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
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada*
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
*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
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
— Michelle Megna contributed to this story.
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Laura Longero
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Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
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