One Plate, And Nothing Over It
Veh. & Traf. Law § 402 — one on the front and one on the rear, and nothing over them
Front and rear. No person operates, drives or parks a motor vehicle on a public highway unless its number plates are conspicuously displayed, one on the front and one on the rear, securely fastened against swinging and, whenever reasonably possible, not higher than forty-eight inches and not lower than twelve inches from the ground. In a year when only one plate is issued, it goes on the rear.
Nothing over them. Number plates are kept clean and easily readable. They are not knowingly covered or coated with any material that conceals or obscures them or distorts a recorded or photographic image of them, and they are not covered by glass or any plastic material.
Registration itself, temporary tags and specialty plates are governed by other sections that are not on this page. What a particular ticket means is a question for a licensed New York attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Veh. & Traf. Law § 402 — Distinctive number; form of number plates
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New York attorney.