Yes.
Colorado requires state-issued license plates on the front and rear of a motor vehicle, and violating these regulations is a Class B traffic infraction.
License plate citations can be issued by officers during traffic stops and to unattended vehicles. In 2022, Denver’s Right of Way Enforcement division issued 92,000 citations to cars with expired plates or no front plate. Class B infractions can result in fines ranging from $15-$100.
The front license plate requirement does not apply to all vehicles in Colorado. Motorcycles, autocycles, street rod vehicles manufactured before 1949, trailers and special mobile machinery only need plates on the rear of the vehicle.
While many U.S. states require license plates on the front and back of cars, the rule isn’t universal. In 2024, Utah passed a law only requiring vehicles to have rear plates, joining Arizona and New Mexico.
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