Has anyone ever found a 100% Legal and yet robust/Secure way to mount a license plate on a flatbed or utility trailer? Every one I have ever had comes from manufacturer mounted somewhere guaranteed to get damaged or ripped off in no time. I know you can remount it on the gate or vertically on the fender etc. but then it is not illuminated or in some other way illegal.

I guess one question is what is "Legal" for license plate mount - I am in Texas if it matters?
1. I assume it has to be illuminated at night?
2. Can you mount it vertically as long as it is still lit?
3. Any chance you can request a smaller plate (like a motorcycle sized plate) for a trailer?
4. Does it have to be at the very back of the trailer or can you move it forward as long as visible?

Has anyone ever been pulled over specifically for a license plate mounting violation? I dont have anything to hide but I would rather limit my interaction with LEO when possible.

My current dilemma is an all aluminum car hauling trailer. Stock plate mount is on the drivers side fender but plate is wider than the fender so, even if I dont catch it with a tire loading/unloading, just the constant buffeting from the wind eventually causes the aluminum to fail - either fender mounting holes wallow out or the mounting bracket cracks. Easiest solution would to be mount plate vertically bent to match directly on fender and the license plate light would still hit it. Not sure if legal though.

Any solutions or info appreciated.

Yeah, I'm not sure the law, but mine is mounted on the grated tailgate with no light. Haven't had any issues in about 5 years.

I run vertical on fender with a light. Never had an issue, stock location on many trailers I have had was the same.

I have a bunch of trailers. Only 1 has a light on the plate. I have never received grief for a plate light in Texas.

Don't all plates have reflective paint or something? If they don't have headlights on your plate, they damn sure couldn't see it from the pissant little lights on the bumpers. Why would a trailer be any different.

I have a few trailers, one has the LP mounted vertically on the fender about 6' from the back of the trailer, one has the LP stuck on the ramp with bailing wire and one has the LP zip tied to the loading gate, none have lights and I have never had an issue from the cops, even when I got pulled over.

All my trailers (5 of them) have the license plate screwed vertically to the fender on the left side. I've had them that way for over 10 years and never had any problems with it.