What is an Arkansas License Plate?
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), through its Office of Motor Vehicles, issues all license plates and manages vehicle titles and registration records throughout the state. Residents register at state revenue offices located in each of Arkansas’s 75 counties or online through the MyDMV DFA portal.
The current standard Arkansas license plate displays the slogan “The Natural State” and a diamond graphic on a white background. Most motor vehicles are issued two plates, front and rear.
Types of License Plates in Arkansas
- Standard plates are assigned upon registration without additional fees, except for weight-based registration fees. Transferring a plate to another vehicle costs $1.00.
- Dozens of special designs cover universities, conservation causes, and community organizations. Conservation plates through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission cost 35(25 for AGFC, $10 for DFA), which is typical for organizational plates.
- Any vehicle owner can order a personalized plate for $25 annually through the DFA Specialty Plates Office.
- Disabled veteran plates are issued free for the first plate, with an annual renewal fee of $1. Ex-Prisoner of War plates allow up to two free, and Congressional Medal of Honor plates are also fee-exempt. “Purple Heart” plates are issued at the standard registration fee.
- Antique vehicles can receive a plate for vehicles 30 years or older, limited to occasional use for exhibitions.
The full catalog is available on the DFA Specialty Plates page.
What Vehicles Require License Plates in Arkansas?
Every motor vehicle, trailer, and semi-trailer operated on Arkansas highways must be registered in accordance with the Arkansas Code, Title 27, Chapter 14. New owners have 60 days from the date of transfer to register according to § 27-14-903. Fees are determined by the DFA registration fee schedule.
- Passenger cars and motorhomes register by weight: $17 for 3,000 pounds or less, $25 for 3,001 to 4,500 pounds, and $30 over 4,500 pounds. Each has a validation sticker fee of $2.50. Two plates, front and rear.
- Trucks and vans rated for half-ton, three-quarter ton, or one ton (for personal use) pay $21 plus $2.50 for the sticker.
- Motorcycles with an engine size of 250cc or more cost $7 annually; less than 250cc, $3. Only one rear plate.
- Class 9 trailers towed by passenger cars register for $7 annually or $36 for a permanent plate. Semi-trailers used with commercial trucks cost $20 annually or $65 permanently.
- Electric vehicles have an additional annual fee of $200, plug-in hybrids $100, and standard hybrids $50, all in addition to the base registration fee.
License Plate Rules in Arkansas
- Two plates are required on passenger cars, one front and one rear, according to Arkansas Code § 27-14-716(a). Motorcycles mount one plate on the rear. Trucks rated for one ton or more may mount a plate on either the front or rear.
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Each plate must be securely fastened horizontally, at least 12 inches from the ground, free from foreign materials, and maintained in a clearly legible condition according to § 27-14-716(b). Covers that reduce readability or reflectivity are prohibited under subsection (c).
- Statutory exceptions apply for a towing device, trailer, lift, or wheelchair carrier, and bicycle rack, provided each is installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Is Driving Around with No License Plate in Arkansas Illegal?
Operating a vehicle without a valid plate issued by the Office of Motor Vehicles for the current registration year is an offense under Arkansas Code § 27-14-304. The statute applies to any vehicle required to be registered under Chapter 14.
Displaying a plate not issued for that vehicle or transferring a plate to someone not entitled to its use is a separate offense under § 27-14-306. Manufacturing or displaying an unofficial plate falls under § 27-14-305, which establishes its own range of penalties, distinct from the general no-plate rule.
What is the Penalty for Driving Without a License Plate in Arkansas?
Penalties for plate and registration violations are found in Subchapter 3 of Chapter 14. The baseline is a misdemeanor fine, but repeat offenses and counterfeit plates increase the risk.
- Operating without plates is a misdemeanor under § 27-14-304, punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail under the general penalty for § 27-14-301.
- An additional mandatory fine for non-registration applies under § 27-14-314: from $50 to $100 for the first offense, from $100 to $250 for a second or subsequent offense within one year. A second conviction within 12 months also allows the court to order vehicle impoundment.
- Displaying an unofficial plate under § 27-14-305 carries a fine from $100 to $500.
- Installing a cover that reduces readability or reflectivity violates § 27-14-716(c) and falls under the general misdemeanor fine ceiling of $500.
- Fines for late registration and their distribution are governed separately under § 27-14-314.