Identification of Vehicles and

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 31, ch. 11
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-11-101 Definitions.

(a) As used in this act: (i) "Calendar year" means the twelve (12) calendar months beginning January 1 and ending December 31; (ii) "Dealer" means all persons engaged in the business or vocation of manufacturing, buying, selling, trading, dealing, destroying, disposing of, storing or salvaging vehicles, or secondhand or used vehicle parts, equipment, attachments, accessories or appurtenances common to or a part of vehicles; (iii) "Department" means the Wyoming department of transportation; (iv) "Driver" means the person operating, driving or in control of a vehicle; (v) "Officer" means any duly constituted peace officer of this state, or of any town, city or county in this state; (vi) "Owner" means as provided by W.S. 31-5-102(a)(xxvi); (vii) "Public highway" means any public street, thoroughfare, roadway, alley, lane or bridge in any county, town or city in the state; (viii) "Vehicle" means as defined by W.S. 31-5-102(a)(lviii) except bicycles; (ix) "Vehicle identification number" means any identifying number, serial number, engine number if the model year is prior to 1956 or other distinguishing number or mark, including letters, if any, placed on a vehicle or vehicle component by its manufacturer or by authority of the department; (x) "This act" means W.S. 31-11-101 through 31-11-111.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-11-103 Alteration of vehicle identification numbers; penalty.

(a) No person shall: (i) Remove, change, alter or obliterate the vehicle identification number of a vehicle with intent to defraud by altering or disguising the identity of a vehicle; or (ii) Possess a vehicle or vehicle component with knowledge that it has a vehicle identification number which has been removed, changed, altered or obliterated in violation of paragraph (i) of this subsection. (b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-11-104 Sale of seized vehicles; disposition of proceeds; proof of ownership after sale.

All vehicles seized under W.S. 31-11-111 remaining unclaimed after ninety (90) days from the date of seizure, shall be sold by the department or its authorized representative, at public auction, to the highest bidder. Notice of sale shall be published not less than ten (10) days preceding the date of the sale, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the vehicle is to be sold, giving a full description of the vehicle together with engine or serial numbers or marks, if any. All expenses incident to the sale and storage of the vehicle shall be first paid from the receipts from the sale, and any residue shall be paid by the department to the state treasurer for credit to the general fund. Should any claimant prove ownership of a vehicle sold by the department under this act within six (6) months after the date of sale, the state auditor shall upon proper proof of ownership approved by the department, draw a warrant upon the state treasurer in favor of the claimant for the amount which was paid into the state treasury.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-11-105 Special vehicle identification number.

(a) An owner of a vehicle that does not have a vehicle identification number present or an owner of a vehicle for which a Wyoming certificate of title has been issued or is required who replaces any part of the vehicle on which the vehicle identification number appears or who incorporates a part containing the vehicle identification number into another vehicle, shall apply to the department forthwith for a special vehicle identification number. The department shall determine that the applicant for the special vehicle identification number is the lawful owner of the vehicle. An application blank shall be furnished by the department for the registration of the special vehicle identification number containing a complete description of the vehicle, the name and address of the owner, from whom purchased and other information as required by the department. The owner shall pay a registration fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) for the special vehicle identification number. (b) In designating special vehicle identification numbers for vehicles the department shall assign the numbers consecutively, beginning with the number five hundred one (501), preceded by the letter "S" and followed by the letter "W" in the order of the filing of applications for special vehicle identification numbers. The department shall not register or reregister any vehicle with a defective vehicle identification number.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-11-106 General penalties.

Any person violating any provision of this act unless otherwise specifically provided for in this act, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-11-107 Daily records of vehicle dealers; penalties for violations.

(a) Every dealer shall keep and maintain in his place of business, a permanent legibly written daily record of all vehicles and vehicle components which carry a vehicle identification number coming into his possession except those vehicles received by him for the express purpose of repairs that do not require the replacement of any component that bears a vehicle identification number. The record shall include the name and address of the owner or vendor, the date of the transactions, the model year, make and style, vehicle identification number, the state registration license number and the purpose and disposition of the vehicle or component. The record is to be open at all times to the inspection by the department or any peace officer and available for use as evidence. Daily records may be destroyed after retention for three (3) years. (b) Every person offering or delivering to a dealer for resale or consignment any vehicle or vehicle component which carries a vehicle identification number shall register his name, address and the name and address of the owner in the record kept by the dealer. The driver, on request or demand of the dealer or his agent, shall produce for examination the vehicle state registration license certificate issued to the driver or to the owner of the vehicle. (c) Any person knowingly violating any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), by imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, or both. (d) Any person knowingly and with intent to defraud violating any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), by imprisonment not to exceed five (5) years, or both.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-11-108 Examination of vehicle identification numbers; notification where number altered; penalties for violations.

(a) Every dealer shall examine, without charge, the vehicle identification number of every vehicle coming into his possession except those vehicles received by him for the express purpose of repairs that do not require the replacement of any component that bears a vehicle identification number. The dealer is not required to examine the vehicle identification number of the same vehicle more than once in the same calendar year when the dealer knows that the person in possession of the vehicle is the lawful owner. The dealer shall promptly notify the local sheriff's office if the vehicle identification number of the vehicle has been altered, changed or obliterated as to make the number indecipherable or if the vehicle identification number or the state registration license number of the vehicle does not correspond with the vehicle identification number of the vehicle state registration certificate. (b) Any person knowingly violating this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six (6) months, or both. (c) Any person knowingly and with intent to defraud violating this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), by imprisonment not to exceed five (5) years, or both.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-11-109 Report of stored or parked vehicles; offenses and penalties.

(a) Whenever any vehicle has been stored, parked or left in a garage, or any type of storage or parking lot for more than thirty (30) days, the owner of the garage or lot shall report the make, engine number, vehicle identification number and serial number of the vehicle in writing to the sheriff of the county in which the garage or lot is located. (b) Nothing in this section applies where: (i) Arrangements have been made for continuous storage or parking by the owner of the vehicle parked or stored; (ii) Arrangements for towing or storage have been made by a law enforcement agency; or (iii) The owner of the vehicle is personally known to the owner or operator of the garage or lot. (c) Any person who fails to submit the report required under this section at the end of thirty (30) days shall forfeit all claims for storage of the vehicles.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-11-110 Surrender and cancellation of certificate of title; penalties for violations.

(a) The owner of any vehicle for which a Wyoming certificate of title has been issued, upon the destruction or dismantling of the vehicle or upon its being changed in such a manner that it is no longer a vehicle, or upon its being sold or otherwise disposed of as salvage, shall surrender his certificate of title to the department and take a receipt therefor. Upon the owner's procuring the consent of the holders of any security interest noted on the certificate of title and shown to be unreleased, the certificate may be cancelled. (b) Any person who knowingly violates this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), by imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, or both. (c) Any person who, with intent to defraud, violates this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), by imprisonment not to exceed five (5) years, or both.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-11-111 Seizure of vehicles by officers.

All officers, having probable cause, may take and hold possession of any vehicle for a reasonable time not to exceed ninety (90) days as may be necessary if the vehicle identification number of the vehicle has been altered, removed, changed or obliterated. Any officer taking possession of a vehicle shall immediately notify the local sheriff's office and the rightful owner, if known. The notification shall contain a description of the vehicle and any other facts that may assist in locating the rightful owner or in prosecuting any person for a violation of law.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title31.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026