[3] 13 - Improper or Missing Plates/Registration

All motor vehicles must have a visible and valid (registered) license plate on the rear of the motor vehicle in order to operate on a public road.

The plate must match the motor vehicle it is attached to.

The plate may not be obstructed or obfuscated.

Front license plates are optional.

Infraction Sentence: None Fine: $100

Exemption

An ATV, dirt-bike, or off-roading vehicle does not require registration, nor shall the driver require a driving license, to operate on roads or trials within a state/national forest/park. Also, for the purpose of a public road, using a crosswalk and/or moving a non-roadworthy vehicle from one side of the road-edge (or sidewalk) to the other is not considered 'driving' it on that public

Exempt Plates: As stated in 'Definitions,' the DMV shall not, and will not, issue government exempt plates to commercial or private vehicles except in the manner prescribed in the definition.

Improper use or sale of exempt plates, or fraudulent acquisition, is an Infraction under this code.

If a vehicle registered as exempt is sold, auctioned, donated, or given away, remove the exempt plate. The new owner must register the vehicle.

For more information about exempt plates, see the definitions tab at the top of the penal code.