License 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!
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?
The laws regarding this vary by state. You will need to contact the DMV in your state for clarification.
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?
He will need to contact the department of motor vehicles in his state, as the laws vary by state.
Mount the plate on the carrier
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 ?
State laws vary. You may need to consult with an attorney in your city or state.
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
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.
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.
I noticed the only state left out on visibility is Texas, any particular rules there?
Too bad the gun laws weren't like that.
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.
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
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?
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 ?
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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.
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