One plate, two plate, red plate, blue plate—every state has its own set of regulations around vehicle license plates. Kentucky is a one-plate state, but why do some states require two? And why do we even have license plates anyway?

Here to help clear your plate of all these nagging questions is

Jerry

, the

trustworthy insurance comparison app

. We’ll take a look at Kentucky’s plate laws and crime rates, and also some details on the one plate vs two debate. And because

cheap car insurance

is what we do best, we’ll wrap things up by showing you how to get great coverage at a low price on your

Kentucky car insurance

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Does Kentucky require front license plates?

No—Kentucky only requires one license plate, to be displayed on the rear of the vehicle.

According to regulations laid out in

Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 186

, all registered motor vehicles are required to have a valid license plate on the back of their vehicle. This applies to personalized plates as well.

MORE:

Kentucky car insurance laws—all you need to know

What’s the penalty for driving without a license plate in Kentucky?

If a law enforcement official sees that you have no (or expired) license plates, they can pull you over just for that. This comes with a fine of $250, and you’ll have to update your registration before you get back on the road. Fortunately, there’s no jail time for this offense, coming exclusively with fines.

MORE:

Kentucky license plates

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Which US states don’t mandate front license plates?

There are 19 states in all that don’t require front license plates, and they’re predominantly located in the South. It’s a mixed bag among the seven states that border Kentucky—four require two plates, and three just require one.

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Michigan

Mississippi

New Mexico

North Carolina

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

West Virginia

Why some states require a front license plate

So, why do some states require two plates and some only require one? Let’s back up for a minute for a mini history lesson.

The first state to start using a license plate system was New York back in 1901. One of the motivations behind it? Folks with horses and horse-drawn vehicles were not super thrilled about sharing the road with these newfangled automobiles, and local authorities often blocked car drivers from using the roads. By giving the cars a state-recognized license, authorities lost the legal ability to stop vehicles.

At any rate, New York license plates soon evolved from a ‘pick your own number and make your own plate’ system (quaint, right?) to something more official. In 1910, Massachusetts became the first state to distribute state-issued plates.

Advocates of a one-plate approach cite a few reasons: aesthetics, aerodynamics, and the claim that it affects air intake through the front grille. Some also claim that front license plates affect driver assistance aids, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of legit evidence to support that.

The reasons for requiring two license plates are far more concrete. A plate on the front and the back of a car makes it easier to identify with photo red lights and speed cameras. It can also be of use in solving a hit-and-run, as the front license plate is often left behind or leaves an impression.

Another crime that’s easier to solve with a front plate? Car theft. Two plates essentially double the chances of an officer identifying and recovering a stolen car. And with car theft rates in the US skyrocketing the past few years, that’s certainly something to think about.

Key Takeaway The license plate system began in New York to grant vehicles legal access to public roads. Now, it helps law enforcement quickly identify vehicles involved in traffic incidents.

MORE:

Does my car insurance cover car theft?

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Which states have the highest rate of car theft?

Kentucky falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to vehicle theft rate by state. It’s not one of the ten lowest, it’s also not one of the ten highest. But before you breathe a sigh of relief and think it’s not something you need to be too concerned about, let’s take a look at some numbers.

The national average rate of vehicle theft for 2021 was 288 per 100,000 people. Kentucky, on the other hand, had a rate of 538 vehicle thefts per 100,000 people. That’s 46% higher than the national average.

The riskiest places for car theft are the Lexington and Louisville areas, which both experienced a sharp increase in car thefts in 2022. In August of 2022, a state legislator’s vehicle (government plates and all) was stolen from a parking lot at a shopping mall. If you live in these areas, you’ll not only face a higher rate of car theft, but you can also expect a higher rate for your

Louisville

Lexington car insurance

MORE:

The best car anti-theft devices to keep your vehicle safe

How to find the best car insurance in Kentucky

Having good

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