Are License Plate Covers Legal? Laws by State (2026)

Quick Answer

License Plate Covers is illegal in 8 states as of 2026. and restricted in 42. The legal landscape is shifting, so always verify current law before acting.

0 Legal

42 Restricted

8 Illegal

Last verified: April 2026 · About our research

License Plate Covers Legality Map

Legal

Restrictions

Illegal

Unverified

All 50 States

State	Status	Summary
Alabama	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Alabama. A 2025 law increased the fine for obscured plates to $500.	Details →
Alaska	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Alaska. As of 2022, Alaska no longer requires a front license plate, which has re...	Details →
Arizona	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are effectively illegal in Arizona. Under A.R.S. § 28-2354, any cover, coating, or substance that o...	Details →
Arkansas	RESTRICTED	License Plate Covers are legal with restrictions in Arkansas. No significant legislative changes since the law was last ...	Details →
California	ILLEGAL	License plate covers of any kind, including clear covers, are illegal in California. A 2026 law increased penalties for ...	Details →
Colorado	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Colorado. A 2025 law clarified that any cover that distorts angular visibility or...	Details →
Connecticut	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Connecticut. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but police have been ...	Details →
Delaware	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Delaware. No significant legislative changes since 2022, but there is a renewed f...	Details →
Florida	RESTRICTED	In Florida, license plate frames or covers that obstruct any part of the license plate are prohibited and subject to a s...	Details →
Georgia	RESTRICTED	Georgia law allows only colorless and transparent license plate covers. Any cover or frame that obstructs or hinders the...	Details →
Hawaii	ILLEGAL	All license plate covers, including clear ones, are illegal in Hawaii and subject to enforcement. Police will issue cita...	Details →
Idaho	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Idaho. Beginning July 1, 2026, Idaho will no longer require annual registration s...	Details →
Illinois	ILLEGAL	Illinois law prohibits the possession, sale, and use of any license plate covers. Enforcement is strict, and violations ...	Details →
Indiana	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Indiana. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continued ...	Details →
Iowa	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Iowa. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continued emp...	Details →
Kansas	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Kansas. A 2025 Kansas Supreme Court ruling determined that obstructing the state ...	Details →
Kentucky	RESTRICTED	License Plate Covers are legal with restrictions in Kentucky. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there i...	Details →
Louisiana	ILLEGAL	Louisiana law prohibits applying any covering or substance to a license plate that obscures it, including clear covers. ...	Details →
Maine	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Maine. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continued em...	Details →
Maryland	ILLEGAL	Maryland law prohibits the use, sale, or advertisement of any license plate covers, including clear ones. Violations can...	Details →
Massachusetts	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are allowed as long as the plate remains legible from 60 feet. Tinted covers are not currently bann...	Details →
Michigan	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Michigan. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continued...	Details →
Minnesota	ILLEGAL	Minnesota law prohibits covering any assigned letters, numbers, or the state of origin on a license plate with any mater...	Details →
Mississippi	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Mississippi. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a contin...	Details →
Missouri	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Missouri. House Bill 1732 was introduced in January 2026 to prohibit license-plat...	Details →
Montana	RESTRICTED	License Plate Covers are legal with restrictions in Montana. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is...	Details →
Nebraska	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Nebraska. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continued...	Details →
Nevada	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Nevada. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continued e...	Details →
New Hampshire	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in New Hampshire. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a cont...	Details →
New Jersey	RESTRICTED	License plate covers and frames are allowed only if they do not conceal or obscure the state name, registration number, ...	Details →
New Mexico	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in New Mexico. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continu...	Details →
New York	ILLEGAL	New York law prohibits any license plate cover that obstructs or obscures a plate. A 2024 law banned the sale of plate c...	Details →
North Carolina	RESTRICTED	North Carolina law prohibits any license plate frame or cover that obstructs any information on the plate, including num...	Details →
North Dakota	RESTRICTED	License Plate Covers are legal with restrictions in North Dakota. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but the...	Details →
Ohio	RESTRICTED	Ohio law requires license plates to be displayed in plain view and prohibits any material that obstructs their visibilit...	Details →
Oklahoma	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Oklahoma. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continued...	Details →
Oregon	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Oregon. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continued e...	Details →
Pennsylvania	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are legal to sell in Pennsylvania, but using any cover that obscures or obstructs a license plate i...	Details →
Rhode Island	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Rhode Island. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a conti...	Details →
South Carolina	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in South Carolina. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a con...	Details →
South Dakota	RESTRICTED	License Plate Covers are legal with restrictions in South Dakota. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but the...	Details →
Tennessee	RESTRICTED	License plate frames and covers are permitted in Tennessee as long as they do not obstruct any numbers, letters, or deca...	Details →
Texas	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are illegal in Texas if they obscure or impair the readability of the plate. Texas Transportation C...	Details →
Utah	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Utah. A new law effective January 1, 2025, prohibits any license plate cover and ...	Details →
Vermont	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Vermont. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continued ...	Details →
Virginia	RESTRICTED	Virginia law allows license plate covers only if they do not alter or obscure any information on the plate. Covers that ...	Details →
Washington	ILLEGAL	License plate covers of any kind are illegal in Washington. A law effective in June 2024 made it a primary offense to ha...	Details →
West Virginia	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in West Virginia. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a cont...	Details →
Wisconsin	RESTRICTED	License plate covers are restricted in Wisconsin. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is a continue...	Details →
Wyoming	RESTRICTED	License Plate Covers are legal with restrictions in Wyoming. No significant legislative changes since 2023, but there is...	Details →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is License Plate Covers legal in the United States?

License Plate Covers is illegal in 8 states as of 2026. and restricted in 42. The legal landscape is shifting, so always verify current law before acting.

How many states allow license plate covers?

As of 2026, license plate covers is legal in 0 states, restricted with conditions in 42 states, and illegal in 8 states. Use the map and table on this page to check your specific state.

What happens if you get caught with license plate covers in a state where it's illegal?

Penalties range from civil fines to felony charges depending on the state. Some states treat first offenses as misdemeanors with small fines, while others classify possession as a felony carrying prison time. Check the specific state page for exact penalties, charge levels, and enforcement likelihood.

Can you travel across state lines with license plate covers?

Crossing state lines changes which laws apply. If license plate covers is legal in your home state but illegal in the state you're entering, you can face criminal charges the moment you cross the border. This applies to driving, flying, and shipping.