{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-711.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-711.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-711.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-711.html"}],"law_id":67466,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67466,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-711","catch_line":"Furnishing number and design of plates; displaying on vehicles required","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 46-96, 46-160; 1950, p. 625; 1954, c. 211; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-99; 1974, cc. 150, 477; 1989, c. 727; 1993, c. 290; 1995, c. 46; 1997, cc. 774, 816; 2001, c. 596; 2005, c. 140; 2011, cc. 405, 639, 881, 889; 2013, c. 783; 2014, cc. 53, 256; 2015, cc. 2, 3; 2016, cc. 125, 133; 2017, cc. 670, 790, 815; 2018, c. 555.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Department shall furnish one license plate for every registered moped, motorcycle, autocycle, tractor truck, semitrailer, or trailer, and two license plates for every other registered motor vehicle, except to licensed motor vehicle dealers and persons delivering unladen vehicles who shall be furnished one license plate. The license plates for trailers, semitrailers, commercial vehicles, and trucks, other than license plates for dealers, may be of such design as to prevent removal without mutilating some part of the indicia forming a part of the license plate, when secured to the bracket.B\n\nThe Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for:1\n\nPassenger-carrying vehicles for rent or hire for the transportation of passengers for private trips, other than TNC partner vehicles as defined in § 46.2-2000 and emergency medical services vehicles pursuant to clause (iii) of § 46.2-649.1:1;2\n\nTaxicabs;3\n\nPassenger-carrying vehicles operated by common carriers or restricted common carriers;4\n\nProperty-carrying motor vehicles registered pursuant to § 46.2-697 except pickup or panel trucks as defined in § 46.2-100;5\n\nApplicants, other than TNC partners as defined in § 46.2-2000 and emergency medical services vehicles pursuant to clause (iii) of § 46.2-649.1:1, who operate motor vehicles as passenger carriers for rent or hire;6\n\nVehicles operated by nonemergency medical transportation carriers as defined in § 46.2-2000; and7\n\nTrailers and semitrailers.C\n\nThe Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for motor vehicles held for rental as defined in § 58.1-1735.D\n\nThe Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for low-speed vehicles.E\n\nThe Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for military surplus motor vehicles registered pursuant to § 46.2-730.1.F\n\nNo vehicles shall be operated on the highways in the Commonwealth without displaying the license plates required by this chapter. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to vehicles used to collect and deliver the United States mail to the extent that their rear license plates may be covered by the “CAUTION, FREQUENT STOPS, U.S. MAIL” sign when the vehicle is engaged in the collection and delivery of the United States mail.G\n\nFor any summons issued for a violation of this section, the court may, in its discretion, dismiss the summons, where proof of compliance with this section is provided to the court on or before the court date.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":244465,"text":"The Department shall furnish one license plate for every registered moped, motorcycle, autocycle, tractor truck, semitrailer, or trailer, and two license plates for every other registered motor vehicle, except to licensed motor vehicle dealers and persons delivering unladen vehicles who shall be furnished one license plate. The license plates for trailers, semitrailers, commercial vehicles, and trucks, other than license plates for dealers, may be of such design as to prevent removal without mutilating some part of the indicia forming a part of the license plate, when secured to the bracket.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":244466,"text":"The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":244467,"text":"Passenger-carrying vehicles for rent or hire for the transportation of passengers for private trips, other than TNC partner vehicles as defined in § 46.2-2000 and emergency medical services vehicles pursuant to clause (iii) of § 46.2-649.1:1;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":244468,"text":"Taxicabs;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":244469,"text":"Passenger-carrying vehicles operated by common carriers or restricted common carriers;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":244470,"text":"Property-carrying motor vehicles registered pursuant to § 46.2-697 except pickup or panel trucks as defined in § 46.2-100;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":244471,"text":"Applicants, other than TNC partners as defined in § 46.2-2000 and emergency medical services vehicles pursuant to clause (iii) of § 46.2-649.1:1, who operate motor vehicles as passenger carriers for rent or hire;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"7":{"id":244472,"text":"Vehicles operated by nonemergency medical transportation carriers as defined in § 46.2-2000; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"B7"},"8":{"id":244473,"text":"Trailers and semitrailers.