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State License Plate Laws

License Plate CoverLicense plate frames can be a fun and creative way to decorate or customize your vehicle and add that personal touch. If you're searching for a solution to those pesky red light and speed cameras, an anti-photo license plate cover could be exactly what you need. However, before you pick out a frame or cover, check the local statutes in your area. There may or may not be some restrictions, depending on the laws in your state.

It is especially important to be mindful of the laws and regulations in each individual state governing license plates when traveling, as they can vary greatly from one state to the next. A license plate frame or cover allowed in your state may be restricted or even illegal in another. If you commute between two states or plan to take a cross-country trip, what was perfectly legal or permitted in your state could get you into trouble once you cross the state line.

The chart below lists US laws, statutes and regulations regarding the use of license plate covers, frames and shields by state.

Note: The information contained in this chart was based on information provided by Cruiser Accessories in 2020 and is made available for general informational purposes only. Please refer to the proper authority in your state for the most current and complete laws and regulations regarding the use of license plate covers and frames.

License Plate Laws by State
State Plate Shields Plate Frames Visibility Comments
Alabama Yes Yes Must be visible
at all times
"Alabama" must be clearly visible at top of plate
Alaska Yes Yes Must be visible at all times
Arizona Yes Yes Must be clearly
legible and visible
"Arizona" must be clearly visible at top of plate
Arkansas Yes Yes Must be
clearly legible
Covers that make the license plate difficult to read
or reduces its reflective properties
are prohibited
California NO Yes Must be
clearly visible
Red light/speed camera license plate covers
are also prohibited
Colorado Clear only Yes Must be clearly visible Covers that shield or impair the reading
of a license plate by devices
are also prohibited
Connecticut Yes Yes Must be visible Covers cannot obscure or impair visibility
Delaware Clear only Yes Must be
clearly readable
Red light/speed camera license plate covers, shields, sprays, etc. are also prohibited
District of Columbia NO Yes clearly and distinct Identification tags must be clearly legible
Florida Yes Yes Must be visible
at all times
Red light/speed camera license plate covers, shields, sprays, etc. are prohibited
Georgia Clear only Yes Must be plainly visible Red light/speed camera license plate covers, shields, sprays, etc. are prohibited
Hawaii Yes Yes Must be visible
at all times
Plates must be unobscured at all times
Idaho Yes Yes Must be free of foreign materials
and visible at all times
Plates must be clearly visible and legible
Illinois NO Yes Must be clearly visible anti red light/speed camera license plate covers, shields, sprays, devices, etc. are prohibited
Indiana Yes Yes Must be clearly visible Plates must be free of foreign materials
Iowa Yes Yes Permit full view of numbers and letters Frames must permit full view of all numbers and letters on registration plate
Kansas NO Yes Must be clearly legible license plate covers, shields, sprays, etc. are prohibited
Kentucky Yes Yes Must be clearly visible Frames and covers must permit
full view of all numbers and letters
on plate
Louisiana Yes Yes Must be clearly visible Plates must be free of foreign materials
Maine Yes Yes Must be clearly visible Plates, letters and numbers must be clearly visible at all times
Maryland NO Yes Must be
clearly visible
No tinted, colored, painted, marked, clear or illuminated object designed to distort the characters on a license plate is allowed. Plate covers may not even be advertised or offered for sale.
Massachusetts NO Yes Must be
displayed conspicuously
license plate covers, shields, etc. are prohibited
Michigan Yes Yes Must be
clearly visible
Plates must be free of foreign materials
Minnesota NO Yes Must be
plainly visible
No clear or colorless material that affects plated visibility or reflectivity is allowed
Mississippi Yes Yes Must be clearly visible Plates, letters and numbers must not be covered by any object, marking, paint, etc.
Missouri Yes Yes Must be clearly visible Covers may not impair reflective qualities of plate
Montana Yes Yes Must be obviously visible "Montana" and border outline of state must be clearly visible
Nebraska Yes Yes Must be visible All letters, numbers, etc. on plates must be free from grease dust and other blurring matter
Nevada Yes Yes Readable from 100 ft. Plates must be clearly legible and free from foreign material
New Hampshire Yes Yes Displayed conspicuously Plates must be clean and not be obscured
New Jersey Yes Yes Displayed conspicuously sale or use of anti red light/speed camera license plate covers, shields, sprays, devices, etc. are prohibited
New Mexico Yes Yes Clearly visible Plates must be clearly legible and free from foreign material
New York NO Yes Must be visible sale or use of anti red light/speed camera license plate covers, shields, substances, etc. are prohibited
North Carolina Yes Yes Plainly readable from 100 ft. No clear or colorless material that affects plate visibility or legibility is allowed
North Dakota Yes Yes Clearly visible Plates must be clearly visible and letters and numbers must not be obscured
Ohio Yes Yes Clearly visible Plates must be not be covered by any material that obstructs visibility
Oklahoma NO NO Must be
clearly visible
No plate frame, cover or material is allowed
Oregon NO Yes Plain view
and easily read
Any frame or plate holder that alters the plate or makes the numbers, letters or regtistration stickers difficult to read or unreadable is prohibited
Pennsylvania NO Yes Must be visible
at all times
Red light/speed camera license plate covers, shields, sprays, etc. are prohibited
Puerto Rico Yes Yes Clearly visible Plates must be not be covered by any material that obstructs visibility
Rhode Island Yes Yes Clearly visible Plainly readable from 100 ft.
South Carolina No Yes Must be visible
at all times
No tinted covers allowed
South Dakota Yes Yes Clearly visible Plates must be clearly visible and letters and numbers must not be obscured
Tennessee No Yes Clearly visible No tinted covers allowed and plates must be clearly visible with no foreign materials
Texas Yes Yes No reflective matter or blurring of the plate and plates must be free of foreign material and clearly legible
Utah Yes Yes Clearly visible Plates must be free of foreign material and clearly visible
Vermont No Yes Plainly legible No tinted covers allowed and plates must be plainly legible at all times
Virginia Yes Yes Clearly visible
and legible
No colored frame or covers allowed and plates must be clearly visible and legible
Washington Yes Yes Must be visible
at all times
Unlawful to use frames or covers that change, alter or obscure any portion of the plate or make it illegible
West Virginia Yes Yes Clearly legible Plates must be free of foreign materials and clearly legible
Wisconsin Yes Yes Clearly legible Plates must be at all times be maintained in a legible condition
Wyoming Yes Yes Clearly legible Plates must be free of foreign materials and clearly legible

