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Written by:
Shivani Gite
Contributing Writer
Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.
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Reviewed by:
Laura Longero
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Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
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Front license plates

The earliest license plates on U.S. cars were made of wood, leather or even porcelain. By the time plates were standardized in size — 12 inches by 6 inches — almost all were made of steel. States later switched to aluminum, a more expensive material that is much cheaper to mail and doesn’t rust.

Today, many states have begun producing thermal-printed, flat plates on vinyl.

The primary purpose of license plates is to provide a unique identifier that connects every vehicle to a registered owner. They make enforcement of tolls, border crossing, parking regulations and other traffic laws possible, assist in identifying vehicles used in crimes or involved in hit-and-run accidents, and their reflective surface improves nighttime visibility.

Penalties for violating the two-plate law range from fix-it tickets to fines of up to $200 in Texas.

Assuming there is a valid registration for the vehicle, tickets for missing license plates generally do not go on the driver’s motor vehicle record as a moving violation and are thus unseen by auto insurance companies. They should not affect your car insurance rates.

But don’t ignore the ticket; it could lead to a suspended driver’s license for administrative reasons and send your rates through the roof.

States that require front license plates

*Vehicles in Nevada that do not have a designated mounting position for a front plate are not required to use one.

In addition, these border provinces in Canada require two plates:

  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Ontario
  • Saskatchewan

These border states in Mexico require two plates:

  • Baja California Norte
  • Baja California Sur
  • Chihuahua*
  • Coahuila*
  • Sonora*
  • Tamaulipas*

*If the resident lives within 20 miles of the U.S. border

States that don’t require front plates

— Michelle Megna contributed to this story.

Laura Longero

Ask the Insurance Expert

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.

John McCormick

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John McCormick

Editorial Director

John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz

Executive Editor

Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir

Managing Editor

Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

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Contributing Writer

Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.