Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2913
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03 (2026)

Unauthorized use of a vehicle

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
September 30, 2011
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 86 - 129th General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) No person shall knowingly use or operate an aircraft, motor vehicle, motorcycle, motorboat, or other motor-propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent.

(B) No person shall knowingly use or operate an aircraft, motor vehicle, motorboat, or other motor-propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent, and either remove it from this state or keep possession of it for more than forty-eight hours.

(C) The following are affirmative defenses to a charge under this section:

(1) At the time of the alleged offense, the actor, though mistaken, reasonably believed that the actor was authorized to use or operate the property.

(2) At the time of the alleged offense, the actor reasonably believed that the owner or person empowered to give consent would authorize the actor to use or operate the property.

(D)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unauthorized use of a vehicle.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(4) of this section, a violation of division (A) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(4) of this section, a violation of division (B) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree.

(4) If the victim of the offense is an elderly person or disabled adult and if the victim incurs a loss as a result of the violation, a violation of division (A) or (B) of this section is whichever of the following is applicable:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (D)(4)(b), (c), or (d) of this section, a felony of the fifth degree;

(b) If the loss to the victim is one thousand dollars or more and is less than seven thousand five hundred dollars, a felony of the fourth degree;

(c) If the loss to the victim is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more and is less than thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, a felony of the third degree;

