---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 14506"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "14506"
heading: "Identification of vehicles"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/14506"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part B — Motor Carriers, Water Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders"
  - "Chapter 145 — Federal-State Relations"
---

# §14506. Identification of vehicles

- (a) **Restriction on Requirements.—** No [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8), political subdivision of a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8), interstate agency, or other political agency of two or more [States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) may enact or enforce any law, rule, regulation standard, or other provision having the force and effect of law that requires a [motor carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=14), [motor private carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=15), [freight forwarder](/usc/49/13102.md?p=8), or leasing company to display any form of identification on or in a commercial [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) (as defined in [section 14504a](/usc/49/14504a.md)), other than forms of identification required by the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) of [Transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) under section 390.21 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
- (b) **Exception.—** Notwithstanding [subsection (a)](#a), a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) may continue to require display of credentials that are required—
  - (1) under the International Registration Plan under [section 31704](/usc/49/31704.md);
  - (2) under the International Fuel Tax Agreement under [section 31705](/usc/49/31705.md) or under an applicable [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) law if, on October 1, 2006, the [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) has a form of [highway](/usc/49/13102.md?p=9) use taxation not subject to collection through the International Fuel Tax Agreement;
  - (3) under a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) law regarding [motor vehicle](/usc/49/13102.md?p=16) license plates or other displays that the [Secretary](/usc/49/13102.md?p=20) determines are appropriate;
  - (4) in connection with Federal requirements for hazardous materials [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) under [section 5103](/usc/49/5103.md); or
  - (5) in connection with the Federal vehicle inspection standards under section 31136.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, § 4306(a), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1773; amended Pub. L. 110–244, title III, § 301(q), June 6, 2008, 122 Stat. 1617.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2008—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 110–244 inserted “or under an applicable State law if, on October 1, 2006, the State has a form of highway use taxation not subject to collection through the International Fuel Tax Agreement” before semicolon at end.