Florida Clarifies New License Plate Law: What Drivers Must Remove Now

Florida officials are reminding drivers about a new law that tightens restrictions on license plates, following widespread confusion over what is still allowed.

The updated law, which took effect in October, makes it illegal to use any license plate frame, cover, or accessory that blocks or alters essential plate information. While frames are not outright banned, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles clarified that they must not obscure key identifiers.

According to the department, license plates must remain fully visible, including the alphanumeric characters and the registration decal located in the top right corner. Any frame or cover that blocks these elements is now illegal.

The law goes further than previous regulations by making any alteration affecting how a license plate looks or can be read a criminal offense, not just a traffic violation. Prohibited modifications include changing the plate’s color, applying sprays, films, coatings, or tints, using transparent or smoked covers, adding lights or reflective devices, or installing mechanisms that flip, hide, or swap plates.

Officials advise drivers to keep plates clean and unobstructed, check dealer-installed frames for compliance, remove aftermarket accessories, and ensure the plate light works properly.

Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez recommends a simple solution: remove the frame entirely. He said he advised his elderly parents to do the same to avoid confusion or potential disputes during traffic stops.

Penalties under the law range from a $500 fine for altering or covering a plate to up to $5,000 and five years in prison if such devices are used to commit or aid a crime.