The fine for no front license plate in Washington is about $139, covering the base penalty on the court’s infraction schedule plus the mandatory statutory assessments added on top.1Washington Courts. IRLJ 6.2 – Monetary Penalty Schedule for Infractions It is a traffic infraction, not a criminal offense, and it does not add points to your driving record the way a moving violation would. Some cities tack on local surcharges, so the total you see on the notice can vary a little by jurisdiction.
The ticket itself is manageable. What turns it expensive is ignoring it, or getting cited when your car actually qualified for an exemption you never filed for.
Does Your Vehicle Even Need a Front Plate?
RCW 46.16A.200 requires plates on both the front and rear of any vehicle issued two plates, displayed conspicuously and readable at all times.2Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 46.16A.200 – License Plates The state only issues one plate for motorcycles, trailers, semitrailers, campers, mopeds, collector vehicles, and horseless carriages. If you own one of those, a front-plate citation should not be on the table at all.
Cars With No Front Mounting Point
Some passenger cars, often performance and luxury models from manufacturers like Porsche, BMW, and Tesla, leave the factory with no front plate bracket. Washington State Patrol can grant an exemption when mounting a plate is physically impossible.3Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.16A.200 – License Plates The exemption comes from the State Patrol, not the Department of Licensing, which is where many drivers get confused.
To request one, email the State Patrol’s Equipment and Standards Review Unit at equipment@wsp.wa.gov, or mail Washington State Patrol, Equipment and Standards Review Unit, P.O. Box 42600, Olympia, WA 98054-2600. Include the vehicle’s make, model, VIN, plate number, your name and address, a photo of the front of the car, and an explanation of why a plate cannot be mounted. If the manufacturer sells a bracket for your model, the request will likely be denied. Having the exemption on file protects you at a traffic stop; without it, the officer gets to make the call.
Responding to the Ticket
You have 30 days from the date on the citation to respond.4Washington State Legislature. Chapter 46.63 RCW – Disposition of Traffic Infractions The back of the notice gives you three choices.
- Pay the fine. This resolves the ticket but counts as admitting the infraction.
- Request a mitigation hearing. You admit the violation but ask the judge to lower the fine based on your circumstances. The judge can reduce the penalty but will not dismiss it.
- Request a contested hearing. You challenge the ticket and can present evidence, including proof of a valid WSP exemption, photos showing the plate was actually displayed, or evidence that the wrong vehicle was identified.
Thirty days goes quickly. Do not let the notice sit in the glovebox.
What Ignoring the Ticket Costs
Missing the deadline is where a small fine turns into a real problem. The court enters a default finding that you committed the infraction and adds a $25 statutory penalty on top of the original amount.4Washington State Legislature. Chapter 46.63 RCW – Disposition of Traffic Infractions With additional court assessments, the late penalty often lands closer to $52 depending on the court.
The court also notifies the Department of Licensing, which can suspend your driving privilege until the fine is resolved. Driving on a suspended license is a separate and far more serious offense. If the balance stays unpaid, the court refers the debt to a collection agency, and Washington law lets government entities add a collection fee of up to 50 percent of the unpaid balance.5Washington State Legislature. RCW 19.16.500 – Public Bodies May Retain Collection Agencies A $139 ticket can easily top $200 after the late penalty and approach $300 or more once collection fees are added. The collection account can also show up on your credit report, which is a steep price for a missing piece of metal on the front of a car.
If your vehicle qualifies, filing for the WSP exemption costs nothing. If it does not, an aftermarket bracket is cheap, installs in minutes, and ends the risk entirely.