Altering a driver's license is a felony in every state, with penalties ranging from jail time to substantial fines

Changing, forging, or tampering with a driver's license — whether you modify the photo, expiration date, address, or any other detail — is prosecuted as a serious crime. The specific penalty depends on your state, your criminal history, and what you altered, but you are looking at felony charges in all 50 states, not a misdemeanor. Most states treat it the same way they treat forging other government documents.

The consequences are real and permanent. A felony conviction affects your ability to work, rent housing, obtain loans, and in some cases vote or own firearms. Even if you were not caught using the altered license, straightforward possessing or creating one is enough to trigger prosecution.

Key Takeaways

  • Altering a driver's license is a felony in every state, not a misdemeanor, with sentences typically ranging from one to five years in prison depending on the state.
  • Fines for document forgery usually range from $500 to $5,000, though some states impose higher penalties, and restitution costs may be added on top.
  • A felony conviction for document forgery appears on background checks permanently and disqualifies you from many jobs, professional licenses, and housing.
  • Possessing an altered license is itself a crime — you do not have to use it or attempt to use it for charges to explore.

Prison sentences vary by state and what was altered

Most states impose prison sentences between one and five years for altering a driver's license. Some states are harsher: California, for example, can sentence you to up to three years in state prison for forgery of a government document. Texas treats it as a felony with up to two years in prison. Other states like Florida can impose up to five years.

The sentence often depends on what you changed. Altering your birth date or address typically draws a lighter sentence than changing your photo or license number, because changing your identity details suggests intent to deceive someone else — a bank, an employer, law enforcement. If you altered the license to commit another crime (like underage drinking or identity theft), prosecutors may add charges on top of the forgery charge itself.

First-time offenders sometimes receive probation instead of prison time, but this is not may provide and depends on the judge, the state, and the specific facts of your case. A prior criminal record makes prison time much more likely.

Fines and restitution costs

In addition to prison time, you will face fines. Most states impose fines between $500 and $5,000 for document forgery. Some states go higher — New York, for instance, can fine you up to $10,000. These are separate from any restitution you may owe.

Restitution means paying back money to the state or to a victim if your altered license caused direct financial harm. If you used the altered license to commit fraud or theft, restitution can be substantial. You may also have to pay court costs and fees associated with your prosecution.

How a felony conviction affects employment and housing

A felony conviction for document forgery stays on your criminal record permanently. When employers run background checks — which most do — they will see the conviction. Many employers automatically disqualify candidates with felony convictions, particularly for positions involving financial responsibility, access to sensitive information, or work with vulnerable populations.

Landlords also conduct background checks before renting. A felony conviction makes it significantly harder to find housing, and many landlords will straightforward deny your process. Professional licenses — for nursing, teaching, law, accounting, and dozens of other fields — often require a clean criminal record or at minimum require you to disclose the conviction and explain it to a licensing board.

Some states also restrict voting rights for people with felony convictions, though this varies by state and whether you have completed your sentence. Firearm ownership is prohibited for anyone with a felony conviction under federal law.

Possessing an altered license is a crime on its own

You do not have to actually use an altered driver's license for it to be a crime. straightforward having it in your possession is enough. This means if police stop you for any reason and discover an altered license in your wallet, you can be charged with forgery even if you never showed it to anyone or attempted to use it.

This applies whether you altered the license yourself or someone else did and gave it to you. Knowingly possessing a forged government document is treated as a separate offense in most states, with its own penalties. If you received an altered license from someone else, you could face charges for possession of a forged document, and that person could face additional charges for creating and distributing it.

What counts as altering a license

Altering includes any change to the physical document or the information on it. This covers obvious changes like modifying your birth date to appear older or younger, changing your photo, or altering your address. It also includes less obvious changes: laminating over the security features, using chemicals to erase and rewrite information, or scanning and reprinting the license with different details.

Creating a fake license from scratch — rather than modifying an existing one — is also a felony, usually prosecuted under the same forgery statutes. Using a computer or printer to replicate a license design is treated the same way as hand-altering one.

Lending someone your real, unaltered license so they can use it as identification is not forgery, but it may violate other laws depending on the state and the circumstances. The person using it could face charges for identity fraud or misrepresentation, but you would not face forgery charges unless you altered the document itself.

What happens if you are caught

If you are stopped by police and they discover an altered license, they will likely arrest you on the spot. You will be taken to a police station, booked, and held until you can post bail or be released on your own recognizance. The prosecutor will then decide what charges to file — typically forgery of a government document, and possibly additional charges if the altered license was used in connection with another crime.

You will have a court date, usually within a few days of arrest. At that hearing, you can request a public defender if you cannot afford an attorney. The prosecutor will present evidence, and your attorney will advise you on whether to plead guilty, negotiate a plea deal, or go to trial. Most forgery cases result in guilty pleas rather than trials, but the outcome depends on the strength of the evidence and the specific circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the felony removed from my record later?

Some states allow expungement or record sealing for certain felonies after a waiting period, but document forgery is often excluded. Other states allow it only if you were acquitted or the charges were dismissed. You would need to consult an attorney in your state to know whether expungement is possible for your specific conviction. Even if expungement is available, it typically requires waiting several years after your sentence is complete.

What if I altered my own license by mistake?

Accidentally damaging your own license and then trying to repair it is not forgery. However, if you intentionally altered it — even slightly — to change the information it displays, that is a crime. The distinction is intent: if you were trying to change what the license says about you, it is forgery. If you straightforward damaged it and are trying to fix it, contact your state's DMV about getting a replacement.

Is using someone else's altered license worse than possessing one?

Using an altered license typically results in additional charges beyond forgery — such as fraud, identity theft, or misrepresentation — depending on what you used it for and who you showed it to. Possessing one without using it is still a felony, but prosecutors may offer a lighter sentence if you did not attempt to use it. Using it makes the case more serious.

What if I was under 18 when I altered my license?

Minors can be charged with forgery, though some states treat juvenile cases differently than adult cases. You may be prosecuted in juvenile court rather than adult court, which can result in different sentencing guidelines and the possibility of sealing your record when you turn 18. However, this is not may provide — serious cases can be transferred to adult court. Consult a juvenile defense attorney in your state for specifics.

Can I be charged if someone else altered my license without my permission?

No, you cannot be charged with forgery if someone else altered your license without your knowledge or consent. However, if you discover it has been altered and you continue to carry it or use it, you could then be charged with possession of a forged document. Report an altered license to your state's DMV and law enforcement when ready if you discover it.