ILCS » Chapter 625 · Act 5
Illinois Compiled Statutes

625 ILCS 5/4-103 (2026)

Offenses relating to motor vehicles and other vehicles - Felonies

✓ current as of May 2026
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(625 ILCS 5/4-103) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-103)
    Sec. 4-103. Offenses relating to motor vehicles and other vehicles - Felonies.
    (a) Except as provided in subsection (a-1), it is a violation of this Chapter for:
        (1) A person not entitled to the possession of a
    
vehicle or essential part of a vehicle to receive, possess, conceal, sell, dispose, or transfer it, knowing it to have been stolen or converted. Knowledge that a vehicle or essential part is stolen or converted may be inferred: (A) from the surrounding facts and circumstances, which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the vehicle or essential part is stolen or converted; or (B) if the person exercises exclusive unexplained possession over the stolen or converted vehicle or essential part, regardless of whether the date on which the vehicle or essential part was stolen is recent or remote;
        (2) A person to knowingly remove, alter, deface,
    
destroy, falsify, or forge a manufacturer's identification number of a vehicle or an engine number of a motor vehicle or any essential part thereof having an identification number;
        (3) A person to knowingly conceal or misrepresent the
    
identity of a vehicle or any essential part thereof;
        (4) A person to buy, receive, possess, sell or
    
dispose of a vehicle, or any essential part thereof, with knowledge that the identification number of the vehicle or any essential part thereof having an identification number has been removed or falsified;
        (5) A person to knowingly possess, buy, sell,
    
exchange, give away, or offer to buy, sell, exchange or give away, any manufacturer's identification number plate, mylar sticker, federal certificate label, State police reassignment plate, Secretary of State assigned plate, rosette rivet, or facsimile of such which has not yet been attached to or has been removed from the original or assigned vehicle. It is an affirmative defense to subsection (a) of this Section that the person possessing, buying, selling or exchanging a plate mylar sticker or label described in this paragraph is a police officer doing so as part of his official duties, or is a manufacturer's authorized representative who is replacing any manufacturer's identification number plate, mylar sticker or Federal certificate label originally placed on the vehicle by the manufacturer of the vehicle or any essential part thereof;
        (6) A person to knowingly make a false report of the
    
