Florida Statute 319.33 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES

Chapter 319
TITLE CERTIFICATES

View Entire Chapter

F.S. 319.33

319.33 Offenses involving vehicle identification numbers, applications, certificates, papers; penalty.—

(1) It is unlawful:

(a) To alter or forge any certificate of title to a motor vehicle or mobile home or any assignment thereof or any cancellation of any lien on a motor vehicle or mobile home.

(b) To retain or use such certificate, assignment, or cancellation knowing that it has been altered or forged.

(c) To procure or attempt to procure a certificate of title to a motor vehicle or mobile home, or pass or attempt to pass a certificate of title or any assignment thereof to a motor vehicle or mobile home, knowing or having reason to believe that such motor vehicle or mobile home has been stolen.

(d) To possess, sell or offer for sale, conceal, or dispose of in this state a motor vehicle or mobile home, or major component part thereof, on which any motor number or vehicle identification number that has been affixed by the manufacturer or by a state agency, such as the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which regulates motor vehicles has been destroyed, removed, covered, altered, or defaced, with knowledge of such destruction, removal, covering, alteration, or defacement, except as provided in s. 319.30(4).

(e) To use a false or fictitious name, give a false or fictitious address, or make any false statement in any application or affidavit required under the provisions of this chapter or in a bill of sale or sworn statement of ownership or otherwise commit a fraud in any application.

(2) It is unlawful for any person knowingly to obtain goods, services, credit, or money by means of an invalid, duplicate, fictitious, forged, counterfeit, stolen, or unlawfully obtained certificate of title, registration, bill of sale, or other indicia of ownership of a motor vehicle or mobile home.

(3) It is unlawful for any person knowingly to obtain goods, services, credit, or money by means of a certificate of title to a motor vehicle or mobile home, which certificate is required by law to be surrendered to the department.

(4) It is unlawful for any person knowingly and with intent to defraud to have in his or her possession, sell, offer to sell, counterfeit, or supply a blank, forged, fictitious, counterfeit, stolen, or fraudulently or unlawfully obtained certificate of title, registration, bill of sale, or other indicia of ownership of a motor vehicle or mobile home or to conspire to do any of the foregoing.

(5) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to knowingly possess, manufacture, sell or exchange, offer to sell or exchange, supply in blank, or give away any counterfeit manufacturer’s or state-assigned identification number plates or serial plates or any decal used for the purpose of identification of any motor vehicle; or for any officer, agent, or employee of any person, firm, or corporation, or any person who shall authorize, direct, aid in exchange, or give away such counterfeit manufacturer’s or state-assigned identification number plates or serial plates or any decal; or conspire to do any of the foregoing. However, nothing in this subsection shall be applicable to any approved replacement manufacturer’s or state-assigned identification number plates or serial plates or any decal issued by the department or any state.

(6) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Any motor vehicle used in violation of this section shall constitute contraband which may be seized by a law enforcement agency and shall be subject to forfeiture proceedings pursuant to ss. 932.701-932.704. This section is not exclusive of any other penalties prescribed by any existing or future laws for the larceny or unauthorized taking of motor vehicles or mobile homes, but is supplementary thereto.

(7)(a) If all identifying numbers of a motor vehicle or mobile home do not exist or have been destroyed, removed, covered, altered, or defaced, or if the real identity of the motor vehicle or mobile home cannot be determined, the motor vehicle or mobile home shall constitute contraband and shall be subject to forfeiture by a seizing law enforcement agency, pursuant to applicable provisions of ss. 932.701-932.704. Such motor vehicle shall not be operated on the streets and highways of the state unless, by written order of a court of competent jurisdiction, the department is directed to assign to the vehicle a replacement vehicle identification number which shall thereafter be used for identification purposes. If the motor vehicle is confiscated from a licensed motor vehicle dealer as defined in s. 320.27, the dealer’s license shall be revoked.

