Having No Front License Plate In Illinois: Is It Legal Or Illegal

Looking at the big picture, it's pretty clear that having to have a front license plate on your vehicle, versus not having to have one, isn't that big of a deal to most people.

When you ask someone from another state if they're required to have a front license plate, you'll probably get one of two reactions. One reaction is usually angry because yes, they have to have one, and no, they don't like it one bit.

Boredom is most often the other reaction, because people in states where residents aren't required to have one find the whole topic of front and rear license plates to be...well, uninteresting. I totally get it. They just have to attach a single plate to the rear of their car instead of having to walk all the way to the other end to do it again. No wonder they're bored.

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Currently, There Are 29 States (Including Washington, DC) That Require A Front License Plate, And 21 States That Don't

Before I try to drag you through a few more paragraphs to get to the information that this piece's headline offered, let's just get it out of the way.

The state of Illinois is one of the 29 states that feel as though your car is off-balance without a front license plate, and therefore require one on every vehicle registered in Illinois.

From the Illinois Secretary of State's website FAQ section:

Is the front registration plate required on vehicles registered in Illinois?
Yes, the front registration plate is required on vehicles registered in Illinois. Both registration plates are required to be attached on vehicles registered in Illinois.

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For Those Who Want To Live In A State Where They Don't Make You Bookend Your Car With License Plates, You Should Move To One Of These Places

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Michigan
Mississippi
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
West Virginia

The idea of getting rid of one of the two required license plates here in Illinois came up a couple of years back, but so far, no action:

2023 Best Looking State Patrol Cars In (Almost) Every State

For the past 10 years, the American Association of State Troopers has held a contest to determine which state has the best looking patrol cruiser. Nearly every state police agency submits their best photo of their sharpest patrol vehicle a chance to win the coveted cover photo on the association's annual calendar. From cop cars rushing through blizzards to vehicles on the Grand Ole Opry stage, here are this 2023's nominees.

Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll

Filed Under: illinois driving