What constitutes unauthorized use of a vehicle in Missouri?

The unauthorized use of a vehicle in Missouri is defined as using another person's vehicle without their permission. This encompasses situations where an individual operates or uses the vehicle without the owner's consent, regardless of whether the individual intends to permanently deprive the owner of it.

This distinction is crucial because it reflects the nature of the offense, which does not require the intent to permanently keep the vehicle to qualify as unauthorized use. Instead, mere use without authorization meets the legal threshold for this offense. Other options, while related to vehicle crimes, do not accurately capture the definition of unauthorized use as specified in Missouri law. For example, taking a vehicle with the intent to keep it implies a more serious level of theft, and driving without a license relates to the legality of a driver's ability rather than the unauthorized use of the vehicle itself.