Idaho · ID · Vehicles
Idaho: Do you need a front license plate?
Front and rear plates
Idaho requires front and rear plates on a passenger car, but only if the car has a front plate mounting bracket.
Idaho issues two plates. The front plate is required only when the vehicle is equipped with a front license plate mounting bracket, so a car built without one needs only the rear plate. Vehicles with year-of-manufacture, old timer, classic car, street rod or custom vehicle plates may display one plate on the rear.
Conditions
- Front plate required only if the car has a front mounting bracket
What the law says
License plates assigned to a motor vehicle shall be attached, one (1) in the front, if the vehicle is equipped with a front license plate mounting bracket, and the other in the rear, with the exception of the following:
Sources
- Idaho Code § 49-428 Official · legislature.idaho.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles
- Phone
- (208) 584-4343
- Website
- itd.idaho.gov
How bordering states compare
- Montana Front and rear platesMontana requires most vehicles to display one plate on the front and one on 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.
- Oregon Front and rear platesOregon requires license plates on both the front and rear of 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.
- Washington Front and rear platesWashington issues two plates for ordinary cars and requires them on the front and rear.
- Wyoming Front and rear platesWyoming requires plates on the front and rear, though several vehicle types are exempt from the front plate.