Florida License Plate Frame Law: Are Frames and Covers Legal in 2026?
Short answer
Partly. Plate frames are legal in Florida if they do not hide the plate number or the registration sticker. Covers, tinted shields and anything that interferes with how the plate is read or recorded are not allowed. Knowingly obscuring a plate is a second-degree misdemeanor under Fla. Stat. § 320.061.
Last verified October 25, 2026 against current Florida law
The Florida license plate frame law confused a lot of drivers after October 1, 2025, when a new state law made it a crime to knowingly put anything on or around a plate that interferes with reading or recording it. Many people thought every frame was now illegal. In April 2026, Florida passed a follow-up law that says plain frames are fine as long as they leave the key information visible.
This page explains which frames and covers are legal in Florida today, what the 2025 and 2026 laws actually say, what a ticket or arrest can look like, and what to do if an officer stops you over your plate.
Florida license plate frame law at a glance
| Question | Florida law |
|---|---|
| Are license plate frames legal? | Yes, if the frame does not hide the plate number or the registration sticker in the upper right corner |
| Are license plate covers legal? | No, if the cover reduces how well the plate can be read, seen from an angle or detected by a camera |
| What counts as hiding a plate? | Covers, sprays, coatings, reflective material, illuminated devices and any device that interferes with reading or recording the plate |
| Penalty for obscuring a plate | Knowingly obscuring a plate is a second-degree misdemeanor: up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine |
| Main laws | Fla. Stat. §§ 316.605, 320.061, 320.262 |
| Recent changes | CS/HB 253 (Ch. 2025-36) took effect October 1, 2025; SB 488 (Ch. 2026-39) took effect October 1, 2026 and protects frames that leave the number and sticker visible |
Are license plate frames illegal in Florida?
No. License plate frames are not illegal in Florida. A frame or decorative border is allowed as long as it does not obscure the alphanumeric plate number or the registration decal in the upper right corner, under Fla. Stat. § 320.061(2) and § 320.262(5).
That rule came from SB 488, which Governor DeSantis approved on April 21, 2026. It added the frame exception to both sections, and it took effect October 1, 2026. The 2025 law had no frame exception, which caused confusion.
What license plate frames are legal in Florida?
A frame is legal if the plate number and the validation sticker stay fully visible. That includes the thin metal frames, dealer frames and university frames that sit around the edge of the plate.
According to news reports of a December 2025 memo, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) said it does not treat the information at the bottom of the plate, such as the county name or a slogan, as a primary feature. It also said a frame that overlaps text at the top is acceptable as long as an officer can still identify the issuing state. That guidance came before SB 488, so the safest choice is a frame that leaves the whole face of the plate clear.
What frames are not legal?
- A frame whose edge covers any digit or letter of the plate number.
- A frame, bracket or border that covers any part of the registration decal in the upper right corner.
- A deep or raised frame that blocks the plate when you look at it from an angle.
- A frame with lights, tint or a shield that interferes with reading or recording the plate.
Are license plate covers illegal in Florida?
Covers that interfere with reading the plate are illegal in Florida. Fla. Stat. § 320.061 bans putting any substance, reflective material, illuminated device, spray, coating or cover on or around a plate if it reduces the plate’s legibility, angular visibility or detectability, or stops it from being recorded.
Clear covers, smoked covers and “anti-camera” sprays all sit in that zone. As the statute is written, it looks at legibility, angular visibility and detectability, not whether the cover looks clear to you. The 2026 frame exception covers frames and decorative borders only, not covers.
Did Florida ban license plate covers?
Yes, in effect. The October 1, 2025 law, CS/HB 253, made it a crime to cover or obscure a plate in a way that interferes with reading or recording it. It did not use the words “plate cover ban,” but covers that reduce legibility, angular visibility or detectability are what the statute describes.
What is the new Florida license plate law?
There are two new laws. The first is CS/HB 253 (Chapter 2025-36), approved May 19, 2025, which took effect October 1, 2025. The second is SB 488 (Chapter 2026-39), approved April 21, 2026, which took effect October 1, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 19, 2025 | Governor signs CS/HB 253, a bill about offenses involving motor vehicles |
| October 1, 2025 | CS/HB 253 takes effect: knowingly altering or obscuring a plate becomes a second-degree misdemeanor, and plate obscuring devices are banned under § 320.262 |
| December 2025 | FLHSMV issues a memo, as reported by news outlets, saying frames that leave the plate number and top right decal visible are not banned |
| April 21, 2026 | Governor approves SB 488, which adds a frame and decorative border exception |
| October 1, 2026 | SB 488 takes effect |
Before October 2025, obscuring a plate under § 320.061 was only a noncriminal traffic infraction. The 2025 law raised it to a crime, which is why the confusion over frames mattered so much.
