{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-712.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-712.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-712.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-712.html"}],"law_id":74066,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74066,"structure_id":13378,"section_number":"46.2-712","catch_line":"Requirements of license plates and decals","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 46-97; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-101; 1972, c. 609; 1974, c. 170; 1988, c. 701; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 283; 1999, c. 593; 2000, c. 133; 2005, c. 301.","full_text":"A\n\nEvery license plate shall display the registration number assigned to the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer and to the owner thereof, the name of the Commonwealth, which may be abbreviated, and the year or the month and year, which may be abbreviated and in the form of decals, for which it is issued. Subject to the need for legibility, the size of the plate, the letters, numerals, and decals thereon, and the color of the plate, letters, numerals, and decals shall be in the discretion of the Commissioner. Decals shall be placed on the license plates in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner, and shall indicate the month and year of expiration. On the issuance of the decals, a new registration card shall be issued with the same date of expiration as the decals.B\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Department may issue permanent license plates without decals and without a month and year of expiration for all trailers and semitrailers, regardless of weight; trucks and tractor trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds; taxicabs or other motor vehicles performing a taxicab service; and common carrier vehicles operated for hire, both of the latter as defined in § 46.2-2000 that are in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 20 (§ 46.2-2000 et seq.) of this title. In addition, the Department may issue permanent license plates without decals and without a month and year of expiration for trucks and tractor trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings or gross combination weight ratings of at least 7,501 pounds but not more than 26,000 pounds, provided that such vehicles are for business use only, and for farm vehicles registered with the Department pursuant to § 46.2-698.C\n\nNotwithstanding any contrary provision of this section, any person who, pursuant to former § 56-304.3, repealed by Chapters 744 and 803 of the Acts of Assembly of 1995, obtained from the State Corporation Commission an exemption from the marker or decal requirements of former § 56-304, 56-304.1 or 56-304.2, and who has painted or, in the case of newly acquired vehicles, who paints an identifying number on the sides of any vehicle with respect to which such exemption applies and, in all other respects, continues to comply with the requirements of former § 56-304.3, shall be deemed to be in compliance with § 46.2-2011.23 and subdivision 18 of § 46.2-2011.24.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":266383,"text":"Every license plate shall display the registration number assigned to the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer and to the owner thereof, the name of the Commonwealth, which may be abbreviated, and the year or the month and year, which may be abbreviated and in the form of decals, for which it is issued. Subject to the need for legibility, the size of the plate, the letters, numerals, and decals thereon, and the color of the plate, letters, numerals, and decals shall be in the discretion of the Commissioner. Decals shall be placed on the license plates in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner, and shall indicate the month and year of expiration. On the issuance of the decals, a new registration card shall be issued with the same date of expiration as the decals.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":266384,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Department may issue permanent license plates without decals and without a month and year of expiration for all trailers and semitrailers, regardless of weight; trucks and tractor trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds; taxicabs or other motor vehicles performing a taxicab service; and common carrier vehicles operated for hire, both of the latter as defined in § 46.2-2000 that are in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 20 (§ 46.2-2000 et seq.) of this title. In addition, the Department may issue permanent license plates without decals and without a month and year of expiration for trucks and tractor trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings or gross combination weight ratings of at least 7,501 pounds but not more than 26,000 pounds, provided that such vehicles are for business use only, and for farm vehicles registered with the Department pursuant to § 46.2-698.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":266385,"text":"Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this section, any person who, pursuant to former § 56-304.3, repealed by Chapters 744 and 803 of the Acts of Assembly of 1995, obtained from the State Corporation Commission an exemption from the marker or decal requirements of former § 56-304, 56-304.1 or 56-304.2, and who has painted or, in the case of newly acquired vehicles, who paints an identifying number on the sides of any vehicle with respect to which such exemption applies and, in all other respects, continues to comply with the requirements of former § 56-304.3, shall be deemed to be in compliance with § 46.2-2011.23 and subdivision 18 of § 46.2-2011.24.