UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE
Unauthorized Use of Vehicle in Texas: what bail is set at, how often a personal bond is granted, and what usually happens to the charge.
What “UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE” means
Texas Penal Code § 31.07 defines unauthorized use of a vehicle, commonly called joyriding. A person commits the offense by intentionally or knowingly operating another person's boat, airplane, or motor-propelled vehicle without the effective consent of the owner. The State must prove the defendant personally operated the vehicle, not merely rode in it, and knew the operation was without the owner's effective consent. Consent is not effective if it was induced by deception or coercion or given by someone without legal authority over the property. Unlike theft under Texas Penal Code § 31.03, this offense requires no intent to deprive the owner of the vehicle; borrowing a vehicle without permission and returning it can still satisfy the elements, and the vehicle's value does not matter. The offense is a state jail felony regardless of the kind or worth of the vehicle operated.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| State jail felony | 180 days to 2 years in a state jail | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.35 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
Bail for UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE in Texas
Across 67,315 Texas bail settings for this charge (144 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $7,500 (middle half: $3,500 – $15,000). 7% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 5,443 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (18,403 records), the median was $7,500 and 15% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 7,889 | $3,000 | $1,500 – $5,000 | 4% | 5% |
| Dallas | 7,376 | $10,000 | $5,000 – $20,000 | 1% | 7% |
| Travis | 7,097 | $8,000 | $5,000 – $12,000 | 20% | 6% |
| Bexar | 5,988 | $7,500 | $5,000 – $10,000 | 5% | 11% |
| El Paso | 3,397 | $10,000 | $3,875 – $20,000 | 7% | 17% |
Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.
How real UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE cases ended
Individual cases from the public court record, with the disposition and sentence text exactly as the clerk entered it. Every case is decided on its own facts.
Ended without a conviction
Deferred adjudication
Ended in a conviction
Charged with UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE?
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Find a Defense AttorneyBail data: Texas Office of Court Administration magistration reports (SB 6), Apr 2022 – Jun 2025. Court outcomes: county district and county clerk records. Statistics describe past cases and are not legal advice; every case is decided on its own facts.