Is Texas a Two-Plate State? Front and Rear License Plates

Do you need a front license plate in Texas?

Texas is a two-plate state, which means drivers are supposed to have license plates on the front and back of their vehicles. Not having a front license plate means an officer has probable cause to stop you at any time, and you may receive a citation for failure to display a license plate.

However, if you drive anywhere in Texas, you will see a huge number of vehicles without front license plates—and they may pass right by an officer and not get stopped. Many vehicle manufacturers don’t even have pre-installed brackets (and sometimes even a convenient spot) for front license plates. Similarly, vehicles purchased in other states are unlikely to have front license plates.

So, should you run out and get a front license plate if you don’t have one? While the legal answer is “yes,” the practical answer is “it depends.”

In the last five years, I have been pulled over just once for not having a front license plate, and I was sent on my way with a warning. That being said, if I drove that vehicle into neighborhoods where there was a high crime rate or drove back in that car after having a drink or two in the evening, then I am begging to be pulled over. If you want to avoid giving the police a valid reason to pull you over at any time, then definitely get a front license plate.

If your fast Italian sports car that you only drive on Sundays doesn’t have a front license plate, and you don’t want to mar the front end of your car, you may decide following this particular law is not for you – and let’s face it, you’re more likely to get pulled over for speeding in that car anyways.

It’s just important to understand that not having a front license plate is a violation, and you can get stopped and ticketed for it. The last thing you want to happen is to get stopped for failing to have a front license plate and then an officer claims to smell marijuana, which that leads to a search that turns up incriminating evidence and an arrest. If there is any chance that you or a passenger or your vehicle shouldn’t be searched, definitely have a front license plate.

The Confusion Over Whether You Need Two License Plates in Texas

For the last few years, there has been confusion over whether Texas is a “two-plate state.” Lawyers and non-lawyers alike were left wondering whether Texas requires two license plates on vehicles. The short answer is, “yes.”

Prior to 2012, it was illegal to drive a vehicle that did not display both a front and rear license plate. In 2012, the legislature reorganized parts of the Transportation Code and in doing so inadvertently removed the penalty for driving a vehicle not equipped with two license plates. As a result, from January 2012 to September 2013, Section 504.943 of the Texas Transportation Code required two license plates, yet there was no penalty for vehicles that did not have the two required plates. During that time, officers could not issue citations to vehicles that were not equipped with two license plates; therefore, stops that were made for failure to have two license plates could be challenged in court.

Nineteen out of 50 states do not require a front license plate. The remaining 31 states, including Texas, require a front and rear license plate. Every state that borders Texas (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana) requires only the rear license plate to be displayed.

In 2012, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute began a study into why Texas would need two separate license plates. The study concluded that “having a second plate makes it easier to photograph those who run stop signs and red lights or don’t pay tolls or drive out of unattended pay garages and parking lots without paying. Linking automatic license plate readers to databases also makes it easier to track down scofflaws electronically instead of having human eyeballs view every image to identify license plate numbers.”

What Are the Consequences for Not Having a Front License Plate in Texas?

First and foremost, an officer has probable cause to stop your vehicle at any time if you do not have a front license plate. (Editor’s note: I have not had a front license plate in many years and have only once been stopped for anything other than speeding, but it is a risk I decided to take on. If there’s even a chance that you have something illegal in your vehicle or if you drive after having even one drink, you should strongly consider having a front license plate.)

Effective September 1, 2013, Section 504.943 of the Texas Transportation Code entitled, Operation of a Vehicle Without License Plate, was amended to provide punishment for not displaying a front license plate. It is now an offense to operate a vehicle that does not display two licenses plates, and the punishment for failure to have both license plates is a fine of up to $200.

For many, the potential fine of $200 may not seem like enough to drill into the front of a new vehicle to add a license plate. It is, however, important to realize not having a front license plate does give the police probable cause to stop your vehicle any time they want.

A person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway, during a registration period, a motor vehicle that does not display two license plates, and could be found guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $200.

