Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-112 (2026)
Altering or changing of distinguishing number or identification mark - Restoration of vehicle identification number
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) No person shall with fraudulent intent deface, destroy or alter the manufacturer's serial, engine or transmission number or other distinguishing number or identification mark of a motor vehicle or its component parts, nor shall any person place or stamp any serial, engine, transmission or other number or mark upon a motor vehicle or its component parts, except one assigned by the department. A violation of this subsection (a) is a Class E felony.
- (b) This section shall not prohibit the restoration of a vehicle identification number upon a motor vehicle or motor vehicle component part by the commissioner of safety or the commissioner's designee, nor prevent any manufacturer from placing in the ordinary course of business numbers or marks upon motor vehicles or motor vehicle component parts thereof.
Acts 1951, ch. 70, § 74 (Williams, § 5538.174); T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-507; Acts 1971, ch. 122, § 2; T.C.A., § 59-512; Acts 1990, ch. 1030, § 40; 2000, ch. 941, § 2; 2007, ch. 484, § 68.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4
cases, 1984–2011 · leading case: State v. Sutton, 668 S.W.2d 678 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1984).
State v. Sutton, 668 S.W.2d 678 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1984). “Sutton, was indicted for unlawfully concealing a stolen automobile valued at over $200 and of violating T.C.A. § 55-5-112, by altering the serial number on the same automobile.”
First Tennessee Bank Nat'l Ass'n v. Jones, 732 S.W.2d 281 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1987). “Even assuming the body and other parts were legally acquired, Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-5-112(a) makes it unlawful to “place or stamp any serial, engine, transmission, or other number or mark upon a motor vehicle or its component parts, except one (1) assigned thereto by the division.”
State of Tennessee v. Johnny L. Sapp (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010). “Sapp, was found guilty of one count of possession of a motor vehicle from which the serial number has been removed in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-5-111 and two counts of altering the serial number on a motor vehicle in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated…”
State of Tennessee v. David Duggan (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011). “Upon our review of the record, we find that the Defendant was charged under the statute section 55-5-112, which provides that the alteration of a motor vehicle is a Class E felony.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-112(a) — 3 cases
First Tennessee Bank Nat'l Ass'n v. Jones, 732 S.W.2d 281 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1987). “Even assuming the body and other parts were legally acquired, Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-5-112(a) makes it unlawful to “place or stamp any serial, engine, transmission, or other number or mark upon a motor vehicle or its component parts, except one (1) assigned thereto by the division.”
State of Tennessee v. David Duggan (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011). “Upon our review of the record, we find that the Defendant was charged under the statute section 55-5-112, which provides that the alteration of a motor vehicle is a Class E felony.”
State of Tennessee v. Johnny L. Sapp (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010). “Sapp, was found guilty of one count of possession of a motor vehicle from which the serial number has been removed in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-5-111 and two counts of altering the serial number on a motor vehicle in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated…”
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