Iowa · IA · Vehicles
Iowa: Do you need a front license plate?
Front and rear plates
Iowa requires passenger cars to display registration plates on both the front and the rear.
Iowa issues two plates, one for the front and one for the rear. Cars from model year 1948 or older, and replicas built to look like them, may display only a rear plate if the other plate is carried in the vehicle. Autocycles, motorcycles and motorized bicycles get a single rear plate.
Conditions
- Model year 1948 or older may show rear plate only, with the other carried in the car
What the law says
Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than an autocycle, motorcycle, motorized bicycle, or truck tractor shall be attached to the motor vehicle, one in the front and the other in the rear.
Sources
- Iowa Code § 321.37 (2026) Official · legis.iowa.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (plates are issued by county treasurers)
- Phone
- 515-239-1101
- Website
- iowadot.gov
How bordering states compare
- Illinois Front and rear platesIllinois requires passenger cars to display registration plates on both the front and the rear.
- Minnesota Front and rear platesMinnesota requires passenger cars to display one plate on the front and one on the rear.
- Missouri Front and rear platesMissouri requires passenger cars to display license plates on both the front and the rear.
- Nebraska Front and rear platesNebraska requires front and rear plates on passenger cars through 2028. Starting January 1, 2029, only a rear plate is required.
- South Dakota Front and rear platesSouth Dakota requires a passenger car to display two plates, one on the front and one on the rear.
- Wisconsin Front and rear platesWisconsin issues two plates for cars and requires one on the front and one on the rear.