Does anyone know if there any sort of stock mechanism for a front license plate, or some trick to mounting an aftermarket unit? We are required to have front plates here in San Francisco for the traffic light cameras (and if you get a parking ticket for any reason, they'll throw in an extra fine for no front plate -- a frequent occurrence since the meters give you next to nothing for each quarter you put in). I don't see any pre-drilled holes in the bumper, and I hate to drill them to add an aftermarket holder, or to use an epoxy. Is there some sort of bracket that hooks to the underside of the bumper?

 

sad to say I think you have to drill it.
I'm in CA too and I dont want a front plate but when I went to take of the
plate holder not only was it drill through the bumper but they rivet it in!

Oh well..

 

Yup...Unless you make your own bracket... Hey in the UK I think they just attach the plate straight on the bumper....
I'm lucky to be in a front plate state that really doesn't care to enforce it. And I got lucky when I bought mine since it was a lease return from a no front plate state. So I have a clean front bumper with no plate. The dealer gave me a bracket but (wink) left it up to me to install. Heck (from the pull over thread) I just got nailed doing 80 in a 55 and no word from the cop about the plate.....

 

Statey Jeff or a local yokal?

Anyways guys check your trunk in with the spare tire compartment, ours came with a front bracket but was never installed. I would go with a dealer bracket for proper fit.

 

Thanks, all, for the replies. I can't bring myself to drill holes in the bumper, especially without knowing where the plate will look best (in the center, off to the side?). I'll start taking a close look at S-Types around town to see how others have done it. As far as I know, the California Highway Patrol could care less about the front plate, but the local SFPD and the meter maids are brutal about it.

 

Remember... It was a couple of months back right after Joni signed up....Cuyahoga Falls PD......

 

Can you velcro the front plate on the bumper? Sure beats drilling holes in your bumper and velcro strips can be removed once you're done with 'em....

 

Im sure mine had velcro or something removable, I purchased mine from a guy in Ohio which is a front plate state and brought it to Ky which is not and have no marks or hole of any kind. as long as you avoid the carwash and keep it in a garage, im sure the Heay duty velcro would do the trick. not sure how the D.O.T. would feel about it.

 

I don't know -- I have visions of the velcroed plate flying off at freeway speeds and flying into my windshield -- or that of the car behind me! I'm currently thinking maybe I can use some sort of rubbery epoxy/glue to put an aftermarket bracket on the bumper -- I've successfully removed epoxied items (and their underlying epoxy) from other cars I've owned, so at least I know that I won't be doing irreparable harm.

 

There's heavy-duty double-sided tape, but I don't know if it's suitable for the front.

 

When you've had your number plate made to fit, "glue" it on with the Dow-Corning silicon type sealer -- you don't need a lot. It's that stuff that smells of vinegar. Hold the number plate in position while the sealer 'goes off' with some masking tape. Make sure you get the plate in the right place, because you'll not be able to shift it after 24h! NO drilling, NO rust, NO painting.
Leedsman.

 

I only got pulled over once for not having a front plate and did not get a ticket. Even the cop said it looked better with no plate. I keep the bracket in the trunk just in case so I can tell them that I have it and have an appointment to get it installed. Fortunately there working to change the law so no front plate is required in Il. I guess the idea is , same price but half the plates will save the state money.
Hey, It works for me!!
P.S. I would neeeeever use glue or Velcro to attach the bracket. If it comes off it could slice up your tires, a brake line or many other things under yours or someone else's car. very dangerous!