Many drivers in Texas wonder whether they must place front license plates on their vehicles, especially when their vehicle does not have a designated front plate holder, or when a front plate would ruin the look of the car. So, do you need a front license plate in Texas? What are the license plate requirements in Texas?
Overview of Texas License Plate Laws
Under Texas law, a vehicle registered in Texas driven on a public highway must display two license plates, one at the rear and one on the front. Even if a vehicle shipped from a manufacturer without a front license plate bracket, owners of Texas-registered vehicles must install aftermarket front license plate brackets to display front plates.
Drivers must ensure the visibility of both plates and refrain from obstructing a plate with a frame, cover, or other object. Vehicles in Houston and throughout Texas must also have a vehicle registration sticker affixed to the inside of the windshield that indicates when the vehicle’s license plates expire. The law also prohibits operating a vehicle with a license plate registered to another vehicle or a fictitious license plate.
Violations of Texas license plate laws may result in a citation imposing a fine. Depending on the violation, a vehicle owner may have the citation dismissed by bringing their vehicle into compliance with the law before their court date and paying a reimbursement fee.
Why Front License Plates Matter
Front license plates provide several benefits for public safety. First, they allow law enforcement officers to identify and check a vehicle regardless of whether they’re in front of or behind it. Furthermore, traffic cameras at red lights or toll booths can also more easily identify a vehicle with a front plate in Texas.
Motorists who drive a Texas-registered vehicle without a front license plate risk being pulled over by law enforcement in Texas, as not having a front plate can give an officer probable cause to initiate a traffic stop.
Vehicles Exempt from Front License Plate Requirement
State law exempts various classes of vehicles from needing front and back license plates, including:
- Motorcycles
- Certain commercial vehicles, such as semi-trailers
- Road tractors
- Dealer-operated vehicles
How to Get a Front License Plate
When registering a vehicle in Texas, the vehicle’s owner should receive both a front and rear license plate from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, unless their vehicle does not require two plates. If a vehicle’s front plate falls off, the owner can contact the DMV to request replacement plates. Owners must pay the required fees for replacement plates and surrender the vehicle’s back plate.
License Plates and Auto Accidents in Texas
Front plates enable crash victims and eyewitnesses to more easily identify vehicles involved in collisions, such as during rear-end or hit-and-run accidents. After a car accident, remember to write down the license plate numbers, make, model, and color of each vehicle involved in the crash.
Contact Our Houston Car Accident Attorneys for Help
Hurt in a car accident in Houston? Contact Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs today for a free, no-obligation consultation to speak with a Houston car accident lawyer and find out what we can do to pursue the money you need for your recovery.