Number plate requirement and ownership

Requirement of number plates

If you drive on Queensland roads, you must ensure that each number plate issued to your vehicle is securely attached.

If your vehicle is issued with 2 number plates, 1 plate must each be attached to the:

• front of the vehicle
• rear of the vehicle.

If you are only issued with 1 number plate, for example motorbikes, the plate must be attached to the rear of the vehicle.

It is the registered operator's responsibility to ensure number plates are attached within 1 day of receiving them.

Find out about number plate visibility requirements.

Ownership of physical number plate/s

It is important to note that any number plate issued to a vehicle, that includes personalised or customised plates, remains the property of the State of Queensland and must be surrendered to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, if required.

For personalised and customised plates, it is the number plate combination that is the property of the person to whom the plate is issued, not the physical number plate.

Find out about personalised plates.