Arizona · AZ · Vehicles
Arizona: Do you need a front license plate?
Rear plate only
Arizona requires only a rear license plate on passenger cars.
A car must display its plate on the rear. If a vehicle was issued two plates, the owner may put one on the rear only, or one on the front and one on the rear, so a front plate is optional. Covering the plate numbers, tabs, or the state name is not allowed.
What the law says
A. A person shall display the license plate or plates as follows: 1. For a motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer or semitrailer, on the rear. 2. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of this subsection, for a vehicle for which two license plates are issued, the vehicle owner shall display either of the following: (a) One plate on the rear. (b) One plate on the front and one plate on the rear.
Sources
- A.R.S. § 28-2354 Official · azleg.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
- Website
- azdot.gov
How bordering states compare
- California Front and rear platesCalifornia issues two plates for passenger cars and requires one on the front and one on the rear.
- Colorado Front and rear platesColorado requires passenger cars to display license plates on both the front and the rear.
- Nevada Front and rear platesNevada requires front and rear plates, but cars built without a front plate bracket may display only the rear plate.
- New Mexico Rear plate onlyNew Mexico requires only a rear license plate on a passenger car.
- Utah Rear plate onlySince January 1, 2025, Utah requires only a rear license plate and issues a single plate to most vehicles.