Fake Wyoming Permit Penalties: Misdemeanor Charges and Consequences (2026)

Getting caught with a fake Wyoming instruction permit triggers immediate legal action. The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) treats this as a serious crime, leading to criminal charges, heavy fines, and long-term barriers to driving legally in Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, or anywhere in the state.

What Are the Legal Penalties for Using a Fake Wyoming Instruction Permit?

Using a fake driving permit is a criminal act under Wyoming law. Charges are not limited to the traffic stop; they extend into the court system with lasting repercussions.

What Counts as a Fake or Altered Wyoming Permit?

Wyoming law covers a fictitious permit and a real credential that has been fraudulently altered. It also prohibits displaying a credential that is cancelled, revoked, or suspended and representing someone else's credential as your own.

Criminal Charges for Fake or Altered Permits

Possessing or using a forged permit typically results in misdemeanor charges. The court process begins with your citation or arrest.

Visit the Wyoming learner's permit guide for step-by-step rules.

• Primary Charge: Misdemeanor under Wyoming W.S. 31-7-133(a)(i) for possessing or using a fictitious, forged, or fraudulently altered license or permit.
• Additional Charges: Potential identity fraud or forgery charges if the permit uses another person's information.
• Court Appearance: Mandatory court date where a judge determines guilt and sentencing.
• Example: Possessing or displaying a fictitious or fraudulently altered credential can lead to a misdemeanor case under W.S. 31-7-133 and a 90-day driving-privilege suspension upon conviction under current WYDOT rules.

Altering the Birth Date or Other Information on a Real Permit

Changing identifying information on a real credential can make it a fraudulently altered license under W.S. 31-7-133. That is different from a harmless correction through WYDOT and can lead to a misdemeanor charge and licensing consequences.

Is showing a fake permit photo on your phone treated the same as possessing a fake physical card? Wyoming law does not create a safe exception just because a fictitious or altered credential is displayed from a phone. The exact charge depends on what was shown and how it was used, but a phone image is not a lawful substitute for a valid credential.

Fines and Other Penalties for Fake Permit Offenses

Penalties for a counterfeit instruction permit are financial and can include incarceration.

• Example: A fake-permit case can bring a misdemeanor charge, a court-imposed fine within the applicable statutory limit, and a 90-day suspension after conviction under current WYDOT rules.

Future Licensing After a Fake-Permit Conviction

A conviction creates a permanent criminal and driving record, affecting future applications with WYDOT.

• License Denial: WYDOT can deny your application for a legitimate learner's permit or driver's license for years, or permanently.
• Insurance Voidance: Driving with a fake permit voids any auto insurance coverage. You become personally liable for all damages and injuries in an accident.
• Commercial Licensing Barred: A record of using a fake ID disqualifies you from ever obtaining a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
• Case Example (Laramie): A University of Wyoming student was caught with a fake permit after a minor fender-bender. The conviction appeared on their background check, causing a job offer with a delivery company to be rescinded due to the company's clean driving record policy.
• Check the WYDOT document checklist online before your office visit to avoid rejection for missing proof of residency, which causes rescheduling delays of weeks.

Can a Fake-Permit Conviction Delay Getting a Real Wyoming License?

Yes. A conviction under W.S. 31-7-133 carries a 90-day suspension under current Wyoming rules, so lawful licensing can be delayed until the withdrawal and any reinstatement requirements are completed.

Getting a Legitimate Wyoming Instruction Permit

Use Wyoming's normal permit process rather than a fictitious or altered credential. The current credential application is Form 10-4003. For the full document, testing, and application steps, use the dedicated Wyoming Application Process and Required Documents guides.