Rule 4501-27-02 | License plate service life specifications.
(A) A person who is the owner or operator of a motor vehicle may continue to display a license plate issued to that vehicle under sections 4503.19 and 4503.191 of the Revised Code until the license plate is lost, mutilated, or destroyed; becomes illegible; loses its reflectivity; or is declared obsolete under this rule, provided that the plate also displays a current and valid validation sticker and county identification sticker.
(B) No person who is the owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall display a license plate issued to a vehicle under sections 4503.19 and 4503.191 of the Revised Code if the license plate is mutilated or destroyed, becomes illegible, loses its reflectivity, or is declared obsolete under this rule.
(C) As used in this rule:
(1) "Becomes illegible" means that any feature of the license plate is difficult or impossible to read from a reasonable distance because the feature is damaged, deteriorated, faded, or obscured in any significant way;
(2) "Loses its reflectivity" means that the retroreflectivity becomes less than the minimum of twenty-five candlepower/per foot-candle/square foot as specified and as measured in accordance with rule 4501-27-01 of the Administrative Code.
(D) The owner of a motor vehicle for which a license plate is lost, mutilated, or destroyed; becomes illegible; or loses its reflectivity may apply for a duplicate thereof or new license plates pursuant to section 4503.19 of the Revised Code.
(E) An owner who wishes to renew the registration of a motor vehicle for which a license plate has been declared obsolete under this rule shall apply for new license plates pursuant to section 4503.10 of the Revised Code.
(F) Any license plate issued by the state of Ohio that has not yet exceeded its useful service life may continue to be displayed until it is lost, mutilated, or destroyed; becomes illegible; loses its reflectivity; or is declared obsolete under this rule, provided that the plate also displays a current and valid validation sticker and county identification sticker.
Last updated October 23, 2023 at 11:45 AM
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