Vehicle lifts in Virginia: plate visibility and plate lights

When a Virginia family puts a power chair on a hitch lift, the worry that follows is a roadside stop over a hidden plate. It is a reasonable worry. Virginia's plate statute speaks to hitches by name, and its lighting statute says how far away the plate must be readable at night.

We set out both rules below, note what Virginia law does not say about mobility carriers, and suggest lifts that keep the plate where an officer can read it.

Virginia's plate and lamp rules

Va. Code § 46.2-716(A) says every license plate "shall be securely fastened to the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to which it is assigned: 1. So as to prevent the plate from swinging, 2. In a position to be clearly visible, and 3. In a condition to be clearly legible."

Subsection (B) goes further. It bars any covering, bracket, holder, mounting or frame that alters or obscures the plate's numbers, color, state name or registration decal, and then says: "No insignia, emblems, or trailer hitches or couplings shall be mounted in such a way as to hide or obscure any portion of the license plate or render any portion of the license plate illegible."

A wheelchair or scooter carrier is not named in that sentence, and we found no exception for one. But a carrier rides on a hitch, and the statute sets a clear goal: no portion of the plate hidden or illegible. Choose a lift that carries the plate on its own mount, in view.

Subsection (D) offers some relief if you are ticketed: "the court may, in its discretion, dismiss the summons, where proof of compliance with this section is provided to the court on or before the court date."

The plate light

Va. Code § 46.2-1013(B) requires tail lights mounted "as to illuminate the license plate with a white light so that the same may be read from a distance of 50 feet to the rear of such vehicle," or a separate white light that does the same. The section also says "No law-enforcement officer shall stop a motor vehicle for a violation of this subsection." That limits stops for a dark plate, but it does not make an unlit plate legal. Subsection (A) separately requires two red tail lights "plainly visible in clear weather from a distance of 500 feet."

Not confirmed

We found no Virginia statute naming wheelchair carriers or lifts, and we did not find a current Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services page describing help with vehicle modifications. For a ruling on a specific carrier, ask the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles; for funding tied to work, ask a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

Lifts that suit Virginia drivers

• Harmar AL500HD. A powered hitch lift for power wheelchairs, rated for 400 lb, needing a Class III or greater hitch. Four self-tensioning Q'Straint retractors secure the chair, and a license plate mount comes in the box.
• Harmar AL300HD. The heavy-duty Fusion lift for scooters and power chairs up to 400 lb, on a 26 x 39 in platform. A license plate mount is included, with a license plate riser and a cover available.
• Harmar AL001 Hitch Carrier. Fully manual, with a 500 lb capacity on a 28 x 48 in platform and a 60 in folding ramp. Nothing to charge, but the plate position needs the same attention as any hitch carrier.
• Harmar AL215. A low-profile hoist that lifts a manual wheelchair, power wheelchair or scooter into a minivan, SUV, van or truck, up to 250 lb, and leaves the backup camera usable. With the device inside, the plate is not an issue.

Weigh the device with batteries, confirm your hitch class, and check your vehicle's tongue weight rating before ordering any hitch lift.

Storms, heat and coastal flooding

NOAA's Virginia climate summary lists the state's weather hazards as "severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, winter storms, tropical storms, hurricanes, droughts, and heat waves." Summers bring "frequent thunderstorms in the afternoons and evenings," and the number of 2-inch extreme rain events "exhibits a long-term upward trend." Along the coast, sea level rose 17 inches between 1927 and 2020 at Sewells Point, and nuisance floods "can damage infrastructure, cause road closures, and overwhelm storm drains."

A scooter on an open platform rides through all of that. A fitted cover protects the seat and controls, and drivers near the tidewater should avoid running a loaded lift through standing water. Rinse road grime from the platform after winter storms.

Virginia's assistive technology system

The AT3 Center lists device loans, demonstrations and device reutilization at the Virginia Assistive Technology System. Its DARS page says it loans assistive technology "for short-term use, usually between 1-4 weeks," which can help you settle on the scooter or chair before buying the lift that carries it. Through partner programs listed on its equipment request page, medical equipment is "collected, sanitized, refurbished, matched, and re-distributed to a qualifying Virginian with a disability."

Ordering and delivery to Virginia

We ship to your state. Installation isn't available here yet; email us and we'll help you find a local installer. We ship to the lower 48 states and DC, with free shipping on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. The Virginia shipping page has the details, and the vehicle lift fit check matches lifts to your vehicle and device.

Questions about vehicle lifts in Virginia

Can a hitch lift hide my plate in Virginia?

Va. Code § 46.2-716 requires plates to be clearly visible and clearly legible, and says no trailer hitches or couplings shall be mounted in a way that hides or obscures any portion of the plate. We found no exception for wheelchair carriers, so choose a lift that mounts the plate where it stays readable.

How visible must my Virginia plate light be?

Section 46.2-1013(B) requires a white light that lets the plate be read from 50 feet to the rear, from the tail lights or a separate lamp. The section says officers shall not stop a vehicle for that violation alone, but a lift that moves the plate should still keep it lit.

What happens if I am ticketed for plate display in Virginia?

Under § 46.2-716(D), the court may, in its discretion, dismiss the summons when proof of compliance is provided on or before the court date. Fixing the mount, moving the plate onto the lift or adding a light, and bringing proof, is the path the statute describes.

Can I try a scooter in Virginia before buying a lift for it?

The Virginia Assistive Technology System offers demonstrations and short-term loans, usually between one and four weeks. Choosing the device first makes the lift choice easier, since a lift is matched to the device's weight and size and to your vehicle's hitch.

Every lift we carry is in the vehicle lift collection; the fit check narrows it to your car, and the full assessment looks at your whole routine. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Va. Code § 46.2-716, how license plates fastened to vehicle
• Va. Code § 46.2-1013, tail lights
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Virginia (2022)
• AT3 Center: Virginia
• DARS: Virginia Assistive Technology System, Request Durable Medical Equipment
• Harmar AL500HD product page, Harmar AL300HD product page, Harmar AL001 product page, Harmar AL215 product page