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-712\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 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 1958, chapter 541; in 1972, chapter 609; in 1974, chapter 170; in 1988, chapter 701; in 1989, chapter 727; in 1997, chapter 283<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 593<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 133<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 301<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":77404,"section_number":"46.2-714","catch_line":"Permanent license plates","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-714\/"},{"id":80954,"section_number":"46.2-749.5","catch_line":"Special license plates celebrating Virginia's tobacco heritage","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-749.5\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":70585,"section_number":"46.2-2000","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-2000\/"},{"id":81998,"section_number":"46.2-2011.23","catch_line":"Violations; civil penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-2011.23\/"},{"id":54936,"section_number":"46.2-2011.24","catch_line":"Grounds for denying, suspending, or revoking licenses, permits, or certificates","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-2011.24\/"}],"permalink":{"id":228523,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74066,"identifier":"46.2-712","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-712","url":"\/46.2-712\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-712\/","token":"46.2\/II\/6\/9\/46.2-712","dublin_core":{"Title":"Requirements of license plates and decals","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-712","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Every license plate<\/span> shall display the registration number assigned to the motor vehicle<\/span>, trailer<\/span>, or semitrailer<\/span> and to the owner<\/span> thereof, the name of the Commonwealth, which may be abbreviated, and the year or the month and year, which may be abbreviated and in the form of decals<\/span>, for which it is issued. Subject to the need for legibility, the size of the plate, the letters, numerals, and decals<\/span> thereon, and the color of the plate, letters, numerals, and decals<\/span> shall be in the discretion of the Commissioner<\/span>. Decals<\/span> shall be placed on the license plates<\/span> in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner<\/span>, and shall indicate the month and year of expiration. On the issuance of the decals<\/span>, a new registration card shall be issued with the same date of expiration as the decals<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Department<\/span> may issue<\/span> permanent license plates<\/span> without decals<\/span> and without a month and year of expiration for all trailers<\/span> and semitrailers<\/span>, regardless of weight; trucks and tractor trucks<\/span> with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds; taxicabs or other motor vehicles<\/span> performing a taxicab service; and common carrier vehicles operated for hire, both of the latter as defined in § 46.2-2000<\/a> that are in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 20 (§ 46.2-2000<\/a> et seq.) of this title. In addition, the Department<\/span> may issue<\/span> permanent license plates<\/span> without decals<\/span> and without a month and year of expiration for trucks and tractor trucks<\/span> with gross vehicle weight ratings or gross combination weight ratings of at least 7,501 pounds but not more than 26,000 pounds, provided that such vehicles are for business use only, and for farm vehicles registered with the Department<\/span> pursuant to § 46.2-698<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this section, any person who, pursuant to former § 56-304.3, repealed by Chapters 744 and 803 of the Acts of Assembly of 1995, obtained from the State Corporation Commission<\/span> an exemption from the marker or decal<\/span> requirements of former § 56-304, 56-304.1 or 56-304.2, and who has painted or, in the case of newly acquired vehicles, who paints an identifying number on the sides of any vehicle with respect to which such exemption applies and, in all other respects, continues to comply with the requirements of former § 56-304.3, shall be deemed to be in compliance with § 46.2-2011.23<\/a> and subdivision 18 of § 46.2-2011.24<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREQUIREMENTS OF LICENSE PLATES AND DECALS (\u00a7 46.2-712)\n\nA. Every license plate shall display the registration number assigned to the\nmotor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer and to the owner thereof, the name of the\nCommonwealth, which may be abbreviated, and the year or the month and year,\nwhich may be abbreviated and in the form of decals, for which it is issued.\nSubject to the need for legibility, the size of the plate, the letters,\nnumerals, and decals thereon, and the color of the plate, letters, numerals, and\ndecals shall be in the discretion of the Commissioner. Decals shall be placed on\nthe license plates in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner, and shall\nindicate the month and year of expiration. On the issuance of the decals, a new\nregistration card shall be issued with the same date of expiration as the\ndecals.\n\nB. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Department may issue\npermanent license plates without decals and without a month and year of\nexpiration for all trailers and semitrailers, regardless of weight; trucks and\ntractor trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight\nrating of more than 26,000 pounds; taxicabs or other motor vehicles performing a\ntaxicab service; and common carrier vehicles operated for hire, both of the\nlatter as defined in § 46.2-2000 that are in compliance with the\nrequirements of Chapter 20 (§ 46.2-2000 et seq.) of this title. In\naddition, the Department may issue permanent license plates without decals and\nwithout a month and year of expiration for trucks and tractor trucks with gross\nvehicle weight ratings or gross combination weight ratings of at least 7,501\npounds but not more than 26,000 pounds, provided that such vehicles are for\nbusiness use only, and for farm vehicles registered with the Department pursuant\nto § 46.2-698.\n\nC. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this section, any person who,\npursuant to former § 56-304.3, repealed by Chapters 744 and 803 of the Acts\nof Assembly of 1995, obtained from the State Corporation Commission an exemption\nfrom the marker or decal requirements of former § 56-304, 56-304.1 or\n56-304.2, and who has painted or, in the case of newly acquired vehicles, who\npaints an identifying number on the sides of any vehicle with respect to which\nsuch exemption applies and, in all other respects, continues to comply with the\nrequirements of former § 56-304.3, shall be deemed to be in compliance with\n§ 46.2-2011.23 and subdivision 18 of § 46.2-2011.24.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 46-97; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-101; 1972, c. 609; 1974, c.\n170; 1988, c. 701; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 283; 1999, c. 593; 2000, c. 133; 2005,\nc. 301.","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}}