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NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-109 (2026)

Altering or changing engine or other numbers

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(a) It shall be unlawful and constitute a felony for:

(1) Any person to willfully deface, destroy, remove, cover, or alter the manufacturer's serial number, transmission number, or engine number; or

(2) Any vehicle owner to knowingly permit the defacing, removal, destroying, covering, or alteration of the serial number, transmission number, or engine number; or

(3) Any person except a licensed vehicle manufacturer as authorized by law to place or stamp any serial number, transmission number, or engine number upon a vehicle, other than one assigned thereto by the Division; or

(4) Any vehicle owner to knowingly permit the placing or stamping of any serial number or motor number upon a motor vehicle, except such numbers as assigned thereto by the Division.

A violation of this subsection shall be punishable as a Class I felony.

(b) It shall be unlawful and constitute a felony for:

(1) Any person, with intent to conceal or misrepresent the true identity of the vehicle, to deface, destroy, remove, cover, alter, or use any serial or motor number assigned to a vehicle by the Division; or

(2) Any vehicle owner, with intent to conceal or misrepresent the true identity of the vehicle, to permit the defacing, destruction, removal, covering, alteration, or use of a serial or motor number assigned to a vehicle by the Division; or

(3) Any vehicle owner, with the intent to conceal or misrepresent the true identity of a vehicle, to permit the defacing, destruction, removal, covering, alteration, use, gift, or sale of any manufacturer's serial number, serial number plate, or any part or parts of a vehicle containing the serial number or portions of the serial number.

A violation of this subsection shall be punishable as a Class I felony. (1937, c. 407, s. 73; 1943, c. 726; 1953, c. 216; 1965, c. 621, s. 3; 1967, c. 449; 1973, c. 1089; 1975, c. 716, s. 5; 1979, c. 760, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, s. 47; 1981, c. 179, s. 14; 1987, c. 512; 1993, c. 539, s. 1255; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 1978–1983 · leading case: State v. Wyrick, 241 S.E.2d 355 (N.C. Ct. App. 1978).
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State v. Wyrick, 241 S.E.2d 355 (N.C. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 5× “At the same time, the term “Division” was substituted for the term “Department” by amendment at all pertinent places in G.S. 20-109. The charge of the trial court, however, makes no reference to the requirement that the serial or motor number alleged to have been altered be one…”
State v. Baker, 310 S.E.2d 101 (N.C. Ct. App. 1983). “20-106, altering or changing the vehicle’s serial number in violation of G.S. 20-109(b)(l), and making a false affidavit for title prohibited by G.”
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-109(b)(l): 2 cases
State v. Baker, 310 S.E.2d 101 (N.C. Ct. App. 1983). “20-106, altering or changing the vehicle’s serial number in violation of G.S. 20-109(b)(l), and making a false affidavit for title prohibited by G.”
State v. Wyrick, 241 S.E.2d 355 (N.C. Ct. App. 1978). “At the same time, the term “Division” was substituted for the term “Department” by amendment at all pertinent places in G.S. 20-109. The charge of the trial court, however, makes no reference to the requirement that the serial or motor number alleged to have been altered be one…”
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