# Why front license plates?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-front-license-plates/5545>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 11, 1999, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-front-license-plates/5545 "1999-12-11T23:36:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![HeadlessCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@HeadlessCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeadlessCow)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-front-license-plates/5545/21 "1999-12-14T17:44:00Z")

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My friend’s car doesn’t have a spot to put a front liscense plate and it’s required in NH. He just leaves the plate on the dashboard so it’s visible throught the windshield. No one has complained yet and he’s gotten tickets a couple times when a cop would have seen it there.

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**Author:** ![Kakkerlak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@Kakkerlak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kakkerlak)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 1999, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-front-license-plates/5545/22 "1999-12-15T03:50:00Z")

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In Washington they’re required. You don’t put the month of your excise tax stickers on the front, thought…

I once got pulled over for not having a front plate; way the heck out in the woods, nothing more suspicious looking than a minivan. I too reported stolen plates and got out of the ticket.

I’m guessing they’re for parking enforcement and quick ID’s, but I can’t verify that.

Maybe the brilliant mob out here who got rid of our excise taxes can beautify our bumpers by getting rid of front plates too. Really wrecks the look of the ol’ DeLorean.

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**Author:** ![ConMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@ConMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ConMan)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 1999, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-front-license-plates/5545/23 "1999-12-23T22:30:00Z")

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I would venture a guess and say, “TAXES”.

Those who live in states that require both front & rear license plates are paying more for those two plates while those of us in one-license-plate states are paying less.

What are you paying for those two plates? In NC, I pay $26 ($25 for the plate & $1 to avoid waiting in long lines at the DMV).

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“Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore.’”  
E A Poe

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**Author:** ![Commander\_Fortune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Commander\_Fortune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Fortune)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 1999, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-front-license-plates/5545/24 "1999-12-24T00:27:00Z")

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I paid $30.90 for BOTH the plates and the new title. Without the title change, it should run about $22.00 when I renew next year.

In CO, I’m pretty sure the taxes are based on the bluebook value of the car you are registering. Since I drive a 1982 Toyota Corolla-POS, plates are cheap.

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**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 1999, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-front-license-plates/5545/25 "1999-12-24T13:34:00Z")

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I think that last time it was either $52 or $56 for two years, which would be either $26 or $28 each year. Not really that much difference. Besides the state can set registration cost at whatever number they want. They don’t have to give you 2 plates to justify higher taxes. Those plates are pretty cheap to make.

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