License plates (also known as vehicle registration plates or license tags) are generally rectangular metal plates issued by your state’s department of motor vehicles for the purpose of identifying your car. A license plate must be attached to the rear of your car, and in 31 states and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), you must also have a license plate on the front of your car. In a state or district that also requires you to display a license plate on the front of your car, your failure to do so will provide the police with probable cause to stop you and issue a citation at any time. State laws (statutes) generally provide for the specific placement of license plates, stated in minimum and maximum inches from the ground.

In California, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires that most vehicles have two license plates, one attached to the front and the other to the rear of the vehicle. California Vehicle Code Section 5200 specifies that when two license plates are issued for a vehicle, they must be attached to the vehicle for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear. The plates must be securely fastened and clearly visible. Failure to display the front and rear plates as required by law can result in a vehicle being stopped by law enforcement and the driver potentially receiving a citation. The specific placement of license plates is also regulated, including requirements on how high or low the plates can be mounted on the vehicle, to ensure visibility and compliance with state law.