One Plate, And Nothing Over It
Transp. Code 504.943 — two plates, and Transp. Code 504.945 — nothing that obscures them
Two plates. A person commits an offense by operating a motor vehicle on a public highway during a registration period without displaying two license plates assigned for the period and placed as the department's rules require. A road tractor, motorcycle, trailer or semitrailer displays one. The offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $200.
Nothing that obscures them. It is an offense to display a plate with blurring or reflective matter that significantly impairs the readability of the state's name or the plate number, an unauthorized illuminated device, sticker, decal or emblem that interferes with reading them, or a coating or covering that distorts angular visibility, obscures one-half or more of the state's name, or covers the letters, numbers or color of the plate.
Not covered by the rule. The covering provision is not read to apply to a trailer hitch, a toll transponder attached as required, a wheelchair lift or carrier, a trailer being towed, or a bicycle or motorcycle rack, each attached in a normal or customary manner.
The penalty, and the fix. The obscured plate offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $200, or a Class B misdemeanor if the owner knowingly made the marks illegible. A court may dismiss several of these charges, and the missing plate charge, if the defect is remedied before the first court appearance and a reimbursement fee not to exceed $10 is paid.
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 Texas attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Transp. Code 504.943 — Operation of vehicle without license plate
- Transp. Code 504.945 — Wrong, fictitious, altered, or obscured license plate
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Texas attorney.