Minnesota Statutes 2025 169.79 Vehicle Registration;
Minnesota Statutes 2025 169.79 Vehicle Registration;
Displaying License Plates
Subdivision 1. Registration required.
No person shall operate, drive, or park a motor vehicle on any highway unless the vehicle is registered in accordance with the laws of this state and has the number plates or permit confirming that valid registration or operating authority has been obtained, except as provided in sections 168.10 and 168.12, subdivision 2f, as assigned to it by the commissioner of public safety, conspicuously displayed thereon in a manner that the view of any plate or permit is not obstructed. A plate issued under section 168.27 or a permit issued under chapter 168 may be displayed on a vehicle in conjunction with expired registration whether or not it displays the license plate to which the last registration was issued.
Subd. 2. Semitrailer.
If the vehicle is a semitrailer, the number plate displayed must be assigned to the registered owner and correlate to the documentation on file with the department.
Subd. 3. Rear display of single plate.
If the vehicle is a motorcycle, motor scooter, motorized bicycle, motorcycle sidecar, trailer registered at greater than 3,000 pounds gross vehicle weight( GVW), semitrailer, or vehicle displaying a dealer plate, then one license plate must be displayed horizontally or vertically, for a motorcycle issued vertical license plates under section 168.12, subdivision 2a, with the identifying numbers and letters facing outward from the vehicle and must be mounted on the rear of the vehicle.
Subd. 3a. Small trailer.
If the vehicle is a trailer with 3,000 pounds or less GVW with lifetime registration, the numbered plate or sticker must be adhered to the side of the trailer frame tongue near the hitch.
Subd. 4. Collector’ s vehicle.
If the vehicle is( 1) a collector’ s vehicle with a pioneer, classic car, collector, or street rod license;( 2) a vehicle that meets the requirements of a pioneer, classic, or street rod vehicle except that the vehicle is used for general transportation purposes; or( 3) a vehicle that is of model year 1972 or earlier, not registered under section168.10, subdivision 1c, and is used for general transportation purposes, then one plate must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle, or one plate on the front and one on the rear, at the discretion of the owner.
Subd. 5. Truck-tractor, road-tractor, or farm truck.
If the vehicle is a truck-tractor, road-tractor, or farm truck, as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 8, but excluding from that definition semitrailers and trailers, then one plate must be displayed on the front of the vehicle.
Subd. 6. Other motor vehicles.
If the motor vehicle is any kind of motor vehicle other than those provided for in subdivisions 2 to 4, one plate must be displayed on the front and one on the rear of the vehicle.
Subd. 7. Plate fastened and visible.
All plates must be( 1) securely fastened so as to prevent them from swinging,( 2) displayed horizontally with the identifying numbers and letters facing outward from the vehicle, and( 3) mounted in the upright position. The person driving the motor vehicle shall keep the plate legible and unobstructed and free from grease, dust, or other blurring material so that the lettering is plainly visible at all times. It is unlawful to cover any assigned letters and numbers or the name of the state of origin of a license plate with any material whatever, including any clear or colorless material that affects the plate’ s visibility or reflectivity.
Page 50
Subd. 8. Plate registration stickers. As viewed facing the plates:
( a) License plates issued to vehicles registered under section 168.017 must display the month of expiration in the lower left corner of each plate and the year of expiration in the lower right corner of each plate.
( b) License plates issued to vehicles registered under section 168.127 must display either fleet registration validation stickers in the lower right corner of each plate or distinctive license plates, issued by the registrar, with“ FLEET REG” displayed on the bottom center portion of each plate.
( c) License plates issued after July 1, 2008, requiring validation must display the month of expiration in the lower left corner of each plate and the year of expiration in the lower right corner of the plate.
Subd. 9. Tax-exempt vehicle marking.
Vehicles displaying tax-exempt plates issued under section 16B. 581 or168.012 must have vehicle markings that comply with section 168.012, subdivision 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2025 169.64 Prohibited Lights; Exceptions
Subd. 4. Blue light.( d) A motor vehicle may display a blue light of up to one-inch diameter as part of the vehicle’ s rear brake light if:( 1) the vehicle is a collector vehicle, as described in section 168.10; or( 2) the vehicle is eligible to display a collector plate under section
168.10.
Minnesota Statutes 2025 168.12 Subd. 2f. Original License Plates
2024 Minn. Stat. 168.12 Subd. 2f. Original License Plates( a) On application of the owner and in lieu of issuing plates under subdivision 1 to a motor vehicle registered and taxed as a passenger automobile, the commissioner may assign to the motor vehicle original Minnesota registration plates issued in the same year as the model year of the motor vehicle, if( 1) the original plates are at least 20 years old,( 2) the owner of the motor vehicle has the original plates in possession at the time of the application, and( 3) the owner provides the plate number to the commissioner.( b) Plates displayed under this subdivision, including stickers applied to the plates, must be clearly legible and must be displayed on the motor vehicle.( c) The commissioner shall not assign the registration number on the original plates to the motor vehicle if the commissioner determines that the number on the original plate is identical to the number on any plate in the current or reserved numbering system used by the commissioner.( d) Despite subdivision 1, an original plate whose number has been assigned under this subdivision may be displayed for as long as the plates, including tabs and stickers on the plates, are clearly legible and the number is not subsequently used by the commissioner as a plate number in a registration numbering system.( e) Despite subdivision 1, original plates assigned under this subdivision need not bear a tab or sticker to indicate the month or year of registration if the motor vehicle carries the registration certificate issued under section 168.11 at all times when the motor vehicle is operated on the public highways.( f) The commissioner may charge a fee for receiving an application and assigning original plate numbers.
MSRA’ s“ Back to the 50’ s Weekend” • 2026