- Idaho’s new bill removes front plates for cars lacking mounting brackets.
- Police groups opposed the change, citing issues with vehicle identification.
- Twenty-one states require rear plates only, while twenty-nine mandate both.
If you live in Idaho and have just bought a car without a factory-fitted front license plate bracket, you can now legally leave the bumper clean. This comes courtesy of Senate Bill 1180, a small but satisfying win for anyone who believes front plates spoil a car’s design.
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The new law makes it simple: if your vehicle doesn’t have a front license plate bracket, you no longer need to display a front plate. That means no drilling into painted bumpers, no aftermarket mounts, and no arguments about symmetry at the dealership.
While plenty of drivers never think twice about license plates, anyone who’s had to drill holes in a sculpted bumper knows the sting. Some cars were simply never meant to wear one.
Which Cars Qualify?
Think of the current and previous Dodge Charger, the Ford Mustang, or anything from Tesla or Alfa Romeo. These are just a few of the models that look cleaner without the rectangle of metal interrupting their front ends.
Even with the change, Idaho drivers will still receive two license plates, regardless of whether their vehicle actually needs both. Owners of cars that come with factory-mounted brackets will still have to fit the front tag as usual.
Speaking to Idaho 6 News, one local dealer estimated that about 20 percent of the vehicles on their lot don’t come with a front bracket, meaning they qualify under the new rule. Some automakers don’t include front mounts as standard equipment, having local dealers install them on demand.
Not Everyone’s Convinced
As expected, not everyone’s on board with the change. Law enforcement agencies, including the Idaho State Police, Sheriffs Association, and Fraternal Order of Police, had opposed a similar proposal in 2022.
Some officers argue that front plates are crucial for identifying vehicles during investigations and traffic enforcement.
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Currently, there are 21 US states that only require rear license plates including Florida, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. However, 28 other states such as California, Texas, and New York, still mandate plates on both ends. With the latest update, Idaho falls somewhere in the middle ground between the two groups.
America is one of the few places in the world you can come across cars without front plates. In other regions, such as China, India, Japan and most of Europe, they are mandatory at both ends.
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