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The Legal Risks of Using Reflective or Obscured Plate Covers

2025-10-17 15:15:56
The Legal Risks of Using Reflective or Obscured Plate Covers

Legal Repercussions For Using Plate Covers

Reflective or tinted plate covers for your car may be an easy way to up your license plate. Here is why this innocuous wearable can cause legal trouble! In most areas, these lids are illegal and can lead to costly fines or even criminal charges. You still need to be familiar with local laws about US-sized Car License Plate covers, so you don’t end up with tickets and a fine from the law for running an illegal cover. 

Plate covers and traffic tickets

There are plate covers that obstruct from being able to read your license plates which itself could cause traffic tickets. If, say, a police officer can’t readily see your license plate number because of a cover, you could get pulled over for what amounts to a traffic stop. This might result in a ticket for obstructing the view of your US-sized Motorcycle License Plate. Furthermore, having an illegible plate may prevent red light cameras or tolls from accurately detecting your license plate number and you could find yourself being ticketed or owing for unpaid tolls. 

Sources for learning about the legality of plate covers

Because there are statutes against plate covers, you don't want to attract any attention if it's not necessary. For state specific details take a look at the official department of motor vehicle site for each license plate frame. Also, you may find the rules and laws governing License Plates Exclusive for Tesla covers from local law enforcement agencies or legal resources. 

Knowing the basics about plate covers

Drivers sometimes utilize plate covers for many reasons, including to protect their plates from dirt and bothers or for the cover's appearance. But what many drivers might not know is some of those plate covers can also blur the plate number, which makes it hard for police and cameras to track a vehicle. The best license plate cover for your vehicle is one that adds protection without making a statement about the perfect or most ideal product to use. 

Can I use my plate covers on a commercial vehicle? 

A great many jurisdictions will simply not allow any type of plate cover blocking view of a license plate to be used on any vehicle registered other than for official descriptions. This is in order to allow the plates to be easily seen for the purposes of identification and enforcement. Represent yourself with these rules and determine if your company's vehicles are in compliance with license plate cover law.