(b) If all numbers or other identifying marks manufactured on a major component part have been altered, defaced, destroyed, or otherwise removed for the purpose of concealing the identity of the major component part, the part shall constitute contraband and shall be subject to forfeiture by a seizing law enforcement agency, pursuant to applicable provisions of ss. 932.701-932.704. Any major component part forfeited under this subsection shall be destroyed or disposed of in a manner so as to make it unusable.

History.—s. 14, ch. 23658, 1947; s. 1, ch. 69-9; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 190, ch. 71-136; s. 18, ch. 82-134; s. 1, ch. 85-155; s. 20, ch. 87-243; s. 5, ch. 90-283; s. 347, ch. 95-148; s. 96, ch. 99-13; s. 258, ch. 99-248; s. 114, ch. 2002-20; s. 12, ch. 2002-235.

F.S. 319.33 on Google Scholar

F.S. 319.33 on CourtListener

Amendments to 319.33

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Civil Citations / Citable Offenses under S319.33

R or S next to points is Mandatory Revocation or Suspension

S319.33 (4) Possession of a COUNTERFEIT/FICTITIOUS motor vehicle registration - Points on Drivers License: 0

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 319.33

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S319.33 1a - FORGERY OF - MTR VEH MOBILE HOME TITLE LIEN CANCELLATION - F: T

S319.33 1b - PASS FORGED - USE MTR VEH ETC TITLE LIEN CANCELLATION - F: T

S319.33 1b - POSSESS FORGED - RETAIN MTR VEH ETC TITLE LIEN CANCELLATION - F: T

S319.33 1c - FRAUD - PROCURE OR PASS TITLE ON STOLEN VEHICLE - F: T

S319.33 1d - PASS FORGED - SELL VEHICLE WITH ALTERED NUMBERS - F: T

S319.33 1d - PROPERTY CRIMES - POSSESS VEHICLE WITH ALTERED NUMBERS - F: T

S319.33 1e - FRAUD-FALSE STATEMENT - IN TITLE TRANSFER - F: T

S319.33 2 - FRAUD - OBTAIN GOODS ETC WITH INVALID VEHICLE TITLE - F: T

S319.33 3 - FRAUD - OBTAIN GOODS ETC BY NON SURRENDERED TITLE - F: T

S319.33 4 - COUNTERFEITING OF - MTR VEH TITLE REGISTRATION BILL OF SALE ETC - F: T

S319.33 4 - PASS FORGED - SELL FORGED MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE ETC - F: T

S319.33 4 - PASS COUNTERFEITED - SELL COUNTERFEIT MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE ETC - F: T

S319.33 4 - POSSESS FORGED - MTR VEH TITLE REGISTRATION BILL OF SALE ETC - F: T

S319.33 4 - POSSESS COUNTERFEITED - MTR VEH TITLE REGISTRATION BILL OF SALE ETC - F: T

S319.33 4 - FRAUD - POSSESS BLANK FRAUD OBTAINED MTR VEH TITLE ETC - F: T

S319.33 4 - FRAUD - SELL BLANK FRAUD OBTAINED MTR VEH TITLE ETC - F: T

S319.33 4 - SALE OF STOLEN PROP - MTR VEH TITLE REGISTRATION BILL OF SALE ETC - F: T

S319.33 4 - POSSESS STOLEN PROP - MTR VEH TITLE REGISTRATION BILL OF SALE ETC - F: T

S319.33 4 - STOLEN PROP-DEAL IN - MTR VEH TITLE REGISTRATION BILL OF SALE ETC - F: T

S319.33 5 - COUNTERFEITING OF - MTR VEH IDENTIFICATION NUMBER PLATES OR DECAL - F: T

S319.33 5 - PASS COUNTERFEITED - SELL SUPPLY BLANK MTR VEH ID NUMB PLATE DECAL - F: T

S319.33 5 - POSSESS COUNTERFEITED - MTR VEH IDENTIFICATION NUMBER PLATES OR DECAL - F: T

Cases Citing Statute 319.33

Total Results: 31

Jackson v. State

736 So. 2d 77, 1999 WL 371321

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 9, 1999 | Docket: 1736640

Cited 10 times | Published

014(1)(a) & (b), 812.014(2)(c), Fla. Stat. (1997). Section 319.33(1)(d), Florida Statutes (1997), makes it unlawful

Evans v. State

737 So. 2d 1167, 1999 WL 446769

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 2, 1999 | Docket: 1300761

Cited 7 times | Published

NOTES [1] § 812.13(b), Fla. Stat. (1995). [2] § 319.33(d), Fla. Stat. (1995).

