True. Texas does require front plates. I don't run fronts on the ML or the CLK (and didn't on the SL and W124 for awhile), and never got any flak from the local law enforcement.

But for some reason, every pre-owned we picked up from the lot was absent of the front plate. The SL and the CLK had a front bracket buried somewhere in the trunk or jump seat areas, but neither had an associated front plate. The W124 came with neither a front plate nor bracket.

I finally got a front plate for the W124 when the updated Texas plates showed up in the mail. I figure as the daily beater, it should be compliant...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car