Illinois has roughly 8.4 million licensed drivers, and everyone must know and follow the road rules to help reduce car accidents. Many states only require a front license plate, but Illinois is not one of them. If you’re registering a new car or have recently moved to Illinois and need to register an out-of-state vehicle, you may be surprised to learn that Illinois law requires two license plates on display at all times. This regulation helps authorities quickly identify vehicles involved in car accidents or other incidents, enhancing road safety for everyone.
Illinois License Plate Law
The Illinois vehicle code requires license plates on both the front and the back of vehicles registered in Illinois. A bill introduced in 2022 to change this requirement and require only a front license plate didn’t pass.
The main reason for requiring two plates is that they make vehicles easier to identify in an emergency situation. In an accident, having both front and rear licenses helps pedestrians and other drivers identify a vehicle.
In most cases, Illinois’ speed and toll booth cameras rely on back-mounted license plates for identification. However, if, for some reason, the rear plate is obscured, a front plate can help identify the driver.
What Is The Penalty For Displaying Only One License Plate In Illinois?
While driving on Illinois roads, you may notice that many cars display only one license plate. Visitors and new residents who have been in Illinois for fewer than 30 days are not required to have two license plates. Some of those “one-plate” cars are registered in Illinois.
Some drivers choose to skirt the law. One reason is that, depending on where you live in the state, the law may not be strictly enforced. This may lead drivers to think they can “get away” with breaking the law.
However, the law is enforced more strictly in more densely populated areas, such as Chicago. Drivers may be pulled over and receive a ticket for not displaying a front plate. It is more common to be ticketed while parked at a meter or a public lot.
Another reason is some newer vehicles don’t come with a front license plate holder. In this case, the owner must have holes drilled to support a plate holder or use a no-drill mounting kit.
Failure to display a front and rear plate could result in a fine of up to $164. However, it costs only $151 to register a vehicle legally. Personalized and vanity plates cost a few dollars more.
More Important Licensing Facts
The use of license plate covers that distort or obscure the plate is illegal in Illinois. If you wish to use a decorative cover, make certain no part of the design hides even a small part of the information on the license, including the yearly registration sticker.
Vehicle registration must be renewed yearly for all cars, trucks, and motorcycles. When they are, a valid registration sticker is issued. This sticker must be displayed on the license plate at all times.
Obey The Law For Safety’s Sake
It may be tempting to break the law. Perhaps you don’t want to drill holes in the bumper of your new car, or, for some reason, you want it to be more difficult for your vehicle to be identified. Obeying the law makes it safer for everyone driving and walking on the streets of Illinois.
Properly registering and displaying license plates is part of being a good citizen. If you have questions about vehicle registration in Illinois, call your local DMV or visit the Illinois Secretary of State Vehicle Services webpage.
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