who puts their license plate in the windshield?

[K-Man]

Illegal to put the front plate in the window in Virginia (2–plate state) too.

Every so often Virginia state legislators propose requiring only a rear plate to save the state money by issuing only 1 plate instead of 2, but none of those bills has ever gotten far.

 

[Shel_B]

The state isn’t paying for it though. The owner is.

Yes, the state charges registration and other fees and gives you two plates in return. If they gave you one plate, you'd still be charged the same fees, but the state would pay only for producing one plate per vehicle instead of two. The state is paying for the second plate, although probably not much.

 

[ATex7239]

Yes, the state charges registration and other fees and gives you two plates in return. If they gave you one plate, you'd still be charged the same fees, but the state would pay only for producing one plate per vehicle instead of two. The state is paying for the second plate, although probably not much.

What are you basing this on?

 

[Shel_B]

What are you basing this on?

Experience and common sense. Do you believe otherwise, and on what might you base that belief?

 

[ATex7239]

Experience and common sense. Do you believe otherwise, and on what might you base that belief?

Well, I can’t speak to every state, but Texas has had the two plates for as long as I can remember. When you pay the registration fees, taxes, etc. you receive two plates in the mail along with the registration. The state requires two and you paid for two. That makes sense to me. At least more sense than the state giving out BOGO deals on licenses plates.

 

[PF52]

Well, I can’t speak to every state, but Texas has had the two plates for as long as I can remember. When you pay the registration fees, taxes, etc. you receive two plates in the mail along with the registration. The state requires two and you paid for two. That makes sense to me. At least more sense than the state giving out BOGO deals on licenses plates.

Whether its one plate or two, you'll probably have to pay the same amount. You aren't "buying license plates", you're paying a fee. The plate just shows the world you've paid up.

 

[Shel_B]

Whether its one plate or two, you'll probably have to pay the same amount. You aren't "buying license plates", you're paying a fee. The plate just shows the world you've paid up.

You put it better than I did ... thanks.

 

[Dave P.]

In the event of an accident, I don't think I'd want that metal license plate to be possibly flying around in my car.

 

[ATex7239]

Whether its one plate or two, you'll probably have to pay the same amount. You aren't "buying license plates", you're paying a fee. The plate just shows the world you've paid up.

Source please?

 

[dnewton3]

Folks need to realize that every state is a bit different in their approach.
- some states require two plates; others don't
- some states consider vehicles as personal property; some don't
- some states charge excise tax on the estimated vehicle value; some don't
- some states allow for alternate mounting; some don't
- some states have the plates stay with the vehicle; some states have the plates stay with the person... (when changing vehicle ownership)
- some states and other entities have LEOs that will enforce these regulations; some don't

As soon as you say that "X, Y and Z" are true, you have to understand that is probably only true for one location or state you're familiar with.

I wish all states had the requirement of two metal plates (front/rear), but my perspective is from a LEO background, so my bias is relevant only to that understanding.

 

[opus1]

I guess it depends, one of my cars (older Mercedes) requires drilling to mount a front plate, others have a bracket plate that mounts to the lower grille in the bumper and needs no drilling

Definitely. The Sonata has just two holes drilled into the bumper cover by the dealership (and poorly at that). The Malibu I had before that had two little indentations to mark where to drill, but at least there was some bumper behind most of the plate to support it. And IIRC, my old S-15 Jimmy needed some of the rub strip cut out to insert those plastic squares which held the screws for the front plate.

A former coworker's husband had a late 80's Corvette that had a spot for the front plate molded into the bumper but had a cover plate with the word "Corvette" to cover it. He didn't want to remove that cover plate, so he kept the front plate in the car and he came to know each cop in the small town they lived in because they'd pull him over every time they saw him driving.

 

[B6_Dolphin]

If your vehicle has a front tow hook socket, you can purchase license plate holder that attaches to it.

Here's one such company that makes a tow hook license plate holder in 2 sizes:

https://eosplates.com/collections

 

[TiGeo]

My son did this for a while, finally got his head on straight and just got a toe-hook mount - can take it off quickly for pictures etc. No reason to not run a front plate b/c in almost all cases there are alternative mounting points for cars that owners don't want to drill holes in a bumper if you are in a front plate state...I get it..if I had a new Cayman I'm not drilling holes in it. I've seen the vinyl plate stickers, cool idea but no states that I am aware of allow it. Why increase your chance of interacting with LE over something so silly? In VA I don't believe that is a primary now so LE can't pull you specifically for it but of course they can ticket you if you are pulled for something else and seeing a no-front plate car just gives a LEO more reason to find a reason. Personally I think f/r plates should be mandatory in all states, the rest of the world does it but here in the U.S., some states just have to be different. Easier to pick up ID by LE, cameras, whatever. Yeah I get it, some folks don't like that but if you/your loved one was hit/run by a car or any crime against you/yours with a vehicle, I'm sure you'd want maximum ability to ID the car vs. someone just being able to back in to a space and not see the plate. I'm sure most LEOs would agree and I'm not sure what drives some states to not follow the ROW and require f/r plates on vehicles.

