SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5440
As of February 10, 2025
Title: An act relating to single license plates for certain vehicles.
Brief Description: Allowing single license plates for certain vehicles.
Sponsors: Senators MacEwen, Chapman and Gildon.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/10/25.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Expands the vehicles requiring only one plate to include: passenger cars; sports utility vehicles; off-road vehicles; and trucks, buses, and for hire vehicles 12,000 pounds or less.
  • Specifies that the owners of these vehicles must pay all applicable fees as if the vehicle had been issued two license plates.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)
Background:

Vehicles required to be registered with the Department of Licensing (DOL) must display license plates or decals assigned by the DOL.

 

With certain exceptions, DOL is required to provide all persons making satisfactory application for a vehicle registration two identical license plates which must be attached conspicuously at the front and rear the vehicle.  Vehicles requiring only single plates to be issued are trailers, semitrailers, campers, mopeds, collector vehicles, horseless carriages, and motorcycles.

 

The original license plate fee for most vehicles is $50 per plate.  The replacement license plate fee for most vehicles is $30 per plate.
Summary of Bill:

Beginning January 1, 2026, the vehicles requiring only one plate are expanded to include:

  • passenger cars;
  • sports utility vehicles;
  • off-road vehicles; and
  • trucks, buses, and for hire vehicles 12,000 pounds or less.

 

The owners of these vehicles must pay all applicable fees as if the vehicle had been issued two license plates.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  By addressing the demand side, this bill will allow single plates for additional vehicles to help reduce license plate shortages in the future.  Currently, over 18 states allow single license plates.  These other 18 states do not have a significant difference in law enforcement issues and have seemed to figure out how to properly collect tolls.  Some vehicles manufactured today no longer produce the bracket on the front.  With today's technology, we can help the license plate demand side and join the other 18 states that have one plate.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Drew MacEwen, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.