Front License Plate in California

[mahdir35]

This is a question for all of the California based Cybertruck owners. I know that it’s a state law that we’re supposed to have a license plate on the front of our cybertrucks. But of course it doesn’t look as good. Are you all putting a license plate on the front of the vehicle or going without it and waiting till a cop potentially tells you to put a license plate on the front?

Been driving 5 different cars in San Diego California while never ever having been pulled over. You of t have to put it on

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[M0unt41nm4n]

I did get a ticket once, but I wasn’t pulled over for it. I had a Ford Bronco and moved to Colorado and didn’t have the screws to put the front plate on. So I left it on the dash and was clearly visible through the windshield. I parked at the airport for a business trip and when I came back, I had a $10 ticket waiting for not having a front license plate. Obviously some cop was really bored. I ignored it and it jumped to $25. I still ignored it and they sent it to some stupid collections company. I got a friendly letter from them for the next 5 years about once or twice a year. Finally they gave up ?

I currently do not have the front plate on my CT. I’m biding my time for the annual registration renewal and will put Utah plates on it. Utah made it a one plate state last year. Hopefully I won’t get popped until then. Mental note: I won’t park at Denver Intl Airport due to the risk of bored cops.

 

[Kevin Burns]

This is a question for all of the California based Cybertruck owners. I know that it’s a state law that we’re supposed to have a license plate on the front of our cybertrucks. But of course it doesn’t look as good. Are you all putting a license plate on the front of the vehicle or going without it and waiting till a cop potentially tells you to put a license plate on the front?

I am a California native. All of my Teslas have license plates on the front. It’s the law! However, my wife and I have noticed that the majority of Teslas we see on the road do not have a front license plate. We assume that these people are scoff-laws. Maybe they lack the mechanical aptitude to install a license plate.
I also see Teslas and other cars with the front driver and passenger windows tinted. I was cited by the CA HWY Patrol for having front driver and passenger windows tinted on a Toyota Prius that I bought for my daughter. It is against the California Vehicle code, but I see lots of cars with the front drivers and passenger windows tinted. This represents another example of scoff-law behavior.

 

[Cybertruck26]

I have my front plate on now, but only bc I refuse to cover my light bar... I don't wanna give them too much to tag me with.

 

[Zane Edwards]

Many cars for many years, non with front plate and never been pulled over for it or the few times I have been pulled over it was mentioned. Only one ticket for it while it was parked; I came back to a ticket on Citing No Front Plate (fix it ticket), while parked legally on the street in San Francisco...go figure. Most cops in my opinion are really cool and know it looks like crap on certain cars and don't care much of it. IMHO

 

[RayzorBEV]

I saw this license plate decal in NV. I'm not sure if the owner printed this out her/himself but looks good, looks legit, aero friendly, and hopefully is weather resistance. I'm going to look into this for use in Texas?

 

[Brave Little Toaster]

California driver here, most people don’t put lic plates on the front of their nice cars. It ruins the look in my opinion but if you are trying to avoid getting pulled over for any reason then you may want it on.

 

[Trekboy]

California driver here, most people don’t put lic plates on the front of their nice cars. It ruins the look in my opinion but if you are trying to avoid getting pulled over for any reason then you may want it on.

I recently heard about this. They apparently work with California DMV. I'm curious as to how they hold up in extreme heat.

https://licenseplatewrap.com/

 

[Bridgeboy69]

but only bc I refuse to cover my light bar...

Why would you be concerned with covering your light bar? The road is filled with tradional pickup trucks outfitted with offroad light bars and nobody covers them. It is illegal to turn on while on the road, but not illegal to have it there.

 

[YDR37]

Why would you be concerned with covering your light bar? The road is filled with tradional pickup trucks outfitted with offroad light bars and nobody covers them. It is illegal to turn on while on the road, but not illegal to have it there.

In some states, the law requires auxiliary lights to be covered on public roads, so that even if they are switched on accidentally, they won't blind other drivers. Manufacturers commonly sell covers for that reason. I believe CA, PA, VA, WV are such states.

Based on the summary here, states like NY and WY don't allow light bars on public roads even if covered. Some manufacturers make lights that can be detached completely when not in use.

 

[Bridgeboy69]

the law requires auxiliary lights to be covered on public roads, so that even if they are switched on accidentally, they won't blind other drivers.

I believe CA, PA, and VA are such states.

OK, well, I can tell you nobody where I live in CA covers their lightbars (I am talking all types of pickup trucks). They are everywhere. If it is law, they don't enforce it.

The number of highly lifted kitted-out 2500 diesel pickup trucks in my area, including many duallies, is staggering. I imagine they must cost $200K+ with all their suspension upgrades. And most of them all have after-market light bars with no covers on them.

 

[Baldyloxx]

I haven’t had a front plate for as long as I can remember..

I once got a ticket for something lame long ago and I had to put it back on while addressing the other violation…

and just before I left the DMV I removed it in the parking lot..

$0.02

 

[CapheDa]

Do you want to give the police a reason to pull you over ? That’s enough to do it. Yes it happened to me. He admitted they were looking for drunk drivers and was kind enough to let me go. But it gave him the authority / excuse to pull me over.

On a SoCal note, with Sentri you’ll lose your Sentri coming back from Mexico if it’s not on.

My 2c - looks fine. Put it on and never thought twice about it.

That happened to me coming back from Mexico. I got two strikes now and I lose sentry if I get a third.

 

[YDR37]

OK, well, I can tell you nobody where I live in CA covers their lightbars (I am talking all types of pickup trucks). They are everywhere. If it is law, they don't enforce it.

The number of highly lifted kitted-out 2500 diesel pickup trucks in my area, including many duallies, is staggering. I imagine they must cost $200K+ with all their suspension upgrades. And most of them all have after-market light bars with no covers on them.

I agree that the light cover law is rarely enforced in California, but "rarely" is not the same as "never". For example, check this post at a Toyota Tundra forum:

you will absolutely get a ticket. It's $250 non-correctable.

I got one and my buddy got one.

you must have them covered. The only ones that can be uncovered are factory headlights and fog lights.

Im not here to tell you how to run your life, thats californias job. Im just saying, it's possible to get a ticket.

 

[IntoTheRain916]

I’ve been pulled over at least a dozen times in my Cybertruck and not once have I gotten a ticket or even a fix it for not having a front plate. Meanwhile, I’ve had plenty of “certified traffic experts” (you know, the ones who act like they’re honorary cops) telling me I *NEED* to get one. Still ticket-free, though—guess I'm living dangerously…....... . . .

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