The information in the chart above is a basic overview and is provided courtesy of Cruiser Accessories. For the full chart, download their State License Plate Laws - 2020.

Comments, questions? Leave a comment below. If you're shopping for camera defense solutions or license plate frames and need assistance, contact us and we'll be happy to help!

19 thoughts on “State License Plate Laws”

  • Charles johnson
    Charles johnson June 15, 2020 at 11:53 am

    Just got a scooter ramp for the back of my car. I need it for mobility. How with the scooter on the rack, my license plate doesn’t show. What do it do?

    Reply
  • Carole McKinney
    Carole McKinney June 15, 2020 at 11:54 am

    My friend just got himself a scooter carrier for the back of his van. He needs it for mobility. But, now the license plate doesn’t show. What should he do?

    Reply
  • Marty McCarthy
    Marty McCarthy June 19, 2020 at 7:01 pm

    Mount the plate on the carrier

    Reply
  • Joel Villamar

    I got a ticket for covered plate and my suv was parked at the time of the ticket placed. Can I fight this ticket in dmv court ?

    Reply
  • Chris

    Would i run into trouble if i put a “rear” backup camera wired to my front license plate? I already have one installed in the rear despite the mechanic/electrician saying it could get me in trouble, he said its not a high enforcement thing. Wanted another one on the front to help with parking

    Reply
    • Rick

      The laws in every state are different. Without knowing which state you are located, that would be a difficult question to answer. You may need to consult with the Division of Motor Vehicles office in your area.

      Reply
  • Michael P Wurm
    Michael P Wurm May 30, 2021 at 9:06 am

    Wrong-A vehicle falls under the laws of the state it is registered in. It doesn't matter what state you are traveling through. For example, your vehicle can not be ticketed for a violation of a license plate (E.G.-No Front Plate) law in Illinois if your car is registered in California that does not require a front plate. The same goes for other things like plate covers, lights etc. The state you are in must honor the rules of another state the vehicle is home to unless they can prove you are living in said state and you no longer live in the other. Whoever wrote this is talking out their rear end.

    Reply
  • Christopher Horne
    Christopher Horne June 1, 2021 at 3:31 am

    I noticed the only state left out on visibility is Texas, any particular rules there?

    Reply
  • Hooley Dooley
    Hooley Dooley July 2, 2021 at 9:49 am

    Too bad the gun laws weren't like that.

    Reply
  • Jev

    Wrong. You will be ticketed for now following the law on another state. I was stopped for having a radar detector on a state that is forbidden. It is the same thing with front plates. Obstructed is the same.

    Reply
  • Jack Arsenault

    I have an expired New Mexico personalized plate. It expired in 2009. It has only 09/11/01 in memory. I want to put it in the front of the car. No plate is needed in the front for New Mexico and I was told by the dealer that I will get stopped. Could this be correct?
    Jack

    Reply
  • Cheryl Jackson

    I am seeing many license plate covers that render the plate unreadable beyond 20 feet. We don't seem to have enough police to enforce the laws in our city. What can be done?

    Reply
  • David Breaux

    Michael I believe you are wrong, a person is responsible to comply with whatever states laws they may have their car in outside of their cars registered state!

    Ignorance is no excuse in the face of the laws!

    If your respectful of the officer you might get away with it

    But regarding say radar detection if it’s not legal in any given state and your caught using it, I promise you having plates from a state where it’s legal and trying to use that defense Will only get you in trouble right there!

    That only takes slight common sense, but that’s not very common, is it ?

    Reply
  • is it illegal to make your own license plate - seekanswer August 2, 2022 at 12:59 pm

    […] State License Plate Laws – buyradardetectors.com […]

    Reply
  • Bruce

    You should update the list since it’s from 2020. Florida doesn’t allow any cover on plates. A lot of states have changed the laws.

    Reply
  • Rusty

    If these have become illegal in Indiana since 2020 you’d never know it. Some are so dark they might as well have nailed a book to their plate. Kinda tempted to get one, I’m not a fan of giving $20 to illinois for the privilege of driving on FEDERAL INTERSTATES

    Reply
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