Car Dealers, Drivers, Police All Confused Over New Law. State Of Florida Just Made It Easier.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The somewhat bizarre new law that seemed to ban all license plate frames in the State of Florida is now not as big a deal as it was. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles just issued a memo that appears to narrow what could get you in trouble.
For those of you who haven’t been following this controversy: a new Florida law appeared to ban all license plate frames. The language was interpreted by pretty much everyone as saying that no part of a license plate could be covered. Not the numbers. Not the letters. Not the decals. Not even the “Sunshine State” part of the plate. That was driving (no pun intended but we’ll go with it) car dealers bonkers. They buy custom license frames by the thousands to promote their dealerships, then attach them to every car that they sell. One local car dealer as of Tuesday afternoon still was trying to figure out what to do with a new order of 1000 seemingly illegal license plate frames. And no joke: arrest for drivers who received multiple violations was part of the statute.
But as it turns out, there was some misinterpretation — or misunderstanding — of the law’s intention. Officials now say they are merely trying to stop people from covering the actual license plate numbers and registration decals. If you cover the “Sunshine State” or other tag line on the plate, it’s just fine. The Florida DHSMV just issued this memo after so many people were so confused:
>>”On October 1, 2025, Florida Statute 320.262 License plate obscuring device prohibited; penalties went into effect.
This statute prohibits license plate obscuring devices.
This memo is intended to provide additional guidance on the use of a license plate frame.
Sections (1)(c) and (1)(d) of s. 320.262 F.S. reads as follows, (1)(c) “covering, obscuring, or otherwise interfering with the legibility, angular visibility, or detectability of the primary features or details, including the license plate number or validation sticker, on the license plate”; are prohibited or (1)(d) “interfering with the ability to record the primary features or details, including the license plate number or validation sticker, on the license plate” are prohibited.
This act does not prohibit the use of a license plate frame as long as the frame does not obscure visibility of the following:
- The alpha numeric plate identifier;
- The decal located in the top right hand corner of the license plate.
The Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles does not consider the information on the bottom of the plate to be a primary feature of the plate. A plate frame that impinges on the information at the top of the plate is permissible, as long as law enforcement is able to identify the state that issued the plate.”<<
Bottom line: don’t cover anything that matters. Don’t use tinted plastic to block license plate readers. But if you want to promote your favorite car dealership, go right ahead.
