Why Stealing a Car is Called "Grand Theft Auto"

Grand theft auto (GTA) – the act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle – earned its name from the legal distinction between grand and petty theft based on the value of items stolen. Since cars nearly always exceed felony theft thresholds, swiping a ride constitutes a serious criminal charge.

As many gaming fans know, this terminology went on to inspire the title of Rockstar Games’ hugely successful Grand Theft Auto series. The controversial franchise allows players to commit virtual crimes like vehicle theft, evading police, and open-world mayhem.

But in reality, perpetrators find grand theft auto is no laughing matter or gameplay mechanic. Let‘s analyze why this charge is levied against automobile thieves and what consequences it carries.

Grand Theft vs Petty Theft – How Auto Theft Earns the "Grand" Distinction

Under criminal statutes across the U.S., theft offenses are categorized as either “petty” or “grand” theft based on value of the stolen property:

• Petty theft – applies when stolen property is less than the minimum threshold value, which varies by state but commonly falls between $500 to $1,000. Petty theft is a misdemeanor.
• Grand theft – applies when stolen property meets or exceeds the minimum threshold value. Grand theft is generally a felony charge.

Since cars are big-ticket items – the average new car transaction topped $48,000 in 2021, per Kelley Blue Book – stealing one virtually always constitutes grand theft.

In fact, 26 states have specific statutes defining motor vehicle theft as grand theft auto, regardless of whether value thresholds are met.

So while swiping a pack of gum from a store would be petty theft, taking someone’s vehicle causes the crime to “level up” to a grand theft case.

States with laws specifying motor vehicle theft as grand theft auto – Source: FindLaw

And with the rise of pricey electric vehicles, we may see more vehicle thefts falling into higher felony charge bands based on sheer value – exceeding $950,000 in the case of some high-end EVs.

Clearly grand theft auto is named so because no car theft can be considered trivial or petty – all incur felony-level charges.

Penalties Across States – Grand Theft Auto is No Misdemeanor

Given vehicles‘ financial worth, all states prosecute grand theft auto as a serious crime carrying stiff penalties upon conviction.

Grand theft auto sentences classified as either misdemeanors or felonies depending on mitigating factors. As a rule of thumb:

However, sentences vary widely by state:

As we can see, Florida, Texas and other states punish grand theft auto especially harshly with years behind bars and four-figure fines. Prosecutors and judges recognize the severity of stealing someone‘s personal vehicle.

Related Car Theft Charges – Joyriding, Carjacking and More

While grand theft auto is the most common charge leveraged by prosecutors against auto thieves, related charges exist depending on specific circumstances:

• Joyriding – Involves temporarily taking a car without owner‘s consent. Differs from grand theft auto because there‘s no intent to permanently deprive owner of property.
• Carjacking – Stealing vehicle by force or fear. Classified as robbery offense.
• Embezzlement Auto Theft** – Misusing lawful access to vehicles, e.g. a valet going on personal joy rides. Requires proving violation of a fiduciary duty.

Grand theft auto can be easier for prosecutors to prove because it solely requires showing unlawful intent to take someone else‘s car indefinitely. Defendants will often face additional charges stacking on top of a GTA felony.

Preventing Car Theft

With over 800,000 cars stolen per year nationwide, vehicle theft remains rampant even with high-tech antitheft gadgets. According to National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) data, these are among the most stolen vehicles by state:

Additionally, parking lots and garages see nearly 50% of auto thefts, according to CARFAX estimates.

With grand theft auto penalties so steep, it pays to take precautions like:

• Using visible steering wheel locks and audible alarms
• Installing GPS trackers to help recovery
• Parking in high-traffic, well-lit areas rather than isolated lots
• Keeping doors locked and not leaving any valuables inside

Avoid becoming an auto theft statistic or video game cliché! Heed these GTA avoidance tips since stealing cars is no petty offense under criminal statutes.