Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.56
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.065 (2026)

Theft of motor vehicle

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
(1) A person is guilty of theft of a motor vehicle if he or she commits theft of a motor vehicle.
(2) Theft of a motor vehicle is a class B felony.
[ 2007 c 199 s 2.]

Notes:

Findings—Intent—2007 c 199: "(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) Automobiles are an essential part of our everyday lives. The west coast is the only region of the United States with an increase of over three percent in motor vehicle thefts over the last several years. The family car is a priority of most individuals and families. The family car is typically the second largest investment a person has next to the home, so when a car is stolen, it causes a significant loss and inconvenience to people, imposes financial hardship, and negatively impacts their work, school, and personal activities. Appropriate and meaningful penalties that are proportionate to the crime committed must be imposed on those who steal motor vehicles;
(b) In Washington, more than one car is stolen every eleven minutes, one hundred thirty-eight cars are stolen every day, someone's car has a one in one hundred seventy-nine chance of being stolen, and more vehicles were stolen in 2005 than in any other previous year. Since 1994, auto theft has increased over fifty-five percent, while other property crimes like burglary are on the decline or holding steady. The national crime insurance bureau reports that Seattle and Tacoma ranked in the top ten places for the most auto thefts, ninth and tenth respectively, in 2004. In 2005, over fifty thousand auto thefts were reported costing Washington citizens more than three hundred twenty-five million dollars in higher insurance rates and lost vehicles. Nearly eighty percent of these crimes occurred in the central Puget Sound region consisting of the heavily populated areas of King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties;
(c) Law enforcement has determined that auto theft, along with all the grief it causes the immediate victims, is linked more and more to offenders engaged in other crimes. Many stolen vehicles are used by criminals involved in such crimes as robbery, burglary, and assault. In addition, many people who are stopped in stolen vehicles are found to possess the personal identification of other persons, or to possess methamphetamine, precursors to methamphetamine, or equipment used to cook methamphetamine;
(d) Juveniles account for over half of the reported auto thefts with many of these thefts being their first criminal offense. It is critical that they, along with first time adult offenders, are appropriately punished for their crimes. However, it is also important that first time offenders who qualify receive appropriate counseling treatment for associated problems that may have contributed to the commission of the crime, such as drugs, alcohol, and anger management; and
(e) A coordinated and concentrated enforcement mechanism is critical to an effective statewide offensive against motor vehicle theft. Such a system provides for better communications between and among law enforcement agencies, more efficient implementation of efforts to discover, track, and arrest auto thieves, quicker recovery, and the return of stolen vehicles, saving millions of dollars in potential loss to victims and their insurers.
(2) It is the intent of this act to deter motor vehicle theft through a statewide cooperative effort by combating motor vehicle theft through tough laws, supporting law enforcement activities, improving enforcement and administration, effective prosecution, public awareness, and meaningful treatment for first time offenders where appropriate. It is also the intent of the legislature to ensure that adequate funding is provided to implement this act in order for real, observable reductions in the number of auto thefts in Washington state." [ 2007 c 199 s 1.]
Short title—2007 c 199: "This act shall be known as the Elizabeth Nowak-Washington auto theft prevention act." [ 2007 c 199 s 29.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 31 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2008–2026 · leading case: State v. Van Wolvelaere, 461 P.3d 1173 (Wash. 2020).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State v. Van Wolvelaere, 461 P.3d 1173 (Wash. 2020). · cites it 19× “On appeal, she argues that she could not have committed that crime because a snowmobile is not a motor vehicle under the relevant statute, RCW 9A.56.065. In State v. Barnes, a fractured, 3-3-3 opinion, we held that a riding lawn mower is not a motor vehicle under that statute.”
