Are License Plate Frames Even Legal in Louisiana?

Everyone who drives a car on a Louisiana roadway should make sure their vehicle is "street legal" before they head out. It doesn't matter whether you're traveling the backroads between Kaplan and Crowley or you're taking the Interstate from Lake Charles to Lafayette, you need to know that the vehicle is safe to operate and it has been vetted to be legally operated on the streets of Louisiana.

Part of that vetting process is the state inspection. Which allegedly checks for the safety and performance features of the vehicle. Then there is the license plate. This is an outward symbol that the owner of the vehicle has paid the proper taxes and fees to legally operate that vehicle on Louisiana roadways.

If you've ever been in Louisiana around Mardi Gras you know we are kind of partial to decorating. We really enjoy dressing things up and that includes our vehicles. And while we might add a custom paint job to our new Kia we certainly might let the world know our thoughts and opinions on a wide variety of subjects via the license plate frame that we choose to encompass our vehicle's tag.

What Is the Purpose of a License Plate Frame?

The short answer is decoration. The more advanced answer might be decoration and marketing. We say marketing because almost every new car dealership or any car dealership for that matter will include a decorative plate frame that has the dealer's name and contact information. It's free advertising for the dealership since they know most of us won't bother to take it off.

Are License Plate Frames Legal in Louisiana?

This is going to be a "yes" and "no" kind of answer. Yes, the frames are legal as long as they meet certain criteria. Namely, they can't block the numbers and important information on the plate. And, they cannot prevent it via tinting or covering the ability to read that plate. As long as they don't create any of those issues you should be just fine.

The problem with the interpretation of the plate frame rule is that it is in the eye of the beholder. So, the frame might look wonderful to you, to a member of law enforcement they might view the frame as something that prevents them from gathering the information they need to do their job.

You should also be mindful of any plate frames that offer additional lighting or illumination. Sometimes this "technology" makes it difficult for members of law enforcement to read the plate and that's never a good thing when that happens.

The bottom line? Yes, you may decorate your license plate. Just don't go overboard, at least on the back bumper. Here in Louisiana where front plates are not required, you can dress that plate up all you want. So don't feel as if your creativity has been stifled.