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"B7","prefix_anchor":"B7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B6","next_prefix":"C"},"9":{"id":244474,"text":"The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for motor vehicles held for rental as defined in § 58.1-1735.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B7","next_prefix":"D"},"10":{"id":244475,"text":"The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for low-speed vehicles.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"11":{"id":244476,"text":"The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for military surplus motor vehicles registered pursuant to § 46.2-730.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"12":{"id":244477,"text":"No vehicles shall be operated on the highways in the Commonwealth without displaying the license plates required by this chapter. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to vehicles used to collect and deliver the United States mail to the extent that their rear license plates may be covered by the “CAUTION, FREQUENT STOPS, U.S. MAIL” sign when the vehicle is engaged in the collection and delivery of the United States mail.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"13":{"id":244478,"text":"For any summons issued for a violation of this section, the court may, in its discretion, dismiss the summons, where proof of compliance with this section is provided to the court on or before the court date.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13378,"edition_id":1,"name":"License Plates, Generally","identifier":"9","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12879,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:45","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:45","permalink":{"id":228517,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13378,"identifier":"9","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9","url":"\/46.2\/II\/6\/9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12879,"edition_id":1,"name":"Titling and Registration of Motor Vehicles","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12771,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":226923,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12879,"identifier":"6","token":"46.2\/II\/6","url":"\/46.2\/II\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12771,"edition_id":1,"name":"Titling, Registration and Licensure","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225627,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12771,"identifier":"II","token":"46.2\/II","url":"\/46.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":67466,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-711","catch_line":"Furnishing number and design of plates; displaying on vehicles required","url":"\/46.2-711\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-711","metadata":false},{"id":74066,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-712","catch_line":"Requirements of license plates and decals","url":"\/46.2-712\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-712","metadata":false},{"id":54351,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-713","catch_line":"License plates and decals remain property of Department","url":"\/46.2-713\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-713","metadata":false},{"id":77404,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-714","catch_line":"Permanent license plates","url":"\/46.2-714\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-714","metadata":false},{"id":62616,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-715","catch_line":"Display of license plates","url":"\/46.2-715\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-715","metadata":false},{"id":85178,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-716","catch_line":"How license plates fastened to vehicle; altering appearance of license plates","url":"\/46.2-716\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-716","metadata":false},{"id":79814,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-717","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-717\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-717","metadata":false},{"id":83243,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-718","catch_line":"Use of old license plates or decals after application for new","url":"\/46.2-718\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-718","metadata":false},{"id":60371,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-719","catch_line":"Permit for emergency use of license plates","url":"\/46.2-719\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-719","metadata":false},{"id":84973,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-720","catch_line":"Use of license plates from another vehicle in certain circumstances","url":"\/46.2-720\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-720","metadata":false},{"id":82531,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-721","catch_line":"Application of liability insurance policy to vehicle carrying plates from insured vehicle","url":"\/46.2-721\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-721","metadata":false},{"id":55340,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-722","catch_line":"Altered or forged license plates or decals; use as evidence of