If you’ve just bought a car, moved to Missouri, or you’re simply wondering whether you’re in compliance, you’re not alone. A lot of drivers aren’t even sure if the front plate is legally required. In Missouri, vehicle regulations are set by the Department of Revenue and enforced statewide—including in cities like St. Louis, Springfield, and Columbia. Missouri’s rules around license plates aren’t exactly confusing, but they can feel that way, mostly because not everyone follows them, and not every vehicle is held to the same standard.
The question pops up often: Do you have to have a front license plate in Missouri? The short answer is yes, most drivers do. But there are a few important exceptions, and knowing which category your vehicle falls under could save you a fine.
Missouri’s License Plate Laws
According to Statute 301.130 RSMo, when you register a vehicle, the state gives you a pair of plates. That’s two, one for the front and one for the back. They’re part of the legal requirement for your vehicle to be considered operable on public roads.
Section 301.130.5 straight up says that your car must display both plates clearly. Not inside the windshield, not tucked into the dash, and definitely not missing entirely. The plates must also be visible at night, which means no tinted covers or anything else that might obscure them.
The Reason for the Front Plate Requirement
The most practical reason is identification. Police and highway patrol officers need to identify vehicles quickly and accurately from both directions. Without a front plate, a vehicle heading toward an officer can’t be identified unless the vehicle passes and they catch a glimpse of the back. That’s a problem in emergencies, traffic stops, and even toll roads and red-light cameras.
Front plates can also help civilian drivers. If you witness a hit-and-run or someone driving recklessly toward you, you might only have a second to catch their plate number. Without a front plate, that second might not be enough.
Who Doesn’t Need a Front Plate?
There are exceptions to Missouri’s front plate law. Section 301.130.5 makes it clear that vehicles like trucks, buses, or tractor-trailers over 12,000 pounds may only be required to display a front plate, not a back one. But even in these cases, drivers often receive both plates upon registration. And if they do, they’re expected to use both. The only difference is that the back plate isn’t strictly required by law for these heavy-duty vehicles.
For motorcycles and trailers, the rule is different. These vehicles are only required to display one plate on the rear because of the design and size of the vehicle. The law recognizes that mounting a plate on the front of a motorcycle isn’t practical, so it’s simply not required.
Other exceptions include vehicles with historic registrations or commercial vehicles over 18,000 pounds. But again, if you’re given two plates, don’t assume one is optional; check what’s required for your specific registration type.
What Happens If You Don’t Have a Front Plate?
In Missouri, failure to display a front plate is a primary offense. That means police can pull you over just for that, even if you’re following every other traffic rule. There doesn’t have to be speeding, reckless driving, or any other infraction. The missing front plate alone is enough. This can mean fines, court visitations, and, in some cases, additional administrative penalties.
Multiple violations could even lead to license suspension depending on the circumstances. It can also reflect poorly on your driving record, potentially affecting insurance rates or renewal processes.
The important thing to remember is that police might not be actively looking for missing front plates, but if they see them, they can stop you. And they often do.