Cochran v. Jones

707 So. 2d 791, 1998 WL 39349

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 4, 1998 | Docket: 1259938

Cited 5 times | Published

alterations was rendered "contraband" pursuant to § 319.33(7)(a), Florida Statutes (1993)[2], appellees lack

Moore v. State

623 So. 2d 842, 1993 WL 341119

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 10, 1993 | Docket: 1658389

Cited 5 times | Published

NOTES [1] § 812.014(1), Fla. Stat. (1991). [2] § 319.33(1)(d), Fla. Stat. (1991). [3] § 812.022, Fla

Troyer v. State

610 So. 2d 530, 1992 WL 355295

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 2, 1992 | Docket: 2529597

Cited 5 times | Published

information, however, charged a violation of section 319.33, Florida Statutes, a statute pertaining to

City of St. Petersburg Beach v. Jewell

489 So. 2d 78, 11 Fla. L. Weekly 980, 1986 Fla. App. LEXIS 7464

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 23, 1986 | Docket: 545423

Cited 5 times | Published

319.33(1)(e), 319.33(4), Fla. Stat. (1985). Section 319.33(4) provides that "[i]t is unlawful for any

Stark v. State

316 So. 2d 586

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 18, 1975 | Docket: 1456295

Cited 5 times | Published

trial for the alleged violation of Fla. Stat. § 319.33(1)(d) (1971)[1] was insufficient to show that

State v. Marrero

890 So. 2d 1278, 2005 WL 120363

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 21, 2005 | Docket: 1291787

Cited 4 times | Published

vehicle identification numbers, a violation of section 319.33(1)(d), Florida Statutes (1997); and possession

Ellis v. State

714 So. 2d 1160, 1998 WL 428808

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 24, 1998 | Docket: 461543

Cited 4 times | Published

body of the information charged a violation of section 319.33, Florida Statutes, which proscribed obtaining

State v. Nuckolls

677 So. 2d 12, 1996 WL 324661

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 14, 1996 | Docket: 1690141

Cited 4 times | Published

35(1)(a), Fla.Stat. [6] § 831.01, Fla.Stat. [7] § 319.33(1)(e), Fla.Stat. [8] § 117.09(2), Fla.Stat. [9]

In Re Forfeiture of 1994 Honda Prelude

730 So. 2d 334

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 5, 1999 | Docket: 1755402

Cited 3 times | Published

court determined that it was contraband under section 319.33(7)(a), Florida Statutes (1997). That statute

State v. Nuckolls

606 So. 2d 1205, 1992 WL 235339

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 25, 1992 | Docket: 129230

Cited 3 times | Published

(1989). [3] § 831.01, Fla. Stat. (1989). [4] § 319.33, Fla. Stat. (1989). [5] § 117.09(2), Fla. Stat

State v. Copher

395 So. 2d 635

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 25, 1981 | Docket: 1693039

Cited 3 times | Published

number, in violation of section 319.33(1)(d), Florida Statutes (1977). Section 319.33(1)(d) provides: (1)

City of Margate v. Singh

778 So. 2d 1080, 2001 WL 219093

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 7, 2001 | Docket: 1687053

Cited 1 times | Published

complaint for forfeiture based on a violation of section 319.33, Florida Statutes (2000). The statute provides

Davis v. State

445 So. 2d 627

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 8, 1984 | Docket: 1287900

Cited 1 times | Published

count charged the defendant with a violation of Section 319.33(1)(e), Florida Statutes (1981), which provides

MARIA SERRET TEJADA v. FORFEITURE OF 2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE VIN NO: 1GYS4BKJ5FR157228

267 So. 3d 1032

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 3, 2019 | Docket: 14865454

Published

entered because it established the elements of section 319.33, Florida Statutes (2016); there were no material

