Unless another penalty applies, the general Chapter 17B misdemeanor penalty is a fine of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both.

Separately, §17B-3-12 requires a 90-day DMV suspension when the commissioner receives the specified sworn affidavit alleging one of the listed fraudulent-use acts.

Other crimes may apply to separate conduct, but this page should not label every altered or fake permit case a felony.

2Criminal Charges for Fake WV Permit Possession

The core driver's-license offenses are in West Virginia Code §17B-4-1. It is a misdemeanor to possess or display a fictitious or fraudulently altered driving credential, lend a credential, represent another person's credential as your own, or commit specified fraud in an application.

If separate conduct supports a different criminal charge, that charge depends on the facts. Do not assume a felony merely because a permit was fake or altered.

What happens if a fake WV permit is used only as ID and not for driving?

The license-misuse law is not limited to driving. Possessing or displaying a fictitious or fraudulently altered driving credential can itself fall under West Virginia’s license-misuse provisions, even if the person was not driving at the time.

What if someone changes the birth date or other information on a real WV permit?

Changing information on a genuine permit can make it a fraudulently altered credential. That is different from simply correcting an error through DMV; use the official correction process instead of changing the card yourself.

2Driving-Privilege Consequences of Fake-Permit Misuse

The clearest DMV consequence is the 90-day suspension process in West Virginia Code §17B-3-12 for the fraudulent-use acts listed in that section.

The statute requires written notice before the suspension becomes effective and allows a timely hearing request and stay.
If the suspension takes effect, the statutory period is 90 days.
After the suspension period, §17B-3-12 provides for reinstatement upon compliance with the applicable Chapter 17B conditions. Do not describe fake-permit history as an automatic lifetime or future-license ban.

Can a minor face consequences for possessing or using a fake WV permit?

Yes. Being under 18 does not make a fake or fraudulently altered credential lawful. The exact court or juvenile process depends on the facts and the person’s age, so this page should not promise one identical outcome for every minor.

What Should You Do Instead of Using a Fake WV Permit?

If the problem is the knowledge test, documents, cost or appointment timing, use the dedicated permit pages instead of repeating the full application process here.

West Virginia's online knowledge-test completion remains valid for six months. The legal alternative is to fix the application problem and continue through the normal DMV process.

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Forgot Your West Virginia Permit While Driving: Failure-to-Display Rules

If you forget your instruction permit while driving in West Virginia, you commit a traffic infraction. Carry the physical permit every time you drive - driving without it present is a separate offense from driving without a supervisor.

Real experiences from the Shoro.ai community

Real experiences from the Shoro.ai community