total amount of the lost property.

New Jersey law provides enhanced penalties for defendants who have previously been convicted on two or more prior and separate occasions for vehicle theft.

(N.J. Stat. § 2C:20-2 (2025); N.J. Stat. § 2C:20-2.2 (2025).)

Fines and Suspension of Driving Privileges

In addition to the penalties outlined above, New Jersey punishes car theft with fines and license suspensions. These penalties become more severe if the defendant has prior convictions for the same crime:

• First offenders face a $500 fine and could lose their driving privileges for one year.
• For a second offense, the fine rises to $750 and driving privileges can be revoked for up to two years.
• For additional offenses, the fine rises to $1,000, and driving privileges can be suspended for up to ten years.

The offender must also pay restitution (compensation) to the owner for any expenses the owner incurred in recovering the motor vehicle or repairing any damage.

(N.J. Stat. §2C:20-2.1 (2025); N.J. Stat. § 2C:43-2.1 (2025).)

What Are the Penalties for Receiving a Stolen Vehicle in New Jersey?

It is illegal to knowingly receive or bring into New Jersey a motor vehicle that belongs to someone else, and that you know or believe is stolen. "Receiving" means acquiring possession, control, or title to the vehicle, or lending on the security of the motor vehicle.

Receiving a stolen vehicle is an indictable offense. If the vehicle's value is $75,000 or more, it's a crime of the second degree with penalties of five to 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine. In all other cases, receiving a stolen motor vehicle is a third-degree crime and subjects a guilty defendant to three to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Repeat offenders face enhanced penalties. If someone is convicted of receiving a stolen vehicle, a lengthier prison term applies if they have two or more prior convictions for:

• receiving a stolen vehicle
• vehicle theft, or
• carjacking.

For a second-degree crime, the prison term for a repeat offender is 10 to 20 years. For a third-degree crime, the prison term for a repeat offender is five to 10 years.

(N.J. Stat. § 2C:20-10.2 (2025); N.J. Stat. § 2C:20-10.3 (2025), N.J. Stat. § 2C:43-3 (2025); N.J. Stat. § 2C:43-7 (2025)

What Are the Penalties for Joyriding?

A person commits joyriding—called "unlawful taking of means of conveyance" in New Jersey—by taking, operating, or exercising control over a motor vehicle:

• without authorization, and
• with the intent to temporarily (rather than permanently) withhold the vehicle from its lawful owner or user.

Joyriding is a crime of the fourth degree. A passenger who willingly participates in a joyride also commits a crime of the fourth degree. Fourth-degree joyriding carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.

If the joyrider handles the vehicle in a way that risks injury to any person or damage to property, the penalty increases to a crime of the third degree. For this offense, a convicted defendant faces imprisonment for three to five years and a fine of up to $15,000.

(N.J. Stat. §§ 2C:20-10 (2025); N.J. Stat. § 2C:43-3 (2025); N.J. Stat. §§ 2C:43-6 (2025).)

What Are the Penalties for Carjacking?

A person commits carjacking if, in the course of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle, they do any of the following:

• inflict bodily injury or use force on the person in possession of the vehicle, or one of its occupants
• threaten an occupant or the person in control of the vehicle, or place them in fear of immediate bodily injury
• commit--or threaten to commit--any crime of the first or second degree (such as aggravated sexual assault), or
• drive the car with a victim still inside, or force a victim to drive.

Carjacking is a first-degree-plus crime. Offenders face 10 to 30 years in prison, and must serve at least five years of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

(N.J. Stat. § 2C:15-2 (2024).)

Penalties for Burglary of a Vehicle

In New Jersey, it is burglary to enter a vehicle without permission, with the intention of committing a crime. (This law applies to "structures," but cars and other vehicles are defined as structures for the purposes of this rule.) Someone can be guilty of burglary even if they didn't break into or damage the vehicle to gain access.

Burglary is a third-degree crime punishable by imprisonment for three to five years and a fine of up to $15,000. But it becomes a second-degree crime if the offender:

• intentionally or recklessly inflicts, threatens to inflict, or attempts to inflict bodily injury on anyone
• is armed with, or displays, explosives or a deadly weapon.

Second-degree burglary is punishable with five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to to $150,000.

(N.J. Stat. § 2C:18-1 (2025); N.J. Stat. § 2C:18-2 (2025); N.J. Stat. § 2C:43-3 (2025); N.J. Stat. § 2C:43-7 (2025).)

Penalties for Damaging or Vandalizing a Vehicle

New Jersey's criminal mischief statute makes it a crime to intentionally damage someone's vehicle, or to tamper with it in a way that makes it unsafe.

Criminal mischief is a disorderly persons offense if the damage is $500 or less. The punishment doesn't always include jail time, but a sentence of up to six months can be imposed.

Criminal mischief is:

• a fourth-degree crime if the damage is more than $500 but less than $2,000, and
• a third-degree crime if the damage is $2,000 or more.

Damaging a vehicle with graffiti carries additional penalties--the offender can be ordered to pay restitution to the victim, and to perform community service.

(N.J. Stat. § 2C:43-8 (2025); N.J. Stat. § 2C:17-3 (2025).)

Altering or Destroying a Vehicle Identification Number

All vehicles in the United States must include a vehicle identification number (VIN). The VIN makes it more difficult to profit from stealing a vehicle or lying about its maintenance history. Some vehicle parts also include unique ID numbers for the same reason.

It is a third-degree crime in New Jersey to remove, alter, or cover a VIN for an unlawful purpose.

It is also a crime to knowingly possess a vehicle or vehicle part from which the ID numbers have been removed or altered. It is a disorderly persons offense if the value of the vehicle or parts is less than $200. It is a fourth-degree crime if the value is $200-$500. It is a third-degree crime if the value is more than $500.

People who possess parts and vehicles without ID numbers can avoid the consequences of this law by filing paperwork with the state within ten days. The paperwork must, among other things, prove lawful ownership and provide the accurate VIN or ID number (if known). This safe harbor is not available to people who remove or alter VINs themselves.

(N.J. Stat. § 2C:17-6 (2025).)

Legal Defenses for Auto Theft Crimes in New Jersey

In any criminal matter, the availability of a legal defense will depend on the unique circumstances of that particular case. However, some of the following defenses are commonly used in auto theft cases.

Consent. If you had the owner's permission to take or use their vehicle, then you can't be charged with auto theft. This defense sometimes comes into play when the owner had granted permission in the past, but later events make it unclear if that permission still applied.

Mistake of fact. It can be a defense if the defendant didn't know they were driving a stolen vehicle.

Permanent deprivation. In New Jersey, stealing a car requires the intent to permanently deprive the owner of their vehicle, or to take it for so long that the owner loses its economic value. So, it can be a defense to argue that you didn't intend to keep the vehicle for that long. This won't clear you of legal responsibility, but could lead to a lesser charge like joyriding.

Talk to a Lawyer

Anyone facing a criminal charge in New Jersey, for vehicle theft or any other offense, should talk to a local criminal defense lawyer. You could unknowingly damage your ability to protect your rights if you proceed without legal advice. An attorney can explain the criminal justice process, help you understand your options, and represent your interests in court.