Delaware is not a “two-plate state.” Delaware license plates are only required on the back of a car and are issued by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT).

There’s plenty of debate around whether or not states should require front license plates. Having a license plate on the front of your car can affect the vehicle’s aerodynamics. Plus, requiring plates on the front and back of a vehicle means the state needs to produce twice as many, using up way more resources and contributing to more waste.

The argument for front license plates is that it helps law enforcement identify stolen vehicles, missing persons, and vehicles violating traffic laws. Luckily, if you live in Delaware, you don’t need to worry about a front license plate harshing your car’s proverbial mellow.

In this article,

Jerry

, the

car insurance

comparison app, explores why Delaware doesn’t require a front license plate. Stick around until the end, and we’ll even explain how to shave a chunk of change off your

Delaware car insurance costs

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Does Delaware require front license plates?

No—you only need one rear license plate if you register your car in Delaware.

While most U.S. states require front and back license plates, Delaware is one of the 19 that don’t. However, you still need to make sure that your rear license plate is fully visible, securely fastened, and at least 12 inches above the ground (measuring from the bottom of the plate).

What’s more, no portion of your plate is allowed to be covered by anything. Plate frames are allowed—as long as they don’t cover any information on the plate and don’t have blinking lights.

Exceptions

The only scenario in which you don’t need a license plate on the back of a vehicle is if you’re driving a truck tractor attached to a trailer or semi-trailer.

MORE:

Delaware license plates

Which US states do not require a front license plate?

Delaware is in the minority when it comes to not requiring front license plates on vehicles. There are only 18 other states that have no front license plate requirement. They are as follows:

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

Florida

Georgia

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Michigan

Mississippi

New Mexico

North Carolina

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

West Virginia

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Why Delaware doesn’t require a front license plate

While many state governments have determined that front license plates are necessary to help law enforcement identify stolen vehicles, Delaware hasn’t jumped on that train as of yet. Ultimately, it seems that Delaware drivers don’t need front license plates for that purpose thanks to the state’s comparatively low car theft rates.

MORE:

Does my car insurance cover car theft?

Which states have the highest rate of car theft?

According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Service,

Colorado

has the highest rate of vehicle theft, with an average of 524.3 instances per 100,000 people, followed by

New Mexico

and

California

. While New Mexico doesn’t require front license plates, Colorado and California do.

However, there is one city in Delaware that is a bit more dangerous than the average U.S. city when it comes to car theft. That city is

Wilmington

, where the car theft rate is a sketchy 635 per 100,000 people as of 2018.

How to find cheap car insurance in Delaware

If you’re living with high

New Castle insurance costs

or want a robust comprehensive insurance plan due to worries about car theft in Wilmington,

Jerry

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All you have to do is download the app, take a minute to fill in your information, and watch in awe as Jerry automatically finds custom

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