Ryan Zavodnick | November 8, 2024 | Car Accidents
As you drive through Pennsylvania, you’ll likely notice that some of your fellow vehicles have only a rear license plate, while others may have a license plate affixed to both the front and rear of the car. Approximately half of the states in the country require cars to have both a front and a rear license plate. But Pennsylvania is, in fact, not one of them.
If your car is registered in the Keystone State, you do not need to worry about having multiple license plates attached to your passenger car. However, that does not mean you can display your registration plate anywhere and in any way you want.
Registration Plate Requirements In Pennsylvania
If you intend to drive a vehicle on a public road in Pennsylvania (or anywhere in the U.S., for that matter), you must have a license plate affixed to that vehicle. It is the primary means of identifying the vehicle, and failing to properly display one in Pennsylvania can lead to a traffic citation.
To comply with Pennsylvania law, you must do the following:
- Attach the license plate to the rear of your passenger car, with its bottom at least 12 inches off the ground.
- Ensure it is placed horizontally, not vertically.
- Position it in such a way that others can clearly see it.
- Secure the plate so it does not sway or hang loosely from the car.
Drivers whose cars have license plate lamps must also ensure the lamps make their license plates visible from at least 50 feet away. Any license plate that becomes discolored, damaged, or illegible should be replaced promptly.
Some Vehicles Still Require Front License Plates
It has been decades since Pennsylvania required passenger vehicles to display front and rear license plates. However, a few types of vehicles still must have both. For example, state-owned passenger cars, commercial truck tractors, and cars owned by press photographers must all have front and rear plates.
Why Some States Require Two License Plates
Laws governing license plates and vehicle registrations are two examples of rules left to state governments to enact. One state might prefer vehicles registered in the state to have two license plates for several reasons, such as:
Ease Of Identification
Having two license plates allows others, especially law enforcement officers, to more easily identify vehicles on the road. If the police, for instance, are looking for a specific vehicle in connection with a criminal investigation, it will be much easier for them to locate the suspect’s car if it has front and rear license plates.
The presence of two license plates can also help identify a vehicle after a severe crash, as it is less likely for both plates to be destroyed or rendered illegible in an accident. For example, where a rear license plate may be wrecked in a rear-end crash, an additional plate in the front would ensure investigators could still identify the car.
Historical Practice
Other states continue to require two license plates because they have historically had such a requirement, and there is little legislative appetite to change the law. For these states, there may be bigger priorities they wish to tackle other than doing away with a practice many of their citizens are likely accustomed to.
Most Drivers Only Need One License Plate In Pennsylvania
Though there are a few exceptions, most drivers who own a private passenger vehicle in Pennsylvania only need to have a single license plate affixed to them. It should be attached to the rear of the car at an appropriate height and clearly visible to others. While it is not difficult to comply with Pennsylvania’s license plate law, failing to do so can lead to citations and fines.
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