HF3864

Purpose

• This bill would remove the requirement to display validation stickers on license plates and make related conforming and technical changes to Minnesota’s motor vehicle laws.

Main Provisions

• License plates
  • Plates must show the state name and a registration number, with colors and design in marked contrast.
  • For vehicles registered by total gross weight, plates must indicate the maximum gross weight paid for.
  • Noncommercial plates must bear the inscription “noncommercial” unless a special plate is issued.
  • Special plates may be used on certain trucks if authorized.
  • Plates must be designed to be at least 100 times brighter than traditional painted plates, and must be readable from specific distances (visible from at least 1,500 feet and readable for at least 110 feet with standard headlights).
• Issuance and validity periods
  • Passenger automobiles: plates issued for seven-year periods and must be replaced if they are seven years old or older at renewal.
  • Some plates (under certain statutory provisions) also follow a seven-year period.
  • Other plates (such as those for veterans or certain categories) may be issued for the life of the veteran or the life of the vehicle.
  • In years when no new plates are issued, the commissioner must issue a sticker designating the year(s) of registration; stickers apply only for the designated period and plate/sticker pairs may not be transferred between vehicles during that period (except under specified exemptions).
• Transfers and special cases
  • Plate transfers between vehicles are generally restricted, with specific exceptions for certain use cases (e.g., behind-the-wheel driver education in public schools may transfer plates to another vehicle used for the same purpose without an additional fee; the school must notify the commissioner).
  • Plates assigned to exempt tax‑exempt agencies may be transferred with the vehicle to another exempt agency but are not transferable between separate vehicles.
  • For driving education programs in public schools, notice of transfers must be provided to the commissioner.
• Alternative registration option
  • In place of traditional plates, the commissioner may issue a registration number identical to the federally issued tail number of a roadable aircraft.

Notable Changes to Law

• Elimination of the annual or periodic validation sticker requirement for license plates.
• Establishment of long plate validity cycles (primarily seven years for most passenger plates, with some plates issued for life or for the life of the vehicle or veteran).
• Introduction of year-designation stickers only in years when new plates are not issued.
• Specific design and readability standards for plates (brightness, contrast, range).
• Expanded or clarified transfer rules for certain plate types (educational program plates, exempt agency plates).
• New option to issue a registration number aligned with a roadable aircraft tail number instead of a traditional plate.

Practical Effects for Drivers and Agencies

• Fewer sticker handling and renewal steps in many cases, due to seven-year plate cycles for most vehicles.
• Potentially longer plate lifespans and fewer plate replacements, reducing administrative tasks.
• Clearer readability and visibility requirements may improve safety and legibility of plates.
• Some special or exempt plates have updated transfer rules that could affect how plates move between vehicles or agencies.
• A new option to use an aircraft tail-number-style registration could change how some vehicles are registered.

Relevant Terms - validation sticker - license plates - registration number - state name - total gross weight - noncommercial - special plates - behind-the-wheel instruction - public school - readable distance - visible distance - seven-year period - life of the veteran - life of the vehicle - exempt agency - roadable aircraft tail number - transferability - year sticker - conformity changes