UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLETexas Penal Code (PC) § 31.07
“UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE” stands for Unauthorized Use of Vehicle, a state jail felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 31.07. It is punishable by 180 days to 2 years in a state jail and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE” mean?
“UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE” stands for Unauthorized Use of Vehicle, a state jail felony under Texas PC § 31.07.
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.
What usually happens to a UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE charge?
46% ended without a conviction, 10% in deferred adjudication and 44% in a conviction.
How 9,607 resolved UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 14 counties (Bastrop, Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
| County | Resolved | Not convicted | Deferred | Convicted | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | 5,568 | 56% | 7% | 36% | 226 |
| Collin | 887 | 22% | 17% | 62% | 141 |
| Montgomery | 679 | 36% | 5% | 59% | 112 |
| Dallas | 502 | 26% | 25% | 49% | 94 |
| Galveston | 417 | 34% | 12% | 54% | 224 |
| Brazoria | 370 | 27% | 12% | 61% | 206 |
| Hays | 300 | 32% | 11% | 57% | 390 |
| FortBend | 260 | 57% | 12% | 32% | 309 |
| Williamson | 203 | 32% | 5% | 63% | 134 |
| Travis | 157 | 36% | 1% | 58% | 239 |
| Comal | 104 | 66% | 6% | 28% | — |
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (64) covers waived counts, bond forfeitures, transfers and unrecorded outcomes. Bexar County records disposition dates but not outcomes, so it counts toward time-to-disposition only. Tarrant County criminal records are not in this dataset.
How long does a UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE case take to resolve?
Typically about 7 months: half of resolved cases closed within 202 days of filing.
Across 9,590 resolved UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 202 days. The middle half took between 89 and 398 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE cases end?
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
What is the punishment for Unauthorized Use of Vehicle in Texas?
180 days to 2 years in a state jail and a fine up to $10,000.
| 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.
How much is bail for UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE in Texas?
The median bail is $7,500, and 7% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
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.
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.