When Can I Be Charged With Car Theft in Tennessee?

 Posted on October 17, 2026 in Criminal Defense

Car theft in Tennessee is usually charged under the state’s general theft law rather than its own statute. The value of the car determines how serious the charge is. If you didn’t plan to keep the car long-term, you may face a lesser charge often called joyriding.

Many car theft cases start with a misunderstanding about permission. Proving that you had permission to use the car or did not intend to keep the car from its owner can reduce or even eliminate charges.

If you’ve been charged with car theft in 2026, a Grainger County, TN car theft lawyer can help you understand what defense is available.

What Does Tennessee Law Count as Car Theft?

You can be charged with theft, including car theft, if you knowingly take or control someone else’s property without their effective consent and you intend to deprive them of it (Tennessee Code Section 39-14-103).

The first element of the charge is consent. Consent isn’t "effective" if it was obtained through deception or coercion, or given by someone you know has no authority to give permission.

The second element is intent. The prosecution has to show you intended to deprive the owner of the car. This can mean keeping it permanently, withholding it long enough to substantially reduce its value or use to the owner, or handling it in a way that makes its return unlikely.

You don’t have to drive the car away to be charged. Exercising control over it, such as hiding it, selling it, or stripping its parts, can also count.

How Is Car Theft Punished in Tennessee?

Tennessee grades theft by the value of the property. Since most cars are worth more than $1,000, car theft is usually a felony.

The consequences for theft are as follows:

• $1,000 or less: Class A misdemeanor
• More than $1,000 but less than $2,500: Class E felony
• $2,500 to less than $10,000: Class D felony
• $10,000 to less than $60,000: Class C felony
• $60,000 to less than $250,000: Class B felony
• $250,000 or more: Class A felony

The value is usually the car’s fair market value at the time it was taken, not what the owner paid for it.

What Is Joyriding in Tennessee?

Joyriding is taking someone’s car without the owner’s permission but without the intent to deprive the owner of it. It’s a Class A misdemeanor no matter how much the car is worth.

The difference between theft and joyriding usually comes down to intent. Prosecutors may look at how long you had the car, where it ended up, and whether you tried to hide or sell it.

Can Someone Be Charged With Car Theft for Borrowing a Friend’s Car?

Borrowing a friend’s car can lead to charges if the friend claims you didn’t have permission. Permission, even if it is given, can also have limits. If someone is given permission to drive a car under one circumstance – doing a grocery run, for example – and the car is kept and driven to other places, it can be argued that the car was used without permission.

Use of friends' or roommates' cars is common among young adults and college students. Misunderstandings can turn an innocent situation into a serious one. For example, a theft conviction can affect school standing, financial aid, and future job applications.

Some first-time offenders may be eligible for diversion, which can lead to dismissal if the terms are completed. Whether diversion is available depends on the charge, the person’s record, and the court.

What Should You Do if You’re Accused of Car Theft in Tennessee?

Don’t try to explain the situation to the police before you’ve talked to an attorney. Saying you "just borrowed it" may seem harmless, but it could be used to support a joyriding charge. Save any messages with the car’s owner regarding using the car. Avoid contacting the owner to argue about what happened, and follow instructions from your attorney regarding communications and deadlines for your case.

Call a Rutledge, TN Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

If you’ve been charged with car theft, there’s a real possibility of getting the charges reduced or dropped if you can present the appropriate evidence. Our Grainger County, TN car theft attorney can help you do that.

Attorney Lance Baker has more than a decade of legal experience in criminal defense. He has been recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 attorney and offers free consultations.

Call The Baker Law Firm at 865-200-4117 today to schedule.