Do You Need a Front License Plate in Illinois?
With over 8,225,000 licensed drivers in the state of Illinois, obeying relevant traffic laws is crucial to preventing car accidents. One law that many people might not give as much thought to is whether drivers must have one or two license plates on their vehicles. However, if you’re injured in a hit-and-run car or bicycle accident, this law could greatly affect your case by increasing the chances of identifying the at-fault driver.
What Is Illinois’ License Plate Law?
While many states only require a rear license plate, Illinois is not one of them. According to the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, registration plates are required on the front and back of vehicles registered in the State. The law helps law enforcement officers and others identify vehicles involved in car accidents or crimes. Additionally, Illinois’ speed and toll booth cameras can use the front plate to identify a vehicle if the back-mounted license plate does not appear clearly in the video.
Exceptions to the Two-Plate Requirement
Out-of-state visitors are not required to have a front license plate. However, new residents must register their vehicles in Illinois within 30 days and obtain the additional plate. Even if a vehicle doesn’t have a front license plate holder, the owner is still required to display the plate, either by drilling holes or using a no-drill mounting kit.
Penalty for Violating the Front License Plate Law
Drivers without front license plates can be pulled over and ticketed for failing to abide by this law. They could also be ticketed while parked at a meter or on a public lot. The ticket can result in a fine of up to $164, which is more than it costs to register the vehicle legally.
Other Registration Requirements in Illinois
Other registration rules Illinois motorists must follow include the following:
- Don’t Obstruct the License Plate: It is illegal to distort or obscure either license plate in Illinois. If the owner uses a decorative cover, they must ensure that no part of the design obscures even a small portion of the plate, including the annual registration sticker.
- Annual Renewal: All vehicle owners must renew their registration each year.
- Display of Sticker: After the vehicle is registered, the owner must apply the annual registration sticker to the license plate.
Ensuring you comply with these requirements can help you avoid unnecessary traffic stops and fines.
Information Drivers Must Provide at an Accident
Illinois law requires all motorists involved in an automotive accident resulting in personal injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,500 to stop at the scene, exchange certain information, and render aid. Motorists must provide the following information:
- Their name and address
- The name and registration number of the owner of the vehicle
If asked, they must show their driver’s license to the other driver or an occupant. They must also render aid to anyone injured in the accident, including by taking them or arranging for their transport to a doctor or hospital.
Contact Our Northbrook Car Accident Law Firm at Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers
If you were injured in an accident in Northbrook, IL, and need legal help, contact our Northbrook personal injury lawyers at Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case review today.
Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers
601 Skokie Blvd Suite 401
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 513-9582
