Does a slightly scratched license plate have any impact?

[LeahLynn]

Minor scratches have no impact, but if the scratches affect the recognition of the license plate number, or if there are issues like cracks or damage, the license plate needs to be replaced. Below is some relevant information about license plates: 1. Physical Definition: A license plate, commonly known as a vehicle plate, refers to the plates hung on the front and rear of a vehicle. They are typically made of aluminum, sheet metal, plastic, or paper, and display the vehicle's registration number, registration region, or other related information. 2. Function: License plates serve as a numbering and information registration system for vehicles. Their primary purpose is to identify the region to which the vehicle belongs through the license plate, and to trace the vehicle's owner and registration details based on the plate.

[MilesDella]

I've been driving for decades and often see minor scratches on my friends' license plates. To be honest, it's not a big deal. If it's just a scratch on the paint and the license plate number is still clearly visible, you're generally fine driving on the road. But don't underestimate this small issue—if the scratch is deep enough to obscure the numbers, the police won't be lenient. Last time, my neighbor got a ticket for this and had to rush to get it fixed. When parking daily, avoid hard impacts, and regularly wiping the license plate with a soft cloth can prevent these minor scratches. Overall, keeping the license plate clean is a basic habit for drivers to avoid unnecessary trouble.

[QuinnLee]

I remember a while ago my car was parked by the roadside and somehow the license plate got scratched, just a few shallow marks. I didn’t think much of it and drove for half a year without any issues. Now that I think about it, if the scratches were severe enough to cover the numbers, it could indeed cause problems with camera recognition or police verification. However, most of the time, such minor damage doesn’t affect normal use, at most it just affects the car’s appearance. My personal suggestion is to simply check if the license plate characters are clear. If they’re faded, just rub them a few times with toothpaste or a professional cleaner—it’s low-cost and quite effective. Don’t let small things ruin your driving mood.

[SanEmilio]

Minor scratches on the license plate are not a big issue as long as the numbers remain clearly legible. However, if the scratches are too deep and blur the numbers, regulations require them to be clearly visible, and leaving them unrepaired may attract police attention. I usually handle it myself by lightly sanding with sandpaper or getting it repainted at a car repair shop, solving the potential problem at a small cost. Driving safety comes first; don't let minor details affect the overall situation.