State of Washington v. Julia Elizabeth Tucker, 440 P.3d 1005 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 7× “3d 72 (2017), the lead and concurring opinions held that a riding lawn mower was not a “motor vehicle” for purposes of that statute. In so holding, six justices agreed that a “motor vehicle” was a car or other automobile.”
State v. Blair, 421 P.3d 937 (Wash. 2018). · cites it 15× “Blair argued that although he had pleaded guilty to two counts oftheft of a motor vehicle, both of those vehicles were snowmobiles, and therefore not "motor vehicles" for purposes of RCW 9A.56.065. Blair asserted that his plea to the two counts was facially invalid.”
State v. Crittenden, 189 P.3d 849 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “His attorney argued forcefully during closing that Crittenden had committed only second degree TMV and that the State had failed to prove first degree theft.”
State of Washington v. Joshua Michael Barnes, 382 P.3d 729 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 10× “¶2 Is a riding lawn mower a motor vehicle? We entertain this question in the context of RCW 9A.56.065, the statute that criminalizes the theft of a motor vehicle.”
United States v. Alderman, 601 F.3d 949 (9th Cir. 2010). “030 (2008) (setting out “theft in the first degree — other than firearm or motor vehicle”); Wash. Rev.Code § 9A.56.065 (2008) ("A person is guilty of theft of a motor vehicle if he or she commits theft of a motor vehicle.”
State v. Barnes (Wash. 2017). · cites it 14× “Barnes was arrested two days later and charged with second degree theft and second degree criminal trespass.”
State Of Washington v. James E. Eaton (Wash. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 5× “3d 1173 (2020), holding that snowmobiles are motor vehicles for purposes of the theft of a motor vehicle statute, RCW 9A.56.065. In light of Van Wolvelaere, we hold that there was a factual basis for the pleas and affirm.”
State Of Washington, V Douglas M. Correa (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “Theft of a motor vehicle is governed by RCW 9A.56.065 and states, “(1) A person is guilty of theft of a motor vehicle if he or she commits theft of a motor vehicle.”
State Of Washington v. Lendin Saiti (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “4013; RCW 9A.56.065; RCW 9A.56.020(1)(a); RCW 9A.”
State of Washington v. Willie Charles Ritchey (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “Ritchey was charged in the Spokane County Superior Court with one count of theft of a motor vehicle, RCW 9A.56.065. At trial, the defense sought an instruction on the lesser crime of second degree taking a motor vehicle without permission, RCW 9A.”
State v. Crittenden, 146 Wash. App. 361 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “His attorney argued forcefully during closing that Crittenden had committed only second degree TMV and that the State had failed to prove first degree theft. ¶24 The court properly exercised its discretion in not providing Crittenden’s proposed instruction to the jury.”
Show all 31 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.065(1) — 10 cases
State v. Van Wolvelaere, 461 P.3d 1173 (Wash. 2020). “On appeal, she argues that she could not have committed that crime because a snowmobile is not a motor vehicle under the relevant statute, RCW 9A.56.065. In State v. Barnes, a fractured, 3-3-3 opinion, we held that a riding lawn mower is not a motor vehicle under that statute.”
State v. Blair, 421 P.3d 937 (Wash. 2018). “Blair argued that although he had pleaded guilty to two counts oftheft of a motor vehicle, both of those vehicles were snowmobiles, and therefore not "motor vehicles" for purposes of RCW 9A.56.065. Blair asserted that his plea to the two counts was facially invalid.”
State Of Washington, V Douglas M. Correa (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “Theft of a motor vehicle is governed by RCW 9A.56.065 and states, “(1) A person is guilty of theft of a motor vehicle if he or she commits theft of a motor vehicle.”
State Of Washington v. Lendin Saiti (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “4013; RCW 9A.56.065; RCW 9A.56.020(1)(a); RCW 9A.”
State Of Washington, V Jeremy Richard Dyches (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.56.065(2) — 2 cases
State of Washington v. M.Y.G., 476 P.3d 1052 (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
State of Washington v. Earl Anthony Navarette (Wash. Ct. App. 2014).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.