All states have traffic laws that require motor vehicles on public highways, streets, roads, and driveways to have a rear license plate or tag—and most states also require a license plate on the front of a motor vehicle.

States usually require the license plates or vehicle registration to be renewed periodically—often annually and in connection with payment of a motor vehicle tax or inspection of the vehicle for safety and compliance with emissions standards.

In some states tickets or citations for no front or rear license plate or for expired plates/tags on your vehicle are known as fix-it tickets and the ticket or citation will indicate that it is a correctable violation of traffic laws. If you fix the missing-or-expired license plate problem within the required period and get the signature of an authorized person (a local police officer) the court may dismiss the ticket.

But if you fail to fix the missing-or-expired-tags problem within the required period you must pay the fine for the violation and you may be issued another ticket that will be part of your driving record. And if you fail to pay the ticket or appear in court on the hearing date the court may issue a warrant for your arrest.

In Minnesota, state law requires all motor vehicles to display a rear license plate, and unlike some states, Minnesota does not require a front license plate. License plates and vehicle registration must be renewed periodically, typically every one to two years, and this process may include payment of vehicle taxes and undergoing a vehicle safety inspection or emissions testing. If a vehicle is found without the required rear license plate or with expired tags, the driver may receive a citation. In Minnesota, such citations can be considered 'correctable violations' or 'fix-it tickets.' This means that if the driver remedies the issue by attaching the missing plate or renewing the expired tags and has the correction verified by an authorized person, such as a police officer, the citation may be dismissed by the court. However, failure to correct the issue within the specified time frame can result in fines and the citation becoming part of the driver's record. Additionally, ignoring the citation or failing to appear in court can lead to further penalties, including the issuance of an arrest warrant.