Mark Casto | August 16, 2024 | Georgia Law
A license plate works to identify a vehicle and provide important information to authorities in the event of an accident, a traffic violation, or an emergency. All states, including Georgia, require plates to be properly mounted to be visible at all times.
According to Georgia law, specifically, nothing should obstruct the letters or numbers on a license plate, including mud or dirt. If your license is not plainly visible, you may be pulled over and given a traffic citation by law enforcement. But what if you only have a license plate on the back of your vehicle?
Are Front License Plates Required?
Lawmakers in more than half of the 50 states have concluded that requiring both back and front plates makes it easier for police and other law enforcement agents to identify a vehicle in the case of a car accident or traffic violation.
Georgia lawmakers don’t share that concern. Alongside 20 other states, Georgia law only requires a license plate to be mounted on the back of a vehicle to be seen as street-legal.
Types of License Plates and Tags Needed in Georgia
If you live in Georgia, the following vehicles must have a license plate:
- Trailers
- Motorcycles
- Commercial vehicles
- Passenger vehicles
- Recreational vehicles
Regardless of which type of license plate you display, you are only required to display a single plate on the back of your vehicle.
License plates are issued by Georgia Department of Revenue (GA DOR) county offices. Every valid plate contains a combination of letters and numbers, a decal that shows the county where the car is registered, and the month/year of expiration. To receive a license plate, you must first register your vehicle.
Temporary Tags
Temporary tags are not issued by the state but are instead provided by a car dealer when you purchase a vehicle. These tags are only valid for 30 days and will be replaced with a permanent license plate when registering the car. New vehicles must be registered before the 30-day tag expires.
Duplicate Plates
You can order duplicates from the GA DOR if a license plate or its decals are lost, stolen, or damaged. To file for replacement plates you will need a copy of the police report or proof the items have been damaged. You will also be charged an $8 replacement fee.
Personalized License Plate
To purchase a personalized license plate in Georgia, visit your local GA DOR office and complete a Personal Special Prestige License Plate application. In addition to customary costs, you will be charged a one-time manufacturing fee and an annual special plate fee. Additionally, your vehicle must be legally registered to acquire a personalized plate.
Handicap License Plate
To receive a handicap license plate, download the related application from the GA DOR website. Complete the form and ask your doctor to sign it and provide any required information about your disability, then take the application to the local tag office and complete the Disabled Person’s Parking Affidavit and any other required paperwork.
Display Your Georgia License Plate Properly
The proper display of a vehicle license plate can make Georgia roads safer for everyone. Officers can use license plate information to quickly identify and recover stolen vehicles and to track dangerous drivers and other criminals, including reckless Uber and Lyft drivers. To comply with Georgia law, make sure your back license plate is properly secured, visible, and current.
Contact the Columbus Car Accident Lawyers at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm Today
If you were injured in an accident in Columbus, GA, and need legal help, contact our Columbus Car accident lawyers at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm to schedule a free case review today.
Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm
233 12th St #808, Columbus, GA 31901
(706) 538-4940