Do You Need A Front License Plate In Texas?
Photo by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash
Before deciding to hit the road with your new vehicle, it’s essential to understand the laws in your state so that you can make the proper accommodations and avoid getting into trouble. While some states only require a single license plate, others insist that your car has one in both the front and back. Here, we’ll tell you all you need to know about whether or not you need a front license plate in Texas.
Quick Answer: Yes, You Need a Front License Plate
Texas is a two-plate state, meaning that you’re legally required to have both a front and rear license plate on your car. There’s no way to get around needing a front license plate, so make sure you take care of it and attach your front license plate before driving. Otherwise, you’re needlessly risking getting in trouble! You risk getting pulled over and paying a fine if you don’t.
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What to Know about License/Registration in Texas
License plate laws in Texas are tricky and may seem confusing in some cases, but drivers do get penalized all the time for violating these laws, so it’s best to understand and follow them.
An important thing to know about license plate displays in Texas is that you can also get in trouble if any piece of the word Texas is covered up or cut off at all. The entire license plate needs to be fully visible. This is another area where it may not seem like a big deal if “Texas” is slightly cut off (and thankfully, many areas will let this slide). Still, there have certainly been cases where even the slightest obstruction resulted in the driver receiving a steep penalty.
You also must ensure that your license plate can be seen from about fifty feet away at night. If you can’t clearly make it out from that far, you can get hit with a violation and likely a ticket and a summons to change your license plate to meet standards. While some of these rules may be particular, they’re still rules you’re legally required to follow in Texas, so making sure every element of both your license plates are up to par before driving is crucial.
What Happens If You Drive Without a Front License Plate in Texas?
Driving without a front license plate in Texas means inviting trouble. If a police officer catches you driving with no front license plate, they’re liable to pull you over and give you a ticket. An absence of a front license plate is enough to give the police probable cause to stop you and issue a citation for the offense. There have been rumors that the police no longer care about these things and won’t stop you, but that’s absolutely not true, especially in Texas.
The front license plate specifically has to be on the front bumper of your car and not the dash, too, so don’t try to get around that. According to KHOU, a typical fine for such an offense sits around $200. You’re not likely to get arrested or anything like that, but why risk having to pay hundreds of dollars for no good reason?
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Why It’s Always Good to Have a Front License Plate
The first and most important reason you should follow the license plate laws? You need a front license plate in Texas, and you could face fines of $200 for not having one. This should be reason enough to attach a license plate to the front of your car, but there are other benefits.
Driving without a front license plate is legally enough for an officer to pull you over and give you a citation, which can open up a whole can of worms about anything else you might be doing wrong. Not having one means that if you do something else that violates the law, like speeding a little bit by accident, you’re now technically breaking two rules, and the penalties can stack up fast. Of course, you should always follow all traffic laws for the safety of yourself and others, but if you make a tiny mistake, you don’t want to be punished for it to an extreme extent.
Another primary reason you should have a front license plate is simply safety. They’re not only required so that authorities can identify your vehicle, but they also let other drivers be aware of your presence on the road, especially at night. License plates can act as a light-reflecting device that will illuminate your car to other people that pass by you in the opposite direction, which is vital when it’s dark and harder to see.
Proper Placement and Maintenance of Front License Plates
When installing your front license plate, it’s crucial to position it correctly and securely. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires that the plate be mounted on the front exterior of the vehicle in a position that is clearly visible and unobstructed. The plate should also be fastened securely to the vehicle to prevent it from swinging or bouncing while driving.
According to the Texas DMV, the license plate must be:
- Mounted in a horizontal position
- Attached at a height not less than 12 inches from the ground, measured from the bottom of the plate
- Visible and not obscured by any part of the vehicle, accessories, or attachments
It’s important to note that using license plate covers or frames that obscure any part of the plate, including the state name, is prohibited in Texas. Doing so could result in a citation and a fine.
In addition to proper placement, maintaining the cleanliness and legibility of your front license plate is essential. Regularly clean your plate to ensure it remains visible and free from dirt, debris, or obstructions. If your plate becomes damaged, faded, or difficult to read, replace it as soon as possible to avoid potential legal issues.
When replacing your front license plate, use the appropriate mounting hardware and follow the installation instructions carefully. If you’re unsure about the proper placement or installation of your front plate, consult a professional mechanic or refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for guidance.
By ensuring that your front license plate is placed correctly, securely fastened, and well-maintained, you can help avoid unnecessary citations and contribute to the overall safety and identification of vehicles on Texas roads.
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Everything Else You Need to Know about Front License Plates
One of the most prominent reasons some drivers don’t want to install a front license plate in their car is that they wish to avoid drilling holes into their front bumper. It’s definitely understandable that you might not want to make changes to the front of your car, especially if it’s new and doesn’t already have that space set for license plate installation, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to get around the law. Displaying your license plate on the dashboard isn’t enough and won’t stop you from getting pulled over, so you’ll have to install it on the front bumper.
Anyone who has gotten a Texas license plate since 2012 (or gets one moving forward) can enjoy the new design known as “The Texas Classic.” This is a state-of-the-art license plate technology representing the first plate in the United States to employ the use of two embedded threads that indicate the legitimacy of the plate. Each thread looks like a set of two intertwining lines (kind of like a DNA helix), and one thread is at each end of the plate, signaling to authorities that your plate is secure and legitimate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas License Plates
Does Texas require a front license plate?
Yes, it’s a legal requirement to have a front license plate in Texas. The Tax Assessor provides you with two plates, and it’s expected of you to mount both plates on the front and back of your vehicle. Failure to comply, and you’ll receive a non-moving violation ticket and a fine.
However, there seems to be a general consensus that this law is rather loosely enforced. The best practice is to have both plates because you don’t really want to give law enforcement officers another reason to pull you over.
Can I put the front license plate on the front windshield of my car?
According to Rule 217.27 of Title 43 Texas Administrative Code, car owners should display two license plates on the front and back of the vehicle. The license plates must be securely fastened and shouldn’t be less than 12 inches off the ground.
In some cases, putting the plate in the windshield is acceptable as long as it’s not obscured in any way.
What would happen if I removed the front plate and kept the back one?
In Texas, taking off the front plate will likely result in an officer stopping you and issuing a citation.
Why does Texas require a front license plate?
Texas mandates a front license plate primarily for identification and law enforcement purposes. It aids officers in vehicle identification during traffic stops, at checkpoints, and for toll collection.
Are there any exceptions to the front license plate rule in Texas?
While the majority of vehicles must have a front plate, there are specific exceptions based on vehicle type or usage, including motorcycles, trailers, semi-trailers, road tractors, and former military vehicles. It’s best to consult with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for detailed exceptions.
How should the front license plate be displayed?
The plate should be in a position to be clearly visible, and it must be securely fastened in a horizontal position at a height of at least 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate.
Are personalized or custom license plates allowed on the front of the vehicle?
Yes, as long as the personalized plate is legally issued by the Texas DMV, it can be displayed on the front of the vehicle.
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