U.S. Laws on Front License Plates
If you travel widely by car in the United States, expect to encounter a variety of license-plate laws from state to state. The U.S. government only issues license plates for its federal vehicles and for foreign diplomats, and these vehicles are only required to have a rear plate.
All other drivers are issued vehicle plates by their state governments.
Some states require that cars have both a front and rear license plate and some require only a rear license plates. Here are some more details about the regulations specifically regarding front license plates.
State by State
Certain states such as California, Ohio, Iowa, Washington, Maryland and Massachusetts require their drivers to post both a front and rear license plate on their cars and even make it illegal for car dealers to sell a new car without a license plate bracket on the front bumper. Others, like Arizona and Kansas, issue two plates but make rear display required and front display optional. Most other states issue only a single plate for the rear of the vehicle.
This variety of laws from state to state has caused numerous complaints by travelers who display a single rear plate but are frequently stopped by law enforcement in states where both plates are required. If your vehicle is properly licensed in its home state, you cannot be cited in another state for not having a front plate, however.
States that require a front plate report a higher incidence of traffic violations reported by infrared cameras at urban intersections and toll booths.
State by State Plate Rules
If you relocate from a state that requires only a rear plate to a state the requires both a front and rear plate, you have a limited amount of time to re-register your vehicle and obtain two new license plates. In most states you have 30 days from the date of your move to complete the new registration.
You can re-register by visiting the state's licensing office or secretary of state's office, or by mail. In order to receive your new plates you'll need to show a valid vehicle title and a valid driver's license and pay a fee set by the state.
Front Plates and LPR
License Plate Recognition Technology (LPR), which uses cameras and computer software to recognize numbers and letters, has been found to be more accurate when a vehicle has both a front and a rear plate. For this reason, more states may pass laws requiring both.
According to the FBI, "license plate recognition software and hardware has gone from something only dreamed about in movies to a viable technological tool for local police and sheriff's departments."
Besides traffic violations, LPR has proven helpful in apprehending wanted felons, prison escapees and vehicles associated with Amber Alerts.
Front Plates and Collector Cars
One of the biggest opponents of the front license plate laws in some states are collectible car enthusiasts. Many are of the opinion that a new front plate mars the look of the older or antique car. Some classic automobile associations have even mounted petition drives to have the laws removed in states where they exist, though these initiatives have yet to meet with any success.
Front Plates Generate Revenue
Besides the success of LPR, the biggest argument for laws requiring front and rear plates is revenue generation for state budgets. When states require two plates they can charge a higher fee for license plate renewal. These fees vary by state, but are generally higher than states that require only a single rear plate.
Tags: rear plate, front rear, both front, both front rear, license plate