knowledge","url":"\/46.2-722\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-722","metadata":false},{"id":84097,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-723","catch_line":"License plates for transporting mobile homes used as temporary offices at construction sites","url":"\/46.2-723\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-723","metadata":false},{"id":78813,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-724","catch_line":"Operation for hire of certain vehicles registered as not-for-hire; penalty","url":"\/46.2-724\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-724","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":74066,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-712","catch_line":"Requirements of license plates and decals","url":"\/46.2-712\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-712","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-711\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 16 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1954, chapter 211; in 1958, chapter 541; in 1974, chapters 150 and 477; in 1989, chapter 727; in 1993, chapter 290; in 1995, chapter 46<\/a>; in 1997, chapters 774<\/a> and 816<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 596<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 140<\/a>; in 2011, chapters 405<\/a>, 639<\/a>, 881<\/a>, and 889<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 783<\/a>; in 2014, chapters 53<\/a> and 256<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 2<\/a> and 3<\/a>; in 2016, chapters 125<\/a> and 133<\/a>; in 2017, chapters 670<\/a>, 790<\/a>, and 815<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 555<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68913,"section_number":"16.1-69.48:1","catch_line":"Fixed fee for misdemeanors, traffic infractions and other violations in district court; additional fees to be added","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.48_1\/"},{"id":73069,"section_number":"46.2-1548","catch_line":"Transferable license plates","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1548\/"},{"id":56634,"section_number":"46.2-1553","catch_line":"Operation without license plate prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1553\/"},{"id":71868,"section_number":"46.2-697","catch_line":"(Contingent effective date \u2014 see Editor's note) Fees for vehicles not designed or used for transportation of passengers","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-697\/"},{"id":77404,"section_number":"46.2-714","catch_line":"Permanent license plates","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-714\/"},{"id":74958,"section_number":"46.2-730","catch_line":"License plates for antique motor vehicles and antique trailers; fee","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-730\/"},{"id":66821,"section_number":"46.2-908.3","catch_line":"Low-speed vehicles; operation on highways; license required; registration required; safety and emissions inspections not required","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-908.3\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82691,"section_number":"46.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-100\/"},{"id":70585,"section_number":"46.2-2000","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-2000\/"},{"id":75213,"section_number":"46.2-649.1:1","catch_line":"Registration of vehicles owned and used by volunteer fire departments or volunteer, commercial, or private emergency medical services agencies","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-649.1_1\/"},{"id":71868,"section_number":"46.2-697","catch_line":"(Contingent effective date \u2014 see Editor's note) Fees for vehicles not designed or used for transportation of passengers","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-697\/"}],"permalink":{"id":228519,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67466,"identifier":"46.2-711","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-711","url":"\/46.2-711\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-711\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-711","dublin_core":{"Title":"Furnishing number and design of plates; displaying on vehicles required","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-711","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall furnish one license plate<\/span> for every registered moped<\/span>, motorcycle<\/span>, autocycle<\/span>, tractor truck<\/span>, semitrailer<\/span>, or trailer<\/span>, and two license plates<\/span> for every other registered motor vehicle<\/span>, except to licensed motor vehicle<\/span> dealers and persons delivering unladen vehicles<\/span> who shall be furnished one license plate<\/span>. The license plates<\/span> for trailers<\/span>, semitrailers<\/span>, commercial vehicles<\/span>, and trucks<\/span>, other than license plates<\/span> for dealers, may be of such design as to prevent removal without mutilating some part of the indicia forming a part of the license plate<\/span>, when secured to the bracket. