Why do these Missouri vehicles not have back license plates? See the law
Some Missouri trucks have no rear license plate, and it’s perfectly legal. This state law explains why.
Missouri is one of the 29 states that requires vehicles to use front and back license plates, while Kansas vehicles only need the rear one, according to an article on Insurance.com.
But there are exceptions. Owners of heavy trucks can choose to only display their front license plate.
This is because many large pickup trucks are used to haul trailers, which block the back license plate. Trailers, flat beds and wagons are registered separately in Missouri and get their own unique license plates. Even when these large trucks do not have a trailer attached, they do not need a rear license plate.
The only eligible trucks are those registered to have a total weight of 18,000 pounds or more, including the vehicle and the load, called the Gross Combination Weight Rating. For reference, most 2024 Ford F-250, 350 and 450 trucks have a maximum GCWR of 18,000 pounds or more, according to the manufacturer.
Registering these heavy trucks costs from $27 to $107 per year, depending on the size and usage of the vehicle. For an additional $14.50, owners of these trucks can buy a back license plate for their vehicle.
There were a total of more than 1.5 million registered trucks in Missouri at the start of 2025, according to the state Department of Revenue.
The back of each trailer must have two red tail lights, two red reflectors and a white license plate light, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. They have to be equipped with a safety chain and be 8 1/2 feet wide or narrower.
In addition, some vehicles only have to display a back plate, like historic vehicles and motorcycles.
Have more questions about driving in Missouri? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published July 10, 2025 at 8:19 AM.
