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Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) A person who wilfully removes to falsify or falsifies an identification number of a vehicle, a bicycle or an engine for a vehicle is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) A person who wilfully and with intent to conceal or misrepresent the identity of a vehicle, a bicycle or engine removes or falsifies an identification number of the vehicle or engine is guilty of a felony.
(c) A person who buys, sells, receives, possesses or disposes of a vehicle, a bicycle or an engine of a vehicle, knowing that an identification number of the vehicle or engine has been removed or falsified, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d) A person who buys, sells, receives, possesses or disposes of a vehicle, a bicycle or an engine for a vehicle, with knowledge that an identification number of the vehicle or engine has been removed or falsified and with intent to conceal or misrepresent the identity of the vehicle or engine, is guilty of a felony.
(e) A person who removes a license/registration plate from a vehicle or affixes to a vehicle a license/registration plate not authorized by law for use on it, in either case with intent to conceal or misrepresent the identity of the vehicle or its owner, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(f) An identification number may be placed on a vehicle, a bicycle or engine by its manufacturer in the regular course of business or placed or restored on a vehicle, a bicycle or engine by authority of the Division without violating this section; an identification number so placed or restored is not falsified.
(g) No person, unless duly authorized by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles or an agent of the Director, shall remove or alter a license/registration plate from any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, or part thereof, or have in possession any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, or part thereof, where the license/registration has been removed without first obtaining permission, in writing, from the said Director.
(h) Whoever is found guilty of a misdemeanor under this section shall be fined not less than $57.50 nor more than $575, or imprisoned not less than 30 days nor more than 6 months or both. Whoever is found guilty of a felony under this section shall be fined not less than $575 nor more than $5,750, or imprisoned not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years or both. Superior Court shall have jurisdiction. In addition to any fine levied for conviction of theft under this section, the defendant shall be ordered to pay restitution to the victim of the theft.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Delaware Code Title 21. Motor Vehicles § 6705. Removed or unauthorized identification number on vehicle or engine; removed or affixed license/registration plate with intent to misrepresent identity; penalty - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/de/title-21-motor-vehicles/de-code-sect-21-6705/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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