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall issue<\/span> appropriately designated license plates<\/span> for: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Passenger-carrying vehicles<\/span> for rent or hire for the transportation of passengers for private trips, other than TNC partner vehicles<\/span> as defined in § 46.2-2000<\/a> and emergency medical services vehicles<\/span> pursuant to clause (iii) of § 46.2-649.1:1<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Taxicabs; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Passenger-carrying vehicles<\/span> operated by common carriers or restricted common carriers; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Property-carrying motor vehicles<\/span> registered pursuant to § 46.2-697<\/a> except pickup or panel trucks<\/span> as defined in § 46.2-100<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Applicants, other than TNC partners as defined in § 46.2-2000<\/a> and emergency medical services vehicles pursuant to clause (iii) of § 46.2-649.1:1<\/a>, who operate motor vehicles<\/span> as passenger carriers for rent or hire; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Vehicles operated by nonemergency medical transportation carriers as defined in § 46.2-2000<\/a>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Trailers<\/span> and semitrailers<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall issue<\/span> appropriately designated license plates<\/span> for motor vehicles<\/span> held for rental as defined in § 58.1-1735<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall issue<\/span> appropriately designated license plates<\/span> for low-speed vehicles<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall issue<\/span> appropriately designated license plates<\/span> for military surplus motor vehicles<\/span> registered pursuant to § 46.2-730.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> No vehicles shall be operated on the highways<\/span><\/span> in the Commonwealth without displaying the license plates<\/span> required by this chapter. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to vehicles used to collect and deliver the United States mail to the extent that their rear license plates<\/span> may be covered by the “CAUTION, FREQUENT STOPS, U.S. MAIL” sign when the vehicle is engaged in the collection and delivery of the United States mail. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> For any summons<\/span> issued for a violation of this section, the court<\/span> may, in its discretion, dismiss the summons<\/span>, where proof of compliance with this section is provided to the court<\/span> on or before the court<\/span> date. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFURNISHING NUMBER AND DESIGN OF PLATES; DISPLAYING ON VEHICLES REQUIRED (\u00a7\n46.2-711)\n\nA. The Department shall furnish one license plate for every registered moped,\nmotorcycle, autocycle, tractor truck, semitrailer, or trailer, and two license\nplates for every other registered motor vehicle, except to licensed motor\nvehicle dealers and persons delivering unladen vehicles who shall be furnished\none license plate. The license plates for trailers, semitrailers, commercial\nvehicles, and trucks, other than license plates for dealers, may be of such\ndesign as to prevent removal without mutilating some part of the indicia forming\na part of the license plate, when secured to the bracket.\n\nB. The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for:\n\n 1. Passenger-carrying vehicles for rent or hire for the transportation of\n passengers for private trips, other than TNC partner vehicles as defined in\n § 46.2-2000 and emergency medical services vehicles pursuant to clause\n (iii) of § 46.2-649.1:1;\n\n 2. Taxicabs;\n\n 3. Passenger-carrying vehicles operated by common carriers or restricted\n common carriers;\n\n 4. Property-carrying motor vehicles registered pursuant to § 46.2-697\n except pickup or panel trucks as defined in § 46.2-100;\n\n 5. Applicants, other than TNC partners as defined in § 46.2-2000 and\n emergency medical services vehicles pursuant to clause (iii) of §\n 46.2-649.1:1, who operate motor vehicles as passenger carriers for rent or\n hire;\n\n 6. Vehicles operated by nonemergency medical transportation carriers as\n defined in § 46.2-2000; and\n\n 7. Trailers and semitrailers.\n\nC. The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for motor\nvehicles held for rental as defined in § 58.1-1735.\n\nD. The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for\nlow-speed vehicles.\n\nE. The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for\nmilitary surplus motor vehicles registered pursuant to § 46.2-730.1.\n\nF. No vehicles shall be operated on the highways in the Commonwealth without\ndisplaying the license plates required by this chapter. The provisions of this\nsubsection shall not apply to vehicles used to collect and deliver the United\nStates mail to the extent that their rear license plates may be covered by the\n“CAUTION, FREQUENT STOPS, U.S. MAIL” sign when the vehicle is\nengaged in the collection and delivery of the United States mail.\n\nG. For any summons issued for a violation of this section, the court may, in its\ndiscretion, dismiss the summons, where proof of compliance with this section is\nprovided to the court on or before the court date.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 46-96, 46-160; 1950, p. 625; 1954, c. 211; 1958, c.\n541, \u00a7 46.1-99; 1974, cc. 150, 477; 1989, c. 727; 1993, c. 290; 1995, c. 46;\n1997, cc. 774, 816; 2001, c. 596; 2005, c. 140; 2011, cc. 405, 639, 881, 889;\n2013, c. 783; 2014, cc. 53, 256; 2015, cc. 2, 3; 2016, cc. 125, 133; 2017, cc.\n670, 790, 815; 2018, c. 555.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}