(d) If the loss to the victim is thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars or more, a felony of the second degree.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 124 cases (41 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: State v. Lawler, 2020 Ohio 849 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
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State v. Lawler, 2020 Ohio 849 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 11× “14-19-25 investigate Schidecker’s failure to signal a lane change and issue a warning or citation, Trooper Prather’s suspicion that Schidecker violated R.C. 2913.03, or that Schidecker committed other traffic offenses such as driving under suspension, did not justify the length…”
State v. Hudson, 2018 Ohio 423 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 7× “04 was enacted along with a companion statute, R.C. 2913.03, which addresses the unauthorized use of motor vehicles.”
State v. Bell, 2019 Ohio 340 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 3× “12(A)(1); and Count 11, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in violation of R.C. 2913.03(A). Several of the counts carried repeat violent offender and firearm specifications.”
Gurry v. C.P., 2012 Ohio 2640 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 7× “, among plaintiffs, all defendants, and all persons from whom plaintiffs did not seek recovery.”
State v. Borger, 2023 Ohio 1124 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 9× “{¶1} Defendant-appellant Larry Borger appeals his conviction for the unauthorized use of a motorcycle in violation of R.C. 2913.03(A). In three assignments of error, he argues that he established a reasonable-mistake defense as codified in R.”
State v. Rose, 589 N.E.2d 1315 (Ohio 1992). · cites it 9× “The issue certified to this court is whether a defendant can be convicted of R.C. 2913.03, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, where the defendant’s possession or use was initially authorized by the owner of the vehicle, but possession or use thereafter extended beyond the…”
State v. Guysinger, 621 N.E.2d 726 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993). “19(A)(1); unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, in violation of R.C. 2913.03; no operator’s license, in violation of R.”
State v. Reeves, 2020 Ohio 5565 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 2× “{¶ 35} In support of her argument that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request a jury instruction on the lesser included offense of unauthorized use, appellant cites R.C. 2913.03 and quotes the statute almost in its entirety.”
In re M.N., 2017 Ohio 7302 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “entered into a plea agreement and admitted to a reduced charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle in violation of R.C. 2913.03. Following his adjudication, M.”
State v. McCorkle, 945 P.2d 736 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “1980 Ohio Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle Conviction; 1982 Parole There is sufficient evidence to identify the out-of-state statute as Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2913.03 (Banks-Baldwin 1997), "Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.”
Key Realty, Ltd. v. Hall, 2021 Ohio 1868 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 2× “(the affirmative defenses listed in R.C. 2913.03(C) are applicable to a charge under R.”
State v. Riley, 834 N.E.2d 887 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “{¶ 2} On October 9, 2002, appellees and Steve Ayers, another defendant not a party to this appeal, were indicted for felony theft in violation of R.C. 2913.03(A). Appellees were served with the indictments on October 15, 2002.”
Show all 124 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(A) — 48 cases
State v. Bell, 2019 Ohio 340 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “12(A)(1); and Count 11, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in violation of R.C. 2913.03(A). Several of the counts carried repeat violent offender and firearm specifications.”
State v. Lawler, 2020 Ohio 849 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “14-19-25 investigate Schidecker’s failure to signal a lane change and issue a warning or citation, Trooper Prather’s suspicion that Schidecker violated R.C. 2913.03, or that Schidecker committed other traffic offenses such as driving under suspension, did not justify the length…”
Gurry v. C.P., 2012 Ohio 2640 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “, among plaintiffs, all defendants, and all persons from whom plaintiffs did not seek recovery.”
State v. Borger, 2023 Ohio 1124 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). “{¶1} Defendant-appellant Larry Borger appeals his conviction for the unauthorized use of a motorcycle in violation of R.C. 2913.03(A). In three assignments of error, he argues that he established a reasonable-mistake defense as codified in R.”
State v. Riley, 834 N.E.2d 887 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “{¶ 2} On October 9, 2002, appellees and Steve Ayers, another defendant not a party to this appeal, were indicted for felony theft in violation of R.C. 2913.03(A). Appellees were served with the indictments on October 15, 2002.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(A)(1) — 1 case
State v. Simons, 2011 Ohio 2071 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(A)(1)(B)(2) — 1 case
State v. Simons, 2013 Ohio 3654 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(A)(D)(1)(2) — 1 case
State v. Watters, 2014 Ohio 2943 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(A)(D)(2) — 1 case
State v. Hagen, 2018 Ohio 4045 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(B) — 31 cases
State v. Gibert, 2017 Ohio 7676 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Beverly, 2019 Ohio 957 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Stokes, 952 N.E.2d 1192 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. West, 2011 Ohio 5476 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Burmeister, 2019 Ohio 4927 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(B)(1) — 1 case
State v. Sprague, 2023 Ohio 4343 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(B)(D)(3) — 1 case
State v. Robinson, 2012 Ohio 4976 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(C) — 9 cases
State v. Hudson, 2018 Ohio 423 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). “04 was enacted along with a companion statute, R.C. 2913.03, which addresses the unauthorized use of motor vehicles.”
Key Realty, Ltd. v. Hall, 2021 Ohio 1868 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “(the affirmative defenses listed in R.C. 2913.03(C) are applicable to a charge under R.”
State v. Hayes, 2019 Ohio 257 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
State v. Bryant, 2012 Ohio 3909 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
Key Realty, Ltd. v. Hall, 2021 Ohio 26 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(C)(1) — 8 cases
State v. Borger, 2023 Ohio 1124 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). “{¶1} Defendant-appellant Larry Borger appeals his conviction for the unauthorized use of a motorcycle in violation of R.C. 2913.03(A). In three assignments of error, he argues that he established a reasonable-mistake defense as codified in R.”
Key Realty, Ltd. v. Hall, 2021 Ohio 1868 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “(the affirmative defenses listed in R.C. 2913.03(C) are applicable to a charge under R.”
State v. Bryant, 2012 Ohio 3909 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Norris, 2018 Ohio 610 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
State v. Almeyda, 2020 Ohio 3982 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(C)(2) — 2 cases
State v. Brock, 2024 Ohio 1036 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Hayes, 2019 Ohio 257 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(D) — 1 case
State v. Carver, 2013 Ohio 4815 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(D)(2) — 1 case
State v. Lawler, 2020 Ohio 849 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “14-19-25 investigate Schidecker’s failure to signal a lane change and issue a warning or citation, Trooper Prather’s suspicion that Schidecker violated R.C. 2913.03, or that Schidecker committed other traffic offenses such as driving under suspension, did not justify the length…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(D)(3) — 1 case
State v. Milum, 2018 Ohio 2966 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(D)(4) — 1 case
State v. Villani, 2014 Ohio 4182 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.03(D)(4)(a) — 1 case
State v. Villani, 2014 Ohio 4182 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
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