All states have traffic laws that require motor vehicles on public highways, streets, roads, and driveways to have a rear license plate or tag—and most states also require a license plate on the front of a motor vehicle.

States usually require the license plates or vehicle registration to be renewed periodically—often annually and in connection with payment of a motor vehicle tax or inspection of the vehicle for safety and compliance with emissions standards.

In some states tickets or citations for no front or rear license plate or for expired plates/tags on your vehicle are known as fix-it tickets and the ticket or citation will indicate that it is a correctable violation of traffic laws. If you fix the missing-or-expired license plate problem within the required period and get the signature of an authorized person (a local police officer) the court may dismiss the ticket.

But if you fail to fix the missing-or-expired-tags problem within the required period you must pay the fine for the violation and you may be issued another ticket that will be part of your driving record. And if you fail to pay the ticket or appear in court on the hearing date the court may issue a warrant for your arrest.

In South Dakota, motor vehicles are required to display a rear license plate, and depending on the type of vehicle, a front license plate may also be required. License plates and vehicle registrations must be renewed periodically, which is typically done annually and may involve a vehicle tax or inspection for safety and emissions standards. South Dakota does issue citations for vehicles that do not have the proper license plates or have expired tags. These citations can sometimes be considered 'fix-it' tickets, which allow the vehicle owner to correct the issue by a specified deadline and have the citation dismissed after verification by an authorized person, such as a police officer. Failure to correct the issue within the required period can result in fines and additional citations, which can affect the driver's record. Non-compliance with citations, such as not paying the fine or failing to appear in court, can lead to further legal consequences, including the issuance of an arrest warrant.