Auto Theft Laws in Tennessee

In Tennessee, most vehicle theft offenses carry the possibility of felony penalties. This article will cover the crimes and penalties for stealing a vehicle or its parts, unlawful entry into a vehicle, carjacking, and joyriding.

What Are the Penalties for Stealing a Vehicle or Vehicle Parts in Tennessee?

Thefts are classified under Tennessee law according to the value of the stolen property. The more valuable the vehicle or the part is, the more severe the punishment will be. Stealing any car or vehicle component worth more than $1,000 carries felony penalties. Theft penalties also apply to anyone who knowingly sells or purchases a stolen vehicle or its parts from a chop shop.

Class A Misdemeanor

Auto theft constitutes a Class A misdemeanor if the stolen vehicle or vehicle part has a value of $1,000 or less. In such a case, the offender faces penalties of up to 11 months and 29 days of incarceration and a $2,500 fine.

Class E Felony

A person commits a Class E felony when the value of the stolen vehicle or vehicle part involved is more than $1,000 but less than $2,500. The punishment for a Class E felony includes imprisonment for one to six years and a $3,000 fine.

Class D Felony

Theft becomes a Class D felony if the value of the vehicle or vehicle part stolen is at least $2,500 but less than $10,000. A Class D felony carries 2 to 12 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Owning or operating a chop shop is also a Class D felony and carries a mandatory minimum fine of $3,500.

Class C Felony

Stealing a vehicle or vehicle part valued at $10,000 or more but less than $60,000 results in a Class C felony. Upon conviction, a person is subject to 3 to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Class B Felony

An offender is guilty of a Class B felony when the value of the stolen automobile or part is $60,000 or more but less than $250,000. The defendant faces 8 to 30 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

(Tenn. Code §§ 39-14-103, 39-14-105, 40-35-111, 55-5-203 (2025).)

What Are the Penalties for Illegal Possession of a Catalytic Converter in Tennessee?

Anyone who illegally possesses a used, detached catalytic converter commits a Class A misdemeanor and can face up to 11 months and 29 days of jail time. The court can also order a defendant to pay the victim for the repair and replacement of the catalytic converter. (If the prosecutor proves the part was stolen, harsher theft penalties may apply.)

(Tenn. Code § 62-9-115 (2025).)

What Are the Penalties for Breaking Into a Vehicle in Tennessee?

Tennessee’s burglary law applies when a person breaks into a vehicle intending to steal the vehicle or something inside it. The law broadly covers any unauthorized entry, even if nothing is actually broken or tampered with. For instance, a defendant who finds an unlocked car and opens the door to steal a cellphone left inside has committed burglary. Burglary of a vehicle is a Class E felony. A convicted defendant faces one to six years of prison time and a $3,000 fine.

If a defendant does damage the vehicle, they can face vandalism charges. Damage to another’s personal property carries the same penalties as theft based on the amount of damage caused. The law also requires the defendant to pay restitution (compensation) to the owner for the cost of the damage or repairs.

(Tenn. Code §§ 39-13-1002, 39-14-408 (2025).)

What Are the Penalties for Joyriding in Tennessee?

Tennessee law also prohibits joyriding—taking another person's vehicle without permission. Joyriding and vehicle theft differ in that a joyrider does not intend to permanently deprive the owner of the property. For example, a person who takes a neighbor's sports car without permission and drives it around the block before parking it back in the neighbor's driveway commits joyriding. If that person did not intend to return the neighbor's car, the crime would be theft.

A person who commits joyriding is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and faces up to 11 months and 29 days of incarceration and a $2,500 fine.

(Tenn. Code §§ 39-14-106, 40-35-111 (2025).)

What Are the Penalties for Carjacking in Tennessee?

Carjacking is a more serious crime than theft or joyriding. An offender commits carjacking by taking a car away from another person (a driver or a passenger) by use of:

• force or intimidation, or
• a deadly weapon.

For example, a person who uses a gun to force a driver out of their vehicle and steals the car has committed carjacking. Carjackers are guilty of a Class B felony and subject to 8 to 30 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

(Tenn. Code §§ 39-13-404, 40-35-111 (2025).)

Defenses to Vehicle Theft Charges in Tennessee

A person who faces vehicle theft or related charges might argue that the authorities have the wrong person or try to poke holes in the prosecution's case. For instance, the defense might argue the defendant didn't take the car intending to deprive the owner of their property. The defendant might have thought the owner consented to the taking or the defendant didn't know the car was stolen. A jury must acquit if reasonable doubt exists as to any element of the crime.

A defendant could also seek a reduction in the theft or vandalism charges by challenging the value of the vehicle or its parts or the amount of damage caused. Depending on the circumstances, the defendant might try to convince a jury that they were guilty of a lesser charge of joyriding rather than theft.

Obtaining Legal Assistance

Any criminal conviction can have serious and lasting consequences. If you're accused of or charged with committing a crime in Tennessee, talk to a local criminal defense attorney or ask for a public defender. A lawyer will tell you how your case is likely to fare in court, depending on the assigned judge and prosecutor, the law, and the facts of your case. An attorney can help you navigate the criminal system so that you can obtain the best possible outcome.