DIY: Front License plate (no holes!)

I live in California and a few days ago I got a fixit ticket for no front license plate, $114. I had a good run without one, almost a year!

I didn't want to dril into my car, the last thing I want to do is poke her. So I looked around and alternatives. HideMyPlate was tempting, using the tow hook was tempting (might still try it) and just zip tying the plate to the bottom grill was tempting. But obstructing the airflow made me nervous, and I didn't know if it'd get me out of the ticket. (if you fix it within 21 days, it's only a $10 fee)

So I did this:


This is the backet I'll be using, very cheap on Amazon:



Prepared the first two zip ties. Measured to make sure it'll align the bracket:



Slide the zip ties through the bracket and tighten a bit:



Because the grill is not perfectly flat, add two more zip ties for security:



Snip off the extra bits (excuse the dirty car, raining on my way back home):



Lastly screw the license plate to the bracket using the bottom two holes:



The plate doesn't touch the front bumper at all, but I do want to get sticky soft rubbers of some kind as to not scratch the front bumper.

Note: I know it's slightly skew, but I want to get the ticket sorted out before I take it off and do it properly.

Nice simple, cheap alternative.

Dealer drilled in mine so I just live with it

PrittyCool said:

Nice simple, cheap alternative.

Dealer drilled in mine so I just live with it

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Thanks! And man that sucks. When I picked my car, they only received it the day before, so they didn't have time to drill the holes. He asked me if I wanted them I said no and signed a piece of paper. A year without a fixit ticket, not bad.

Went to the police station nearby to get a police officer to look at the car and sign the ticket. He signed without looking at my car, very friendly guy.

very nice, man.. wish i had seen this a few months ago before i gave in and drilled my bumper.

It's a great cheap way to mount to plate, but it's a pain to remove and reinstall every time.

If mine didn't come with the dealer drilled holes, I would go with Swift Motorized Plate.

http://youtu.be/p1pcAOUxubY

Mine was in that same position via the dealer drilling FIVE holes to mount it. I moved it using the tow hook option b/c i used to have a twintercooler and diidnt want to block flow. Since then i swapped out the twinter for apr's IC and still didint want to block air flow so i kept the tow hook mount.

I got the tow hook mount one. Doesn't block airflow, easy to install, and take off, and looks great.

Yours looks good but I feel it would block some airflow to the radiator, no?

Nice work! Zip-ties FTW.

Zach84 said:

I got the tow hook mount one. Doesn't block airflow, easy to install, and take off, and looks great.

Yours looks good but I feel it would block some airflow to the radiator, no?

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I'm very tempted to get the tow hook mount, too. Are you using the RHO mount?

As for blocking of airflow, it's only about 1 inch over so I doubt it'll do anything to prevent good airflow into the cooler.

My salesman asked me if I wanted the front one, I said no. If a cop asks, I just play dumb and never had a problem...I just say I thought it was an extra one.

Zach84 said:

I got the tow hook mount one. Doesn't block airflow, easy to install, and take off, and looks great.

Yours looks good but I feel it would block some airflow to the radiator, no?

Click to expand...

imho, looks are REAL subjective on the tow hook mount one.I don't like them at all, personally.


agreed on the possibility of blocking flow to the radiator though.

GunKata said:

imho, looks are REAL subjective on the tow hook mount one.I don't like them at all, personally.


agreed on the possibility of blocking flow to the radiator though.

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Yeah it's definitely subjective. Some like it, some don't. I don't mind it, not sure why.

As for airflow, it's probably half an inch lower than yours judging from your photos in your build thread. (nice build, btw)

MKVInce said:

It's a great cheap way to mount to plate, but it's a pain to remove and reinstall every time.

If mine didn't come with the dealer drilled holes, I would go with Swift Motorized Plate.

http://youtu.be/p1pcAOUxubY

Click to expand...

Thats badass! If I lived in state that front plate requirement, that would be it. How much?

FetalSage said:

I'm very tempted to get the tow hook mount, too. Are you using the RHO mount?

As for blocking of airflow, it's only about 1 inch over so I doubt it'll do anything to prevent good airflow into the cooler.

Click to expand...

Yep got the RHO one.

So thanks to this DIY I figure out a way to mount the plate how I wanted it. To me the RHO plate sits too high.

When home improvement meets auto modding....thanks to dry wall mounts.



I can unscrew the plate just like normal and the mounts can be loosened and taken out easily. I think I'm going to slide it over more to the passenger side a bit more.



I think everything cost me like $6-7