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Luxury Cars Might Not Need Front Plates In Texas After Law Passed

Here is a story we can all relate to whether through our own experiences or through friends we know or have had contact with…

This story is of license plates and the luxury vehicle market that prides itself on providing no space to put one. While I am no American, this is particularly becoming an issue in the States and provides a perfect platform for a discussion feed in the comments below.

Drilling holes into your pride and joy has never been a fun business, and while here in the UK a dealership does this for you, this is different elsewhere on the planet. An on-going war has erupted in the State of Texas which is slated to create a potential class system issue.

Texas has employed a dual plate law since 1934 which requires motorists to have a front and rear license plate attached to their vehicle and displayed at all times. In 2011, House Bill 2357 made some harsh amendments to this rule which stated that not clearly displaying a front or rear plate is hereby illegal and punishable with a fine that currently stands at $200. However, Texas Republican representative Ken King is hard-pressing House Bill 673 which will effectively exempt vehicles worth over $60,000 from requiring a front license plate.

Mr King’s selling point behind this new House Bill is that many modern luxury vehicles simply do not come from the factory with a pre-designated mounting location for a license plate. From a UK perspective this is true, the higher end models of such manufacturers like Ferrari , Porsche, AMG and even the British firm McLaren do not have spaces for the plate. As previously stated, a lot of the time this designation is left to the decision of the dealership in question. However, many choose to place it on their dash, clearly visible through the windscreen.

From sources I have read, the statesman tried to spin King’s bill into a class issue. Personally I can see the point being made here. HB 673 would add a category to section 504.943 of the Texas Transportation Code which would exempt the displaying of a front plate on vehicles under the name, “luxury passenger vehicle”.  This is where the issue becomes problematic. If you open that bill to a ‘luxury passenger vehicle”, what then constitutes as said vehicle? This could extend to high end classics, and begins to tarnish particular vehicles to a ‘lower class’

There are also the benefits of front plates to legal and law enforcement situations that require those details in a vast range of varied incidents. This in my opinion, will be enough to leave this new House Bill pushed aside to the trash can.

What do you think?

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5 Comments

  1. As Texan, I am offended that trucks over $60K aren’t included as well. I don’t think this has any chance of going far for a variety of reasons.

  2. I hate front plates. I hate having to clutter up and drill holes in my car. Many states do not require a front plate. No real reason to have it. Law enforcers think otherwise. Doubt bill will pass.

  3. I agree. It should not just be for a vehicle worth a certain amount. I have a 2015 Evo X that didn’t have a front license plate mount. I refuse to drill holes in my bumper to mount one.

  4. The value of the vehicle shouldn’t matter. If it doesn’t have a bespoke mounting point on the front, you shouldn’t have to have a front plate. I have an 06 Mitsubishi Eclipse and it would be risky at best to try and put a front plate on because of the airbag sensors behind the bumper. But because it wasn’t $60K I should somehow be treated differently?

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