 

[raaizin]

I usually find that when you follow the rules, life is a lot easier. What I don’t get is these people with fancy cars who stick a metal license plate on the dash which probably scratches the crap out of the dish and possibly the windshield when there are easy solutions if you don’t wanna drill the front bumper, but I guess I’m just one of the sheep I have mine attached to the front Tow hook. I had a neighbor actually tell me I ruined the look of my car. My response was I couldn't see it from the drivers seat

 

[LDM]

2 plates are required and you can't put them in the window in IL. You'll get a ticket without question, especially in any smaller town where the cops are always looking for violations to make money off of. Makes the front license plate holder on my 94 Z28 worth a lot of money if you want an original one. Last time I was looking at used parts these things go for $200-300 for a piece of cheap plastic.

 

[earlyre]

I did the first few weeks I had my C-max..
Dealer i got it from was on the IN/OH line( Ohio side), and the car was originally Leased in MI, and the Second Owner Lived in IN, neither of which issue front plates.

The Saleslady Ordered me an OE front plate bracket, and had it shipped directly to my house ( I live about an hour from them).
When they swapped my plates over from my old car, to the C-max, they just put the Front one on the Dash.
at that time Ohio still required a Front plate, but the law eliminating them had been passed, but didn't take effect until July the next year.
the Factory bracket required Drilling 3 holes in the bumper, and included Rivets that my gun was too small for, called my usual body shop, I'd Already drilled the holes, he said to bring it in, and he'd rivet it on for me. no charge. good guy (there's a reason my family uses his shop)

 

[earlyre]

Source please?

well.. i can tell you when Ohio eliminated front plates, the fee didn't go down.

 

[BHopkins]

Well, I can’t speak to every state, but Texas has had the two plates for as long as I can remember. When you pay the registration fees, taxes, etc. you receive two plates in the mail along with the registration. The state requires two and you paid for two. That makes sense to me. At least more sense than the state giving out BOGO deals on licenses plates.

Whether its one plate or two, you'll probably have to pay the same amount. You aren't "buying license plates", you're paying a fee. The plate just shows the world you've paid up.

After careful consideration, with extensive input from state law enforcement agencies, Utah went from issuing two plates, to issuing one plate. No change was made to the cost for registering a vehicle. The savings for the state of Utah, from only issuing one plate, was one of the benefits that were considered.

Folks need to realize that every state is a bit different in their approach.
- some states require two plates; others don't
- some states consider vehicles as personal property; some don't
- some states charge excise tax on the estimated vehicle value; some don't
- some states allow for alternate mounting; some don't
- some states have the plates stay with the vehicle; some states have the plates stay with the person... (when changing vehicle ownership)
- some states and other entities have LEOs that will enforce these regulations; some don't

As soon as you say that "X, Y and Z" are true, you have to understand that is probably only true for one location or state you're familiar with.

I wish all states had the requirement of two metal plates (front/rear), but my perspective is from a LEO background, so my bias is relevant only to that understanding.

Thank you for pointing this out. This addresses the first thoughts that crossed my mind, when I read the original post.

Utah just went to one plate January 2025. But I have driven in Utah with only a rear plate on all my vehicles, for over 17 years. Never a word said to me by a LEO. By my informal surveys, I would venture about 1/4 - 1/3 of Utah registered cars display only a rear plate. Never heard of anyone getting cited, let alone a warning.

California requires two plates. Friends have reported that LEO actively enforces the two plate requirement, even as a primary offense. That is, a LEO will pull a car over for no other reason, except no front plate displayed. So yea. You just can't make blanket statements about how to display a front plate.

 

[SevenBizzos]

.

 

[ATex7239]

well.. i can tell you when Ohio eliminated front plates, the fee didn't go down.

Fair but that’s one state. Every state is different as @dnewton3 said. Texas dropped the vehicle inspection requirement in 2025 and now only does emissions and the price went down.