Penalties for obscuring a license plate in Florida
Penalties depend on what you did. The jail and fine limits come from Fla. Stat. §§ 775.082 and 775.083.
| Offense | Classification | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|
Plate not clearly visible or legible from 100 feet, under § 316.605 | Noncriminal traffic infraction | Fine under chapter 318; no jail |
Knowingly covering, altering or obscuring a plate, under § 320.061 | Second-degree misdemeanor | 60 days in jail, $500 fine |
Buying or possessing a plate obscuring device, under § 320.262(2) | Second-degree misdemeanor | 60 days in jail, $500 fine |
Making, selling or distributing a plate obscuring device, under § 320.262(3) | First-degree misdemeanor | 1 year in jail, $1,000 fine |
Using a device to help commit a crime or avoid arrest, under § 320.262(4) | Third-degree felony | 5 years in prison, $5,000 fine |
The word “knowingly” matters. The statute applies to someone who “knowingly” violates it, so a prosecutor must prove more than that a frame touched an edge. Even so, a stop can start with an officer’s view of your plate, so a clear plate is the best protection.
Real Florida scenarios
- You have a dealership frame on your Honda in Orlando that covers the “Sunshine State” text at the bottom. That is generally allowed under the reported FLHSMV guidance, and the number and sticker are still visible.
- Your university frame in Gainesville covers the top of the plate, including part of the state name. FLHSMV reportedly said that can be acceptable if the issuing state is still identifiable, but this is the gray area. Moving to a slimmer frame removes the risk.
- Your frame in Tampa covers the corner of your registration decal. That frame does not qualify for the exception. Move the frame or remove it, because the decal must stay visible.
- You put a clear shield over your plate on Miami-Dade toll roads. If the shield cuts down how well toll or traffic cameras can read the plate, that is a violation of
§ 320.061, which reaches anything that interferes with recording the plate’s features.
Myths vs facts about Florida plate frames
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| “All license plate frames are illegal in Florida now.” | Frames are legal if they leave the number and sticker visible. SB 488 wrote that into §§ 320.061(2) and 320.262(5) |
| “A clear cover is fine because you can still see through it.” | The law looks at legibility, angular visibility and camera detection, so covers that reduce any of those can be a crime |
| “It is only a ticket.” | Since October 1, 2025, knowingly obscuring a plate is a second-degree misdemeanor, not just a noncriminal infraction |
| “The county name at the bottom has to stay clear.” | FLHSMV reportedly does not treat the bottom information as a primary feature |
Does this change by county or city?
No. The plate rules are state law, so they apply the same in Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Hillsborough and Duval counties. What can differ is how a local officer reads your frame during a stop.
What to do if you are stopped over your plate frame
- Stay calm, and keep the officer able to see your hands, license, registration and proof of insurance.
- Say politely that your frame does not cover the plate number or the sticker, and cite
§ 320.061(2)only if the officer asks why you believe it is legal. - Do not argue on the roadside. Take photos of the plate and frame as soon as you can, from the front and at an angle.
- Remove or replace any frame that touches the number, decal or state name before you drive again.
- If you were charged with a misdemeanor, speak with a Florida-licensed attorney before your court date.
For more on traffic stops and vehicle rules, see our Florida driving law guides, and follow Florida Legal News for new transportation laws.
Frequently asked questions
Are license plate frames illegal in Florida?
No. A frame is legal as long as it does not obscure the plate number or the registration sticker in the upper right corner. Florida added that rule to Fla. Stat. sections 320.061(2) and 320.262(5) through SB 488, which took effect October 1, 2026. Frames that cover those items can still lead to a charge.
Are license plate covers illegal in Florida?
Covers are illegal if they reduce how well the plate can be read, seen from an angle or detected by a camera. Fla. Stat. section 320.061 lists covers, sprays, coatings and reflective material among the items it bans when they interfere with the plate. The 2026 frame exception does not protect covers.
What is the new Florida license plate law?
Two laws changed the rules. CS/HB 253 took effect October 1, 2025, and made knowingly obscuring or altering a plate a second-degree misdemeanor. SB 488 took effect October 1, 2026, and says a frame or decorative border is not an offense if it leaves the plate number and registration sticker visible.
Did Florida ban license plate frames?
No. The 2025 law targeted devices and materials that make a plate hard to read, but it did not name frames, and that caused confusion. FLHSMV reportedly clarified in December 2025 that frames were not banned, and SB 488 later wrote a frame exception into the statutes.
Can a license plate frame get you pulled over in Florida?
It can if an officer believes the frame hides part of your plate, but a frame that leaves the number and sticker visible is legal. If you are charged over a legal frame, photograph the plate and talk to a lawyer.
Can I cover the bottom of my Florida license plate with a frame?
Generally yes. FLHSMV reportedly does not treat the information at the bottom of the plate as a primary feature, and the 2026 law protects frames that leave the number and sticker visible. Keep the frame off the digits and the decal, and avoid covering the state name at the top.
What is the penalty for covering a license plate in Florida?
Knowingly covering, altering or obscuring a plate is a second-degree misdemeanor under Fla. Stat. section 320.061, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. A plate that is simply not legible from 100 feet under section 316.605 is a noncriminal traffic infraction.
What changed on this page
October 25, 2026: Published and verified against current Florida law, including SB 488 (Chapter 2026-39).
If this affects you: if you were stopped or charged over your plate, talk to a Florida-licensed criminal or traffic defense lawyer before your court date; the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service can help. For plate and registration questions, contact the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or your county tax collector. Read how we check the law or report an error.
