Title 18 U.S.C. § 2312 makes it an offense to transport in interstate or foreign commerce a motor vehicle or aircraft, knowing it to have been stolen. The receipt, possession, sale, or disposition of a motor vehicle or aircraft which crossed a state or United States boundary after being stolen, with knowledge of its stolen character is an offense punishable in 18 U.S.C. § 2313.

Federal criminal jurisdiction also extends to a variety of other motor vehicle theft related activities. These include altering, removing or obliterating motor vehicle identification numbers, (18 U.S.C. § 511), trafficking in motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts with altered, removed or obliterated identification numbers (18 U.S.C. § 2321); and the exportation or importation of stolen motor vehicles, off-highway equipment, vessels and aircraft (18 U.S.C. § 553). See JM 9-61.700.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has investigatory responsibility for auto theft and aircraft theft-related offenses, including violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 511, 553, 2312, 2313, and 2321.

[updated January 2020]