Altering a driver's license is a felony in all 50 states

Changing, forging, or tampering with a driver's license — whether your own or someone else's — is prosecuted as a felony offense. The specific charge varies by state, but common statutes include forgery, uttering a forged document, identity fraud, and document falsification. A conviction carries prison time, fines, probation, and a permanent criminal record.

The severity depends on what you altered and why. Changing your birth date or address on your own license, adding a false endorsement (like a commercial driver's license rating you don't hold), or modifying someone else's license all trigger different penalties. Some states treat minor alterations as a misdemeanor if the change is trivial and no fraud occurred, but most treat any intentional change as felony-level.

Even possession of an altered license — whether you altered it or someone gave it to you — can result in criminal charges. You don't have to use it or attempt to use it. straightforward having it in your wallet is enough for prosecution in most jurisdictions.

Key Takeaways

  • Altering a driver's license is a felony in every state, with penalties including prison sentences of one to five years depending on the state and the nature of the alteration.
  • The charge typically falls under forgery, uttering a forged document, or identity fraud statutes, and a conviction creates a permanent felony record that affects employment, housing, and professional licensing.
  • Possession alone — not using the altered license — is sufficient for criminal prosecution in most states.
  • If your license information is genuinely incorrect, the legal remedy is to visit your state's Department of Motor Vehicles with proof of the correct information and request an amendment.

Prison time and fines for document forgery

Prison sentences for altering a driver's license range from one to five years in most states, though some jurisdictions impose longer sentences if the alteration was used to commit another crime. For example, using an altered license to purchase alcohol underage, open a fraudulent bank account, or cross a border illegally can add separate charges and stack sentences.

Fines typically range from $500 to $5,000, though some states impose higher penalties if the alteration was used in a scheme involving multiple people or multiple documents. Restitution — money you must pay to cover losses caused by your actions — may also be ordered if someone else was harmed by the altered document.

A felony conviction also means you lose certain rights. Many states suspend or revoke your driver's license entirely, separate from any criminal sentence. You may lose the right to vote, serve on a jury, own firearms, or hold professional licenses in fields like healthcare, law, education, or finance.

How altering a license affects employment and housing

A felony conviction for document forgery appears on background checks that employers and landlords run. Most employers can legally refuse to hire someone with a felony record, and many do. Some professions — law enforcement, banking, government work, healthcare — have explicit bars against hiring people convicted of fraud or forgery.

Landlords can also refuse to rent to someone with a felony record. Housing discrimination based on criminal history is legal in most states, and document forgery convictions are particularly damaging because they signal dishonesty to potential landlords.

Professional licenses are affected similarly. If you hold or plan to pursue a license in any regulated field, a forgery conviction can result in denial of the license or revocation if you already hold one. State licensing boards treat document tampering as evidence of moral unfitness.

The difference between altering your own license and someone else's

Altering your own license and altering someone else's license are both felonies, but they carry different charges and sometimes different penalties. Altering your own license is typically prosecuted as forgery or document falsification. Altering someone else's license or using someone else's altered license is often charged as identity fraud or identity theft in addition to forgery.

If you possess someone else's altered license — even if you didn't alter it yourself — you can be charged with possession of a forged document and potentially conspiracy if you knew it was forged. The penalties for identity fraud often exceed those for straightforward forgery.

Using an altered license that belongs to someone else to impersonate them adds another layer of charges. This can result in separate counts for identity theft, fraud, and forgery, with sentences that run consecutively rather than concurrently.

What to do if your license information is actually wrong

If your driver's license contains an error — a misspelled name, wrong birth date, incorrect address — the legal remedy is to contact your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. You do not need to alter the license yourself. The DMV will issue a corrected license once you provide proof of the correct information.

Proof requirements vary by state but typically include a birth certificate for name or date corrections, and a utility bill or lease for address changes. The process usually takes one to two weeks and costs between $10 and $50 depending on your state. Some states allow you to request a correction online or by mail; others require an in-person visit.

If you've already altered your license or are considering it because the DMV process seems slow, stop. The criminal consequences far outweigh any inconvenience of waiting for a corrected license through official channels. If the error affects something urgent — like a name change after marriage or a legal name change — the DMV can often expedite the process if you explain the situation.

Penalties vary significantly by state

While all states treat driver's license alteration as a felony, the specific penalties differ. Some states impose mandatory minimum prison sentences; others allow judges discretion. Some states treat a first offense more leniently than repeat offenses. A few states distinguish between altering your own license and altering someone else's, with harsher penalties for the latter.

California, for example, treats altering a license as forgery under Penal Code Section 470, with penalties up to three years in prison. New York prosecutes it under Penal Law Section 170.10 (forgery in the second degree), with up to four years in prison. Texas charges it as forgery under Penal Code Section 32.21, with penalties ranging from two to ten years depending on the circumstances.

If you're facing charges or considering altering a license, consult an attorney licensed in your state. The specific statute, prior criminal history, and the nature of the alteration all affect the outcome. An attorney can also explore whether diversion programs or plea agreements are available in your jurisdiction.

Why states treat this as a serious felony

Driver's licenses serve as the primary form of identification in the United States. They're used to verify age, establish residency, open bank accounts, board flights, and prove citizenship status. An altered license can facilitate identity theft, fraud, underage drinking, human trafficking, or terrorism. Because the document is so widely accepted and trusted, tampering with it is treated as a serious threat to public safety and financial security.

States also prosecute document forgery harshly because it undermines the integrity of government-issued identification systems. If people could alter licenses without serious consequences, the entire system would become unreliable. The felony classification sends a clear message that this is not a minor offense.

Additionally, many people who alter licenses do so as part of a larger scheme — using a fake ID to commit fraud, open accounts in false names, or facilitate other crimes. Prosecuting document alteration as a felony allows law enforcement to charge people with serious crimes even when the underlying fraud scheme hasn't fully materialized yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is altering a driver's license a misdemeanor or a felony?

It is a felony in all 50 states. Some states may charge minor alterations as a misdemeanor in rare circumstances, but the default is felony prosecution. A felony conviction means prison time, fines, and a permanent criminal record that affects employment, housing, and professional licensing.

What if I only changed my address on my license myself?

Changing any information on your license without authorization from the DMV is forgery, regardless of how minor the change seems. The correct process is to visit your state's DMV with proof of your new address and request an updated license. This takes one to two weeks and costs $10 to $50.

Can I get charged just for having an altered license, even if I never used it?

Yes. Possession of an altered license is a crime in itself in most states. You do not have to attempt to use it or actually use it. straightforward having it in your possession is sufficient for criminal charges.

What happens if I used an altered license to buy alcohol or get into a bar?

You face charges for both document forgery and underage drinking or providing false identification to a business. These charges stack, meaning you could face multiple counts and longer sentences. The business where you used it may also face fines or license suspension.

If I have a felony conviction for altering a license, can it ever be removed from my record?

Expungement or record sealing varies by state. Some states allow felony convictions to be expunged after a certain period (typically five to ten years) if you meet specific conditions. Others do not allow expungement of felonies at all. An attorney in your state can explain what options exist where you live.