theft or conversion of a vehicle to any police officer of this State or any employee of a law enforcement agency of this State designated by the law enforcement agency to take, receive, process, or record reports of vehicle theft or conversion.
    (a-1) A person engaged in the repair or servicing of vehicles does not violate this Chapter by knowingly possessing a manufacturer's identification number plate for the purpose of reaffixing it on the same damaged vehicle from which it was originally taken, if the person reaffixes or intends to reaffix the original manufacturer's identification number plate in place of the identification number plate affixed on a new dashboard that has been or will be installed in the vehicle. The person must notify the Secretary of State each time the original manufacturer's identification number plate is reaffixed on a vehicle. The person must keep a record indicating that the identification number plate affixed on the new dashboard has been removed and has been replaced by the manufacturer's identification number plate originally affixed on the vehicle. The person also must keep a record regarding the status and location of the identification number plate removed from the replacement dashboard. The Secretary shall adopt rules for implementing this subsection (a-1).
    (a-2) The owner of a vehicle repaired under subsection (a-1) must, within 90 days of the date of the repairs, contact an officer of the Illinois State Police Vehicle Inspection Bureau and arrange for an inspection of the vehicle, by the officer or the officer's designee, at a mutually agreed upon date and location.
    (b) Sentence. A person convicted of a violation of this Section shall be guilty of a Class 2 felony.
    (c) The offenses set forth in subsection (a) of this Section shall not include the offense set forth in Section 4-103.2 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-745, eff. 8-10-18.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 186 cases (93 in the last 5 years), 1994–2026 · leading case: People v. Stewart, 2022 IL 126116 (Ill. 2022).
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People v. Stewart, 2022 IL 126116 (Ill. 2022). · cites it 4× “¶6 At sentencing, the State introduced into evidence defendant’s two predicate felony convictions—a 2013 conviction for residential burglary, a Class 1 felony (720 ILCS 5/19-3 (West 2012)), and a 2014 conviction for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony (625…”
People v. Harvey, 813 N.E.2d 181 (Ill. 2004). · cites it 2× “Barefield Barefield was charged with four counts of unlawful possession of four stolen motor vehicles (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 1996)) and one count of aggravated possession of stolen motor vehicles (625 ILCS 5/4-103.”
People v. DePalma, 627 N.E.2d 1236 (Ill. App. Ct. 1994). · cites it 8× “Defendant initially points out that conduct such as affirmatively concealing or misrepresenting the identity of stolen vehicles by changing, destroying or removing their VIN plates contributes to the serious problem of vehicle theft and this more culpable conduct is justifiably…”
People v. Gardner, 2024 IL App (4th) 230443 (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). · cites it 4× “5-3(a)(5)) for sending threatening text messages to Terriona White.”
People v. Brand, 2021 IL 125945 (Ill. 2021). · cites it 2× “3(a-5)), and one count of possession of a stolen or converted motor vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 2014)). The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on November 3, 2015, when defendant allegedly forced his way into the apartment of his former girlfriend, Anita…”
People v. Martin, 2023 IL App (4th) 230826 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “BACKGROUND ¶3 In June 2022, defendant was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1), (b) (West 2022)), and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony (720 ILCS 5/24-1.”
People v. Brunner, 2012 IL App (4th) 100708 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). · cites it 2× “Brunner, of four counts of first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3) (West 2006)), robbery (720 ILCS 5/18-1(a) (West 2006)), and possession of a stolen vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 2006)). ¶2 Following an August 2010 hearing, the trial court merged…”
People v. Cox, 748 N.E.2d 166 (Ill. 2001). “Officer Smith also testified in rebuttal that he interviewed Phipps when he first arrived at the accident scene.”
People v. Libberton, 807 N.E.2d 1 (Ill. App. Ct. 2004). · cites it 3× “As to the charge of filing a false police report of the theft of a vehicle, the State was required to prove that the report was false (see 625 ILCS 5/4-103 (a)(6) (West 2000)). As the defense took the position that the report to the police was not false because someone really…”
People v. Glover, 2017 IL App (4th) 160586 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017). · cites it 2× “After this court twice remanded the cause for strict compliance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(d) (eff. Mar. 8, 2016), newly appointed counsel filed another motion to withdraw defendant’s guilty plea.”
People v. Ballard, 794 N.E.2d 788 (Ill. 2002). “1(a) (West 1996)); unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 1996)); and armed robbery (720 ILCS 5/18-2(a) (West 1996)).”
