Jake Kimball | October 7, 2026 | Car Accidents
Colorado generally requires two license plates on self-propelled vehicles. One must be displayed on the front and another on the rear. The state makes exceptions for certain types of vehicles, including motorcycles and other vehicles that require only a rear plate.
This rule might seem like a minor detail of vehicle registration. But visible license plates serve an important identification function. After a hit-and-run accident, for example, a front plate captured by a camera or seen by a witness could help identify a vehicle that might otherwise disappear.
Does Colorado Require a Front License Plate for all vehicles?
Colorado generally requires self-propelled vehicles to display two license plates: one on the front and one on the rear. However, some vehicles are exempt from the front-plate requirement. Motorcycles, street rod vehicles, trailers, and special mobile machinery are generally issued a single plate that must be displayed on the rear.
As a result, most standard passenger vehicles receive two license plates at registration, while motorcycles and certain other exempt vehicles typically receive only one.
Where Does the Front License Plate Have To Go?
Throwing your front license plate onto the dashboard is not necessarily the same thing as properly displaying it. Colorado’s mounting requirements are more specific.
Under Colorado law, the front plate generally must be displayed horizontally on the front of the vehicle in the location designated by the vehicle manufacturer. The plate must be kept free of foreign materials and remain clearly visible.
The rear plate has its own mounting requirements. A plate hidden behind an object, covered in material that makes it unreadable, or otherwise improperly displayed, can create its own problems.
What Happens if You Do Not Have a Front License Plate?
Failing to comply with Colorado’s license plate display requirements can result in a traffic violation. Under the law, improperly displayed licenses can result in a fine or other penalty.
This does not mean that every driver with only one visible plate will receive a citation. However, it does mean that Colorado law requires a proper front-and-rear display on vehicles subject to the two plate requirement.
Why Does Colorado Require a Front License Plate?
A license plate gives a vehicle an identifying number that can be observed without getting inside the car or locating its vehicle identification number. Having plates on both ends increases the directions from which a vehicle can be identified.
That can matter during:
- Traffic enforcement
- Accident investigations
- Hit-and-run investigations
- Witness identification
- Review of surveillance recordings
- Identification of suspicious vehicles
- Automated vehicle-identification systems
Imagine that a vehicle hits a pedestrian and drives away. This accident may be caught on security camera footage, but the camera may have only viewed the front of the vehicle. If the vehicle has a properly displayed front license plate, investigators may have an important piece of evidence. Without it, the video may show little more than the make, model, and color of the vehicle.
That could make a major difference.
What Other Evidence Can Identify a Vehicle?
A missing plate does not necessarily make identification impossible. An attorney can investigate other sources of evidence.
These might include:
- Surveillance recordings
- Dashcam footage
- Traffic-camera footage
- Witness statements
- Photographs or videos
- Vehicle debris
- Paint transfer
- Make and model information
- Vehicle color
- Distinctive damage
- Partial plate number
- Police reports
Sometimes several small pieces of evidence can be combined. A witness may remember three characters from a plate. A camera may establish the make and model of the vehicle. Another recording several blocks away might provide a better camera angle.
Individually, none of those pieces may identify the vehicle. Together, they might.
Contact Kimball Injury Law, LLC To Schedule a Free Consultation With a Colorado Springs Car Accident Attorney
Colorado generally requires vehicles to display two license plates – one on the front and one on the rear. The front plate must be mounted in the designated location and remain clearly visible. A missing plate does not automatically prove negligence. A successful personal injury case requires evidence connecting a party’s wrongful conduct to the accident and resulting damages.
If you were injured in a Colorado car accident, you don’t have to investigate the crash alone. Contact Kimball Injury Law, LLC for a free consultation with a Colorado Springs car accident lawyer. We will investigate what happened, gather evidence, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve under Colorado law.
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