License Plate Requirements by State

In the United States, the requirement for displaying license plates on vehicles varies by state. Some states mandate that vehicles display two license plates (one on the front and one on the back), while others require only one plate (typically on the rear). The table below provides a detailed overview of each state’s license plate requirements along with the corresponding state statutes.

State	Plates Required	Statute
Alabama	One Plate	Code of Ala. § 32-6-51
Alaska	Two Plates	Alaska Stat. § 28.10.171
Arizona	One Plate	Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-2354
Arkansas	One Plate	Ark. Code Ann. § 27-14-714
California	Two Plates	Cal. Veh. Code § 5200
Colorado	Two Plates	Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-3-202
Connecticut	Two Plates	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-18
Delaware	One Plate	Del. Code Ann. tit. 21, § 2121
Florida	One Plate	Fla. Stat. § 316.605
Georgia	One Plate	Ga. Code Ann. § 40-2-41
Hawaii	Two Plates	Haw. Rev. Stat. § 249-7
Idaho	Two Plates	Idaho Code § 49-428
Illinois	Two Plates	625 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/3-413
Indiana	One Plate	Ind. Code § 9-18-2-26
Iowa	Two Plates	Iowa Code § 321.37
Kansas	One Plate	Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-133
Kentucky	One Plate	Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 186.170
Louisiana	One Plate	La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 47:507
Maine	Two Plates	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 29-A, § 451
Maryland	Two Plates	Md. Code Ann., Transp. § 13-411
Massachusetts	Two Plates	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 6
Michigan	One Plate	Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.225
Minnesota	Two Plates	Minn. Stat. § 169.79
Mississippi	One Plate	Miss. Code Ann. § 27-19-31
Missouri	Two Plates	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 301.130
Montana	Two Plates	Mont. Code Ann. § 61-3-301
Nebraska	Two Plates	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-399
Nevada	Two Plates	Nev. Rev. Stat. § 482.275
New Hampshire	Two Plates	N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 261:75
New Jersey	Two Plates	N.J. Stat. Ann. § 39:3-33
New Mexico	One Plate	N.M. Stat. Ann. § 66-3-14
New York	Two Plates	N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 402
North Carolina	One Plate	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-63
North Dakota	Two Plates	N.D. Cent. Code § 39-04-11
Ohio	Two Plates	Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4503.21
Oklahoma	One Plate	Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 1113
Oregon	Two Plates	Or. Rev. Stat. § 803.535
Pennsylvania	One Plate	75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1332
Rhode Island	Two Plates	R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-3-18
South Carolina	One Plate	S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-1240
South Dakota	One Plate	S.D. Codified Laws § 32-5-98
Tennessee	One Plate	Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-110
Texas	Two Plates	Tex. Transp. Code § 502.404
Utah	Two Plates	Utah Code Ann. § 41-1a-404
Vermont	Two Plates	Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 23, § 511
Virginia	Two Plates	Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-711
Washington	Two Plates	Wash. Rev. Code § 46.16A.200
West Virginia	One Plate	W. Va. Code § 17A-3-14
Wisconsin	Two Plates	Wis. Stat. § 341.15
Wyoming	Two Plates	Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-2-205
Washington, D.C.	Two Plates	D.C. Code § 50-1501.01

Can I Put My License Plate in the Front Windshield of My Car?

Under Transportation Code Section 504.943, the placement of license plates is governed by Texas Department of Public Safety rules.

Rule 217.27 of Title 43 Texas Administrative Code provides that passenger vehicles must display two license plates, one at the exterior front and one at the exterior rear of the vehicle that are securely fastened at the exterior front and rear of the vehicle in a horizontal position of not less than 12 inches from the ground.

Is Your License Plate Visible at 50 Feet?

You can also be stopped for a violation of Transportation Code 546.322 if your license plate is not clearly visible from 50 feet at night.

Contact Us

We hope you found this information helpful. If you were recently arrested or charged with a misdemeanor or felony stemming from a traffic violation, or need a Fort Worth DWI Lawyer give us a call today for a complimentary strategy session. During this call we will:

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