Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle is classified as which level of offense?

• A. State Jail Felony
• B. Class A Misdemeanor
• C. Second Degree Felony
• D. First Degree Felony

Answer: (A)

Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle is a state jail felony. In Texas, the offense is defined as taking or using someone else’s vehicle without consent with the intent to deprive the owner of use temporarily, and the statute places this conduct in the state jail felony category. That classification means it’s more serious than most misdemeanors but not as severe as the higher-degree felonies, with a typical punishment range of 180 days to 2 years in a state jail (plus possible fines). It isn’t automatically a Class A misdemeanor or a first- or second-degree felony unless an enhancement or special circumstance applies, so the basic, intended classification is state jail felony.