Does North Dakota Require Front License Plates?

North Dakota requires front license plates for all passenger vehicles, motor homes, and pickup trucks.
Written by David Ghanizadeh-Khoob
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
North Dakota is a two-plate state, requiring front and rear plates to be installed securely and fully visible. 
It might seem like an annoyance or an eyesore, but front license plates have their place. They help make it easier to identify your vehicle, which is good for you and the state. 
To help you understand North Dakota license plate policy, including when and why you need two plates,
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Does North Dakota require front license plates?

Yes. North Dakota requires both front and rear license plates, as laid out in
North Dakota Code 39.04.11
.
According to the state code, front and rear license plates must be displayed free of dirt, snow, or ice so that it is fully visible. The registration date must be displayed in the allotted location, and the license plates must be securely installed in a horizontal position, no less than 12 inches from the ground.
The same regulations apply to personalized and specialty plates.

Exemptions

For any passenger vehicle or truck, you can assume that you are required to display both a front and rear license plate in North Dakota. When you register a vehicle, if you are given two plates, put them both on your vehicle.
There are a few exceptions to the two-plate requirement. The list of exemptions includes:
  • Motorcycles
  • Trailers
  • Travel trailers
  • Off-highway vehicles
  • Unconventional vehicles
There was a bill proposed in 2019 that sought to get rid of front plates for sports cars, but it was defeated by the ND senate. So, for now at least, you’ll still have to put that front plate on your Corvette.
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What is the penalty for driving without a front license plate in North Dakota?

Failure to properly display your front license plate is considered a “nonmoving violation” in North Dakota–even if you’re caught while moving. 
According to
Chapter 39-06.1
of North Dakota’s Century Code, the penalty for a nonmoving violation is a $20 fine. 
In some cases, the law enforcement officer may let you off with a warning or a “fix-it” ticket rather than a fine, especially if you have a clean driving record, but you shouldn’t rely on it.

Which US states do not require a front license plate?

You may have noticed that not all US states require front license plates. In fact, there are 19 one-plate states. Here is the complete list: 
  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Indiana
  • Kansas 
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma 
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • West Virginia

Why North Dakota requires a front license plate

Front license plates might not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but they do serve a purpose. Front plates make it easier for cameras to identify vehicles, making it more likely for the state to collect traffic tolls and parking fees.
As well, front plates play a role in helping police to identify stolen vehicles. If you have your vehicle stolen, having a front license plate greatly increases your chances of law enforcement locating it, which is well worth the eye sore.
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Which states have the highest rate of car theft?

You might not think much about how a front license plate can help in the case of vehicle theft–at least not until your car gets stolen. You might be surprised to learn that North Dakota has a pretty high per capita car theft rate.
In 2020, according to
Statista
, North Dakota had the 15th-highest car theft rate per capita. It ranked just above Alaska and Louisiana, with 271 thefts per 100,000 people
Not only do those high auto theft rates highlight the value of front license plates, but they also remind us of the importance of having
comprehensive coverage
on your insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage will help cover the cost of replacing your vehicle if it gets stolen or the cost of repairing it if it is vandalized.

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