Yes, Washington State requires most vehicles to display both front and rear Washington license plates upon registration.
If you aren’t used to the rules of a “two-plate state”, being required to have a license plate on the front of your car can seem like an unnecessary annoyance. But the fact is, having a front license plate in Washington not only helps you avoid legal consequences like fines—it also keeps your car safe from property crime.
Here with a guide to the front license plate requirement laws of Washington State is Jerry—the licensed insurance broker app for car insurance savings. We’ll cover which vehicles are exempt from the law and some crime statistics to help you understand why the law is there in the first place. We’ll even throw in a tip to save money on your Washington car insurance costs!
Does Washington require front license plates?
Washington State requires drivers to display front and rear license plates, with a few exceptions.
According to Washington State Legislature 46.16A.200, if two license plates are issued, they both have to be displayed on the front and rear of your vehicle. Most vehicle owners will be given two license plates when registering their vehicles, unless they are registering a vehicle like a motorcycle or a trailer, or they have applied for and been granted an exception.
Both plates need to be fully visible, with all text and stickers unobstructed as well as the state name and registration expiration. This information can’t be covered by anything—even dirt getting in the way of their legibility can get you hit with a fine.
Personalized license plates and special plates, like those issued to disabled veterans, are not exempt from these regulations.
A front license plate may be an eyesore, but it’s typically fairly easy to attach. You don’t necessarily have to drill into the front of your car to do so. Many brackets are available with drill-free designs.
Exemptions
In most cases, if you’re issued two Washington plates, you’ll need to put both on your car. Washington State does allow for some exceptions to the front and back license plate requirement, though you’ll likely have to apply for them.
Applying for a front license plate exemption can be quite a process for Washington drivers, but if you’re adamantly against the idea, it may be worth looking into.
To get an exemption, you will first have to prove that your car manufacturer is not able to supply a way to attach a front license plate. Only then can you apply for a front license plate waiver.
There are a few vehicles that are exempt from the two-plate rule, without the driver needing to apply for an example. The single-plate vehicles in Washington State include the following:
- Motorcycles
- Buses
- Trailers
- Semi Trailers
- Campers
- Collector vehicles (Any vehicle from the model year 1945 or older)
These vehicles still have to abide by the rear license plate rule, but do not need a front plate.
Learn More: Washington car insurance laws
What is the penalty for driving without a front license plate in Washington?
It is considered a primary violation to drive without a front license plate in Washington, which means a police officer can pull you over just for driving without one.
If this happens, you may be subject to a fine of between $136 and $200. Law enforcement may let the first offense slide in some cases since there are quite a few states that don’t have the two-plate requirement. This doesn’t always happen, though, and it’s best to avoid that potential fine altogether by affixing your front plate to your bumper before you get stopped.
Learn More: How to check available custom license plates
Which US states do not require a front license plate?
As we mentioned, there are quite a few states that don’t require both a front and rear license plate. Although many of Washington’s neighboring states do require both, states further out take a different approach.
The following 20 states have no front license plate requirement:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
Why Washington requires a front license plate
Many drivers new to the two-plate requirement think this additional identifier is unnecessary. But while it isn’t the most attractive addition to your car, there are some pretty persuasive arguments in favor of the front license plate requirement.
Front license plates help law enforcement more easily identify stolen vehicles, and aid in enforcing traffic violations—both of which help keep the roads safer. Front license plates also serve to make it easier for other drivers to see your vehicle at night, as the reflective surface of the plate calls more attention to your car.
Learn More: The best vehicle anti-theft devices to keep your car safe
Which states have the highest rate of car theft?
Why should you be concerned with how much a front license plate can help find a stolen car? Well, the likelihood of your vehicle being stolen is much higher in Washington than it is in other states.
According to data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Service, Washington ranked fifth for the highest rate of vehicle theft in the U.S. as of 2020, with 27,399 reported thefts that year alone.
Several cities in The Evergreen state have some of the highest rates of vehicle theft in the country, too. There were 1,067 vehicle thefts in Yakima in 2020, which comes out to 426 incidents for every 100,000 people—far higher than the nationwide motor vehicle theft average of 246 per 100,000 people.
Other Washington cities with a high auto theft rate include:
- Seattle: 457 per 100,000 people
- Portland: 472 per 100,000 people
This high rate means it’s a good idea to do all you can to make your vehicle easily identifiable—like adding a front license plate. It also spells bad news for your car insurance, as the high rate of car theft contributes to higher local coverage rates.
Learn More: Does renters insurance cover theft from your car?
How to find cheap car insurance in Washington
Comparison shopping is your best bet if you’re looking for affordable car insurance rates that also meet Washington’s requirements, but won’t break the bank. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone! Jerry’s got more than just license-plate answers: we’re also a comparison shopping super app designed to find your lowest insurance rates.
All you have to do is download the app, complete a quick profile, and in less than a minute, Jerry will scan its network of 55+ top providers to bring you the most competitive offers to choose your new policy from. And once you do, they can help you set up that new policy and cancel your old one, so you get to save time and money!
Meaghan Branham is an insurance writer with over half a decade of experience in the professional writing industry. Meaghan specializes in car insurance, homeowners insurance, and personal finance content. Her 150+ published articles are geared toward helping car owners save money on insurance, car maintenance, and make informed purchases. Meaghan has also worked as managing editor and staff writer for the Orlando-based business publication i4 Business and contributed to several other publications, including a monthly lifestyle column for SpaceCoast Living.
Jessica Barrett is a senior insurance writer and editor with 10 years of experience in the automotive and travel industries. A specialist in car insurance, car loans, and car ownership, Jessica’s mission is to create comprehensive content that car owners can use to manage their costs and improve their lives. As a managing editor for a team of writers and insurance specialists, Jessica has edited over 2,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from local insurance shopping tips to refinancing car loans with bad credit. Before joining Jerry as a senior content editor in 2021, Jessica created visual content for clients such as Expedia, Vivid Seats, Budget Direct Car Insurance, Angie’s List, and HomeAdvisor. Her content was published in Business Insider, Forbes, Apartment Therapy, and the BBC.
