Display of Number Plates

V.S.A. tit. 23, ch. 7, subch. 5

in effect

23 V.S.A. § 511 Manner of display

511. Manner of display (a) Number plates. (1) A motor vehicle operated on any highway shall have displayed in a conspicuous place either one or two number plates as the Commissioner may require. The number plates shall be furnished by the Commissioner and shall show the number assigned to the vehicle by the Commissioner. If only one number plate is furnished, the plate shall be securely attached to the rear of the vehicle. If two are furnished, one shall be securely attached to the rear and one to the front of the vehicle. (2) Except as otherwise provided by law: (A) Number plates shall be kept entirely unobscured and the numerals and letters on the plates shall be plainly legible at all times. (B) A person shall not color, tint, or change in any manner the numerals, letters, or background of the plate from their appearance at the time the plate was issued. (C) A person shall not cover or obscure any numerals or letters on a number plate with any material or substance. (3) Number plates shall be kept horizontal, shall be so fastened as not to swing, excepting, however, there may be installed on a motor truck or truck tractor a device that would, upon contact with a substantial object, permit the rear number plate to swing toward the front of the vehicle, provided such device automatically returns the number plate to its original rigid position after contact is released, and the ground clearance of the lower edges thereof shall be established by the Commissioner pursuant to the provisions of 3 V.S.A. chapter 25. (b) [Repealed.] (c) Violation. A person shall not operate a motor vehicle unless a number plate or number plates are displayed as provided in this section. (d) [Repealed.] (e) Temporary and in-transit registration plates. A motor vehicle issued a temporary or in-transit registration plate under section 312, 458, 463, 516, or 517 of this title operated on any highway shall have the temporary or in-transit registration plate displayed horizontally in a conspicuous place on the rear of the vehicle, including in the rear window. The temporary or in-transit registration plate shall be kept entirely unobscured, and the numerals and letters on the plate shall be plainly legible at all times as provided pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. Amended 1979, No. 125 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 15, 1980; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2019, No. 60, § 32; 2021, No. 76, § 1, eff. Sept. 8, 2020; 2023, No. 41, § 13, eff. Nov. 1, 2023; 2025, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 26, eff. July 1, 2026.

23 V.S.A. § 512 Trailer or semi-trailer

512. Trailer or semi-trailer When a trailer or semi-trailer is being drawn by a registered motor vehicle, the rear number plate assigned to such trailer or semi-trailer shall be displayed on the rear of such trailer or semi-trailer and shall be illuminated at night as provided in section 1248 of this title for the lighting of rear number plates on motor vehicles. Amended 2015, No. 47, § 14.

23 V.S.A. § 513 Misuse of plates

513. Misuse of plates Except as provided in section 321 of this title, an owner of a motor vehicle shall not attach or cause to be attached to the vehicle number plates that were not assigned by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. A person shall not operate a motor vehicle, except as provided in section 321 of this title, to which number plates are attached that were not assigned to the vehicle by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. An inspector of motor vehicles and any enforcement officer shall have authority to remove from a motor vehicle any plates that have been attached in violation of the provisions of this section. Amended 2005, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 20, 2006.

23 V.S.A. § 514 Replacement number plates

514. Replacement number plates (a) In case of the loss of a number plate, the owner of the motor vehicle to which it was assigned shall immediately notify the Commissioner of such loss, and the Commissioner shall furnish such owner with a new plate. The fee charged shall be $15.00 for each plate. The owner of a motor vehicle who has lost one number plate may operate the owner’s vehicle with only one number plate attached until a new plate is furnished to the owner, provided the owner notified the Commissioner as required under this section. (b) Any replacement number plate shall be issued at a fee of $15.00. However, if the Commissioner, in the Commissioner’s discretion, determines that a plate has become illegible as a result of deficiencies in the manufacturing process or by use of faulty materials, the replacement fee shall be waived. Amended 1969, No. 276 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 1981, No. 81, § 1, eff. May 5, 1981; 1989, No. 51, § 33; 2001, No. 102 (Adj. Sess.), § 20, eff. May 15, 2002; 2005, No. 72, § 12; 2011, No. 46, § 4; 2015, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 31; 2019, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 155; 2023, No. 78, § G.124, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.

23 V.S.A. § 516 Sale of vehicle to go out of State by a person other than dealer

516. Sale of vehicle to go out of State by a person other than dealer The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles is authorized to issue an in-transit registration permit for the purpose of movement over the highways of certain motor vehicles otherwise required to be registered when the vehicles are sold in this State by a person, other than a registered motor vehicle dealer, to be transported to and registered in another state or province. The registration may be obtained by submitting an application on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The Commissioner is authorized to charge a fee of $8.00 for the processing of the application and the issuance of the plate. The in-transit registration plate pursuant to this section shall be valid for a period of 30 days from issuance and shall be in the form and design prescribed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Issuance of an in-transit plate for vehicles sold by a registered motor vehicle dealer to a person to be transported to and registered in another state or province shall be governed by the provisions of section 463 of this title. Added 1979, No. 30, § 2, eff. April 17, 1979; amended 1985, No. 30, § 3; 1995, No. 120 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2003, No. 35, § 2; 2015, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 32; 2023, No. 78, § G.125, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.

23 V.S.A. § 517 Intrastate in-transit permit

517. Intrastate in-transit permit The Commissioner may issue an intrastate in-transit registration permit to authorize the movement within Vermont of a motor vehicle otherwise required to be registered, if the vehicle is sold in this State by a person other than a registered motor vehicle dealer. The permit may be obtained after submission of an application on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commissioner and payment of a $8.00 fee. The permit shall be valid for a period of 10 days from the date of issuance and shall be in the form and design prescribed by the Commissioner. Added 2015, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 33; amended 2023, No. 78, § G.126, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/23/007Fetched: 10/21/2026