Like many other states, New Hampshire requires front license plates. This means that vehicles registered within the state will need to display a license plate at both the front and the rear, with the exception of trailers and motorcycles.

So, what happens if you’re caught driving without a front license plate? And why is the front plate required? Here to answer all of your questions is trusted

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Does New Hampshire require front license plates?

Yes, New Hampshire requires front license plates for most vehicles on the road.

That isn’t to say that this law is without contest! In fact, as recently as 2020, the New Hampshire House of Representatives introduced House Bill 260-FN, which proposed an end to the requirement for a front license plate. The bill was killed in May of 2021, however, so New Hampshire will continue to mandate front license plates for most vehicles.

You’ll also need to make sure that both the front and rear license plates on your vehicle are clearly legible. That means not hiding your license plate on the inside of your windshield and instead attaching your front plate to the grill of your vehicle or in another easily viewable location.

Exemptions

Some types of vehicles don’t need a front license plate in New Hampshire: trailers and motorcycles. These two classes of vehicles are only required to display a license plate in the rear, mostly due to the fact that it would be difficult to affix a front plate to either type.

While some states do make exceptions for classic cars, New Hampshire does not. That means you’ll need to find a way to affix a front plate to older vehicles that were not manufactured with this kind of licensing in mind.

Affixing front plates without a mount location

If your vehicle doesn’t have a place to mount your front license plate, there are a few things you can use to affix your plate to your car. Of course, you can always use a drill to create your own plate mount but, if you’d rather not alter your vehicle’s exterior, consider these mounting materials:

Superglue

Zip ties

Velcro

MORE:

Seat-belt laws in New Hampshire

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What is the penalty for driving without a front license plate in New Hampshire?

If you fail to properly display both your front and rear license plates in New Hampshire, you’ll be subject to a fine totaling up to $150.

This fine also applies if you display your plates improperly. This means that even if you have two license plates affixed to your car, you could still be fined if one or both of those plates is illegible.

MORE:

New Hampshire red light cameras

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Which U.S. states don’t require front license plates?

While many states require drivers to display license plates at both the front and rear of their vehicles, other states require drivers to display only one license plate.

The following 19 states have no front license plate requirement:

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Michigan

Mississippi

New Mexico

North Carolina

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

West Virginia

Why New Hampshire requires a front license plate

New Hampshire requires two license plates mostly to make your vehicle more easily identifiable in the event that you’re involved in a traffic accident, your vehicle is stolen, or in any instance where law enforcement has to identify your car quickly.

In cases like these, having a front license plate can help protect your vehicle in the event of theft, as police will be able to identify your car from either the front or the rear.

MORE:

Does car insurance cover car theft?

Which states have the highest rate of car theft?

Fortunately, New Hampshire isn’t among the U.S. states with the highest rates of car theft, so there’s no need to get overly worried about this possibility. In fact, New Hampshire has one of the lowest car theft ratings in the country, so it’s pretty unlikely that your front license plate will be used to retrieve your stolen vehicle in your home state!

If you visit

California

Texas

, or

Florida

, however, you might end up grateful for your front license plate, as these states have the highest rates of car theft in the country.

MORE:

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

How to find cheap car insurance in New Hampshire

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