California · CA · Vehicles
California: Do you need a front license plate?
Front and rear plates
California issues two plates for passenger cars and requires one on the front and one on the rear.
The DMV issues two plates for every motor vehicle except motorcycles, and the law requires them on the front and rear. Vehicles issued only one plate, such as motorcycles and trailers, show it on the rear.
What the law says
When two license plates are issued by the department for use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear.
Sources
- Cal. Vehicle Code § 5200 (California Legislative Information) Official · leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Cal. Vehicle Code § 5200 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- Cal. Vehicle Code § 4850 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- California Department of Motor Vehicles
- Website
- dmv.ca.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arizona Rear plate onlyArizona requires only a rear license plate on passenger cars.
- Nevada Front and rear platesNevada requires front and rear plates, but cars built without a front plate bracket may display only the rear plate.
- Oregon Front and rear platesOregon requires license plates on both the front and rear of a passenger car.
All 50 states for this question · Other topics in California