The map above shows which states require front and rear license plates vs those that only require rear license plates across the US. Overall, the majority of US states (62.75%) and a majority of people (62.73%) live in states that require both.
And in case you’re wondering about the two exceptions they are:
- Massachusetts: Since 1988 all vehicles have been required to use front and rear plates. However, license plates issued since 1978 remain valid, thus older cars were grandfathered into the system.
- Nevada: Display of the front license plate is optional for vehicles that either are not specifically designed to have a front plate, or the manufacturer did not provide a plate bracket or other means for front display of a license plate. As a result of this discrepancy, the law to display both the front and rear plates is rarely enforced, and it is not uncommon for owners of vehicles with Nevada license plates to remove the manufacturer-supplied front license plate brackets from their vehicles and display only the rear plate. (source: wikipedia)
The full list of states with rear only license plate requirements are:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
Note: Puerto Rico also only requires a rear license plate.
All other states including Washington DC and US Virgin Islands require both front and rear plates.
Interestingly, America’s next door neighbour doesn’t exactly follow America’s trends. While the majority of Canadians (57.31%) live in a province requiring both a front and rear license plate only 4 out of 13 (30.77%) of provinces and territories require both.
Only the following 4 provinces require both (in order of population):
- Ontario
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
The following 9 provinces and territories only require rear plates:
- Quebec
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Prince Edward Island
- Northwest Territories
- Yukon
- Nunavut
Looking for license plate related gifts? Then have a look at the following:
- Past Time Sign License Plate Map
- Melissa & Doug License Plate Game
- Ultimate Sticker Puzzles: License Plates Across the States:Travel Puzzles and Games!
- License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History, 1903 to the Present
- Search other license plate related gifts on Amazon
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Liberalism Is A Mental Disease says
I’m just wondering if your State or Province requires you to have only 1
plate,…how does that work when driving through States that require 2
plates?
Tom says
No problems at all. You may even get to evade cameras that rely on a front plate to enforce tolls and other fines.
If you choose to relocate to a two-plate state/province then of course you’ll have to register your car and install a mounting bracket on the front to comply with local laws.
daniel komis says
alot of nyers have florida plates to avoid tolls altogether
Benjamin says
I’ve wanted to know, and been looking around to find information about it. I live in New-Brunswick, which doesn’t require front license plates since last year actually.
Blank Reg says
I have a car registered in PA, which now resides in OR. This has not been a problem. In fact, PA has even eliminated annual registration stickers!
Conservatism Is A Disease says
They just let them pass. It’s not their jurisdiction if they’re from out of state so there’s not much they can do unless that person is blatantly breaking the law
Jacob says
I would just say that considerably more than 57% of Canadians are required to have front and rear license plates. Ontario and Quebec on their own make up more than 60% of the population, BC is another 12% and New Brunswick is almost 2% of the population.
David says
Quebec only requires a rear plate, New Brunswick has changed the law and will only require a rear plate. Also Ontario is currently looking into removing the front plate as well.
Bren Henderson says
I just wanted to amplify this comment ^ in hopes the OP sees it and amends the map and lists to include NB as a rear licence plate ONLY province.
BubbaJoe says
As of July 15, 2019 New Brunswick no longer requires a front plate.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/front-licence-plate-new-brunswick-july-15-1.5179596
Bren Henderson says
I just wanted to amplify this comment ^ in hopes the OP sees it and amends the map and lists to include NB as a rear licence plate ONLY province.
Gerald says
Ohio is set to become the 20th U.S. state to drop the front plate requirement on July 1 of this year.
Paul Cormier says
Your maps for Canada are not correct any more. New Brunswick does not require 2 plates as of 2020. Finally!!!!!!!
Mike says
Now that Ontario has eliminated plate stickers is it okay to drive in other provinces/states ?
Sean says
https://www.wkbn.com/news/ohio/new-ohio-law-eliminating-front-license-plate-takes-effect/ In 2020 Ohio got rid of the front license plate requirement
Sean says
https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2022/08/22/alaska-drivers-only-need-single-license-plate-with-new-law/ Alaska in 2022 just became the 21st state to no longer require front license plates
NFCtechRFplateselevators says
Well, I still prefer front and rear plate requirements for multiple reasons (smaller gate lane areas at front plate LPR gated public-owned parking garages with support for nearly any overall vehicle configurations length (SUV towing multiple trailers, pickup truck towing one trailer, etc.), insurance, etc.). Most countries require both front and rear plates anyways such as Mexico, Belize, UK, EU, Korea, Taiwan, India, Japan, Philippines, Israel, etc. However, in addition to customized text, I do think every territory, state, and province should be more lenient in their plate design customization requirements so only distinctive identification features (e.g. bar/matrix code, anti-fraud reflective text, border, etc.) are visible while plate background requirements allow nearly any background including every matching vehicle paint design. Also, I think every territory, state, and province should legalize flexible stick-on license plates as an alternative option like California (or as the standard option) so there are license plates that don’t ruin vehicle aesthetics for vehicles owners who care especially regarding front license plates. Furthermore, I think every territory, state, and province should legalize thin compact plate forms seen in Eurasia (Korea, EU, etc.), Oceania (e.g. Australia, New Zealand, etc.), and elsewhere so there are plate shapes that can best fit on every vehicle especially vehicle’s front. Moreover, I think it would be ideal if more territories, states, and provinces reintroduce/introduce front license plate requirements but with significantly more lenient plate form and design requirements as discussed above despite costs.
Sean says
https://www.ksl.com/article/50952019/why-most-utahns-wont-be-required-to-have-a-front-license-plate-anymore When this map eventually gets updated. Make sure to add Utah as a rear plate law state only! Utah is set to become a one license plate state on January 1st 2025 👍 the new set of states that dont require front license plates is now 22 and new set of states that require front and rear plates will be 28. Happy to keep y’all updated! 👍