What condition should the license plate be in during an inspection?

The condition of the license plate during an inspection should be present and visible, and it must be either current or exempt. A license plate that is visible ensures that it can be easily seen by law enforcement and other road users, which is an important part of vehicle identification and registration compliance. Having a current license plate means that the vehicle is properly registered and authorized for use on public roads. If the vehicle is exempt from having a current plate, it still needs to be visibly displayed to meet legal requirements.

Other conditions such as being expired or hidden from view do not comply with legal standards and can lead to issues during an inspection. A damaged or hard-to-read license plate also fails to meet the requirements, as it hinders identification and could attract citations or penalties. Thus, for a vehicle to pass the inspection, the license plate must meet the criteria of being present, visible, and properly registered or exempt.