Pennsylvania: Do you need a front license plate?
Pennsylvania issues a single plate for a passenger car, and it goes on the rear.
PennDOT's rule says a single plate goes on the rear, where the license plate light can illuminate it. A second plate is issued only in limited cases; a car with a rear wheelchair carrier, for example, shows the second disability plate on the carrier instead of the front. That PennDOT issues one plate for an ordinary car is inferred from the rule.
What the law says
A single registration plate shall be located on the rear of the vehicle so as to be illuminated by the license plate light required by 75 Pa.C.S. § 4303(b) (relating to general lighting requirements), except that the registration plate of a truck-tractor shall be located on the front of the vehicle.
Sources
- 67 Pa. Code § 47.2 Official · pacodeandbulletin.gov
- 75 Pa.C.S. § 1332 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services
- Phone
- 717-412-5300
- Website
- pa.gov
How bordering states compare
- Delaware Rear plate onlyDelaware issues one plate for passenger cars, and it goes on the rear.
- Maryland Front and rear platesMaryland requires passenger cars to display registration plates on both the front and the rear.
- New Jersey Front and rear platesNew Jersey issues two plates for passenger cars and requires one on the front and one on the rear.
- New York Front and rear platesNew York requires license plates on both the front and rear of a passenger car.
- Ohio Rear plate onlyOhio requires only a rear license plate on a passenger car, since July 1, 2020.
- West Virginia Rear plate onlyWest Virginia requires only a rear license plate on passenger cars.
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