Is My License Plate Frame Legal in Hawaii?

As long as your license plate frame doesn’t cover up any letters or numbers, it’s legal in the state of Hawaii.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
background
You can customize your
Hawaii
license plate with a license plate frame or cover—just make sure that all the letters and numbers are visible
It’s the little things in life that matter. Putting a custom frame on your license plate is a small but powerful way to customize your ride, advertise a business, or just share your personality with the world. 
But be careful! Many states closely regulate what kind of license plate frames or covers are legal. Failure to know your state’s license plate frame laws could land you with an unexpected (and sometimes sizable) fine.
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is here to walk you through Hawaii’s license plate frame laws. We’ll cover what’s legal, what isn’t, and the possible consequences of failing to comply with the law. 
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Yes—it’s legal in Hawaii to customize your car with a license plate frame. It’s essential, however, to make sure that the frame doesn’t cover any letters or numbers on the plate

What are the rules for license plate frames in Hawaii?

Section 249-7
of the Hawaii Revised Statutes states that license plates must be “at all times displayed unobscured and kept reasonably clean.” 
This means that neither “HAWAII” nor “ALOHA STATE” (on the top and bottom of the plates, respectively)  should be covered up by your license plate frame, and the six-digit license number should be clearly legible. Any license plate frame that doesn’t obscure any part of the plate’s text is legal

What about license plate covers?

While you can have a license plate frame on your car, license plate covers are illegal in Hawaii—even clear ones. Any kind of cover or shield over your license plate is considered an obstruction, and you could be fined for driving with one. 

What are the fines for license plate frames in Hawaii?

The fine for having an obscured license plate could be up to $70, according to the
Honolulu Police Department

How to find cheap car insurance in Hawaii

Staying in compliance with your state’s license plate frame law can save you a pesky ticket. Compliance with state insurance requirements, on the other hand, should be a top priority for any driver. 
You can find cheap car insurance that meets
Hawaii’s minimum insurance requirements
with help from
Jerry
. As a licensed broker and comparison shopping genius, Jerry can search for and analyze quotes from 50+ top insurance providers in just 45 seconds. 
Saving with Jerry is as easy as sending a text: no endless forms, no math, no waiting on hold with insurance companies. Jerry handles the paperwork, cancels your old policy, and even reshops to make sure you don’t miss out on savings. 
And those savings? On average, they add up to about $887 a year. That’s an impressive result for just two minutes of your time! 
“The savings are real!
Jerry
saved me almost $1000 a year for my car insurance. Was I surprised? Yes. Was I happy? Yes!” —Sonia Z.
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