Why Your Car Might Be Missing a Front Plate | Minneapolis News

Minneapolis News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 14, 2026 · 1m

Why do so many Minnesotans drive around with just a back license plate? While the state requires plates on both front and back for easier tracking and camera recognition, enforcement is often lenient—officers may educate rather than ticket. Exceptions exist for motorcycles, trailers, and classic cars, but even then, front plates are frequently missing due to damage or driver preference. Displaying a plate inside the windshield? Not legal—front plates must be securely mounted on the bumper and remain visible. Though not always a pretext for stops, missing plates are treated as public safety…