K.D.T. v. State

128 So. 3d 254, 2013 WL 6510901, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 19799

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 13, 2013 | Docket: 60237052

Published

destroyed, removed, covered, altered, or defaced,” § 319.33(l)(d), Fla. Stat. (2011). The Fourth District

State v. Hockett

735 So. 2d 545, 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 6765, 1999 WL 330204

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 26, 1999 | Docket: 64788870

Published

defraud as an element of the offense described in section 319.33(1)(e), Florida Statutes (1997). See State v

Webb v. Department of Highway Safety

730 So. 2d 334, 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 2457

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 5, 1999 | Docket: 64787500

Published

court determined that it was contraband under section 319.33(7)(a), Florida Statutes (1997). That statute

Rogers v. State

656 So. 2d 245, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 8543, 1995 WL 340141

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 9, 1995 | Docket: 64757144

Published

a violation of the prior charge pursuant to section 319.33(l)(d), double jeopardy could bar this later

State v. Nuckolls

617 So. 2d 724, 1993 Fla. App. LEXIS 3001, 1993 WL 74943

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 19, 1993 | Docket: 64695864

Published

Odometer Fraud, F.S. 319.35(l)(a), Title Fraud, F.S. 319.33(l)(e), is contained therein. The appellees challenged

Cooper v. State

585 So. 2d 489, 1991 Fla. App. LEXIS 9001, 1991 WL 175215

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 12, 1991 | Docket: 64661374

Published

violation of section 319.33(1)(d) of the Florida Statutes (1989). We affirm. Section 319.33(1)(d) provides

Adkins v. State

576 So. 2d 392, 1991 Fla. App. LEXIS 2249, 1991 WL 35441

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 13, 1991 | Docket: 64657323

Published

a vehicle title (Count IX), in violation of section 319.33(l)(e), Florida Statutes. We affirm his conviction

City of Sweetwater v. Zaldivar

559 So. 2d 660, 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 1941, 1990 WL 33116

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 27, 1990 | Docket: 64649615

Published

cause seeking title to the Porsche pursuant to section 319.33(6), Florida Statutes (1987). The City’s initial

State v. James

543 So. 2d 288, 14 Fla. L. Weekly 1043, 1989 Fla. App. LEXIS 2221, 1989 WL 39497

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 25, 1989 | Docket: 64642541

Published

vehicle registration and/or title in violation of § 319.33(1)(e), Florida Statutes (1987), a third degree

Hutchinson v. State

479 So. 2d 267, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 2691, 1985 Fla. App. LEXIS 17151

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 5, 1985 | Docket: 64615893

Published

applications, and certificates as proscribed by § 319.33, Florida Statutes. In Case No. BA-17, appellant

Elliott v. State

414 So. 2d 649, 1982 Fla. App. LEXIS 20169

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 2, 1982 | Docket: 64590295

Published

Ronald Elliott was also charged with violating section 319.33(1), which prohibits making false statements

State v. Kennedy

390 So. 2d 456, 1980 Fla. App. LEXIS 17703

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 21, 1980 | Docket: 64578917

Published

state charged Mike Kennedy with violation of section 319.33(l)(d), Florida Statutes (1979), alleging that

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Jul 23, 1980 | Docket: 3258195

Published

319.30, or s. 319.34, F. S. AS TO QUESTION 2: Section 319.33(5), F. S., makes a violation of any provision

Jalbert v. State

366 So. 2d 1207, 1979 Fla. App. LEXIS 14330

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 23, 1979 | Docket: 64568329

Published

vehicle certificate of title, which is forbidden by § 319.33(2), Fla.Stat. (1977). He appeals but we affirm

Stack v. State ex rel. LaFratta

230 So. 2d 15, 1969 Fla. App. LEXIS 6431

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 12, 1969 | Docket: 64512725

Published

removed, covered, altered or defaced, contrary to F.S. 319.33.” To this information petitioners plead not guilty