People v. Cavazos, 2023 IL App (2d) 220066 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “§§ 8-4(a), 9- 1(a)(1)), unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 2006)), and aggravated discharge of a firearm (720 ILCS 5/24-1.”
Show all 186 citing cases →
— 625 ILCS 5/4-103(a) — 8 cases
People v. DePalma, 627 N.E.2d 1236 (Ill. App. Ct. 1994). “Defendant initially points out that conduct such as affirmatively concealing or misrepresenting the identity of stolen vehicles by changing, destroying or removing their VIN plates contributes to the serious problem of vehicle theft and this more culpable conduct is justifiably…”
In Re Mp, 755 N.E.2d 1063 (Ill. App. Ct. 2001).
People v. Perez, 2024 IL App (4th) 230967-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2024).
People v. Davis, 746 N.E.2d 314 (Ill. App. Ct. 2001).
People v. Mineau, 2014 IL App (2d) 110666-B (Ill. App. Ct. 2014).
— 625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) — 153 cases
People v. Harvey, 813 N.E.2d 181 (Ill. 2004). “Barefield Barefield was charged with four counts of unlawful possession of four stolen motor vehicles (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 1996)) and one count of aggravated possession of stolen motor vehicles (625 ILCS 5/4-103.”
People v. Gardner, 2024 IL App (4th) 230443 (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). “5-3(a)(5)) for sending threatening text messages to Terriona White.”
People v. Stewart, 2022 IL 126116 (Ill. 2022). “¶6 At sentencing, the State introduced into evidence defendant’s two predicate felony convictions—a 2013 conviction for residential burglary, a Class 1 felony (720 ILCS 5/19-3 (West 2012)), and a 2014 conviction for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony (625…”
People v. Brand, 2021 IL 125945 (Ill. 2021). “3(a-5)), and one count of possession of a stolen or converted motor vehicle (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1) (West 2014)). The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on November 3, 2015, when defendant allegedly forced his way into the apartment of his former girlfriend, Anita…”
People v. Martin, 2023 IL App (4th) 230826 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “BACKGROUND ¶3 In June 2022, defendant was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony (625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1), (b) (West 2022)), and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony (720 ILCS 5/24-1.”
— 625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(1)(A) — 1 case
People v. Binion, 2020 IL App (1st) 182538-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2020).
— 625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(2) — 2 cases
People v. Greco, 790 N.E.2d 846 (Ill. 2003).
People v. Fuller, 714 N.E.2d 501 (Ill. 1999).
— 625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(4) — 3 cases
People v. DePalma, 627 N.E.2d 1236 (Ill. App. Ct. 1994). “Defendant initially points out that conduct such as affirmatively concealing or misrepresenting the identity of stolen vehicles by changing, destroying or removing their VIN plates contributes to the serious problem of vehicle theft and this more culpable conduct is justifiably…”
People v. Laws, 2016 IL App (4th) 140995 (Ill. App. Ct. 2016).
People v. Laws, 2016 IL App (4th) 140995 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017).
— 625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(5) — 1 case
People v. DePalma, 627 N.E.2d 1236 (Ill. App. Ct. 1994). “Defendant initially points out that conduct such as affirmatively concealing or misrepresenting the identity of stolen vehicles by changing, destroying or removing their VIN plates contributes to the serious problem of vehicle theft and this more culpable conduct is justifiably…”
— 625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(6) — 4 cases
People v. Libberton, 807 N.E.2d 1 (Ill. App. Ct. 2004). “As to the charge of filing a false police report of the theft of a vehicle, the State was required to prove that the report was false (see 625 ILCS 5/4-103 (a)(6) (West 2000)). As the defense took the position that the report to the police was not false because someone really…”
People v. Fuller, 714 N.E.2d 501 (Ill. 1999).
People v. Avery (Ill. App. Ct. 2001).
United States v. Edward Molton, Jr. (7th Cir. 2021).
— 625 ILCS 5/4-103(a)(l) — 2 cases
Kunz v. DeFelice, 538 F.3d 667 (7th Cir. 2008).
Rafael Hernandez-Mancilla v. Immigr. & Naturalization Serv., 246 F.3d 1002 (7th Cir. 2001).
— 625 ILCS 5/4-103(b) — 16 cases
People v. Stewart, 2022 IL 126116 (Ill. 2022). “¶6 At sentencing, the State introduced into evidence defendant’s two predicate felony convictions—a 2013 conviction for residential burglary, a Class 1 felony (720 ILCS 5/19-3 (West 2012)), and a 2014 conviction for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony (625…”
People v. DePalma, 627 N.E.2d 1236 (Ill. App. Ct. 1994). “Defendant initially points out that conduct such as affirmatively concealing or misrepresenting the identity of stolen vehicles by changing, destroying or removing their VIN plates contributes to the serious problem of vehicle theft and this more culpable conduct is justifiably…”
Wei Cong Mei v. John Ashcroft, Attorney Gen. of the United States, 393 F.3d 737 (7th Cir. 2004).
People v. Fox, 700 N.E.2d 152 (Ill. App. Ct. 1998).
People v. Fuller, 714 N.E.2d 501 (Ill. 1999).
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