Relocating Front License Plate
Senior Member
Joined: 07-17-2006
Posts: 6,053
From: Dallas, GA
Senior Member
Joined: 06-27-2006
Posts: 732
From: Kingsville On
Well it`s only $20.00 to find out so far so good as they say the bottom was put on a metal break and bent back at a 90 so it is still there you just cant see it.
If you look at all the cars next time you are driving you will see all those plate frames from the dealerships.Buy the time they add there name and location there is not much left showing but the number.I will take it to court is some cop is low enough to give me a ticket for that.I can get all the pics from local dealerships to have a great case.
I Wanted to cover up Ontario but thought that my just be pushing it.We have a VW dealer here with custom frames that block`s out Ontario and the bottom as well and he`s still putting them on.
If you look at all the cars next time you are driving you will see all those plate frames from the dealerships.Buy the time they add there name and location there is not much left showing but the number.I will take it to court is some cop is low enough to give me a ticket for that.I can get all the pics from local dealerships to have a great case.
I Wanted to cover up Ontario but thought that my just be pushing it.We have a VW dealer here with custom frames that block`s out Ontario and the bottom as well and he`s still putting them on.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-17-2006
Posts: 6,053
From: Dallas, GA
Well it`s only $20.00 to find out so far so good as they say the bottom was put on a metal break and bent back at a 90 so it is still there you just cant see it.
If you look at all the cars next time you are driving you will see all those plate frames from the dealerships.Buy the time they add there name and location there is not much left showing but the number.I will take it to court is some cop is low enough to give me a ticket for that.I can get all the pics from local dealerships to have a great case.
I Wanted to cover up Ontario but thought that my just be pushing it.We have a VW dealer here with custom frames that block`s out Ontario and the bottom as well and he`s still putting them on.
If you look at all the cars next time you are driving you will see all those plate frames from the dealerships.Buy the time they add there name and location there is not much left showing but the number.I will take it to court is some cop is low enough to give me a ticket for that.I can get all the pics from local dealerships to have a great case.
I Wanted to cover up Ontario but thought that my just be pushing it.We have a VW dealer here with custom frames that block`s out Ontario and the bottom as well and he`s still putting them on.
Just FYI.....
Senior Member
Joined: 11-27-2007
Posts: 1,115
From: Austin, Texas
A frame the covers it up is one thing. I have seen folks get tickets for that (although rare, and usually extreme cases). But modifying a plate is totally different. I have seen laws governing that in my state, that state it is illegial to modify any part of a license plate. Usually in cases like that, it is more than just the "cost of the plate".
Just FYI.....
Just FYI.....
Senior Member
Joined: 03-15-2008
Posts: 134
From: Virginia
Senior Member
Joined: 12-18-2005
Posts: 1,791
From: Middle Village, NY
This was actually one of my first mods. I hated the way it looked on the bumper, plus it was loosened when some bozo backed into me. I believe the 2 holes I used were already there, though I may have had to drill them (it was done long ago). I used 2 additional items, both available at Pep Boys or Strauss. One was a bracket that held the plate, and the other was a large plate sized bracket that goes behind the license plate to make it more solid. Other than that, a couple pieces of angle bracket and stainless bolts with nylon thread lock nuts. I found plastic rivits that I painted red for the top and black for the bottom, then I just shoved them in the old holes. When I have other body work done on the car, I will have them closed the right way.
Notice the slight angle-this is to improve aerodynamics :-)
This is not a change that anybody would notice unless they see 2 HHR's side by side, but it really does make the car look much better, IMHO. And I have not had any cooling problems so far. The space between the plate and the lower grill opening is large enough that it does not block airflow.
By the way, you can also see where I mounted my airhorns. This is an ideal location, since the sound is not muffled by being inside the engine compartment, yet they are out of the way from the elements.
Before anybody asks about the plate, I was hit by a drunk driver and subsequently had my right leg amputated and significant damge to my left one. That is the unfortunate reason I am stuck with an automatic tranny :-(
Notice the slight angle-this is to improve aerodynamics :-)
This is not a change that anybody would notice unless they see 2 HHR's side by side, but it really does make the car look much better, IMHO. And I have not had any cooling problems so far. The space between the plate and the lower grill opening is large enough that it does not block airflow.
By the way, you can also see where I mounted my airhorns. This is an ideal location, since the sound is not muffled by being inside the engine compartment, yet they are out of the way from the elements.
Before anybody asks about the plate, I was hit by a drunk driver and subsequently had my right leg amputated and significant damge to my left one. That is the unfortunate reason I am stuck with an automatic tranny :-(
Senior Member
Joined: 07-17-2006
Posts: 6,053
From: Dallas, GA
I asked a clerk at the CA DMV (no guarantee of course). But after looking up vehicle code to confirm, as long as the state name, month and year sticker, and the letters/number are unmodified/uncovered you are ok to cut or cover. Many frames cover part of the month/yr stickers. I had a plate on my Camaro that was cut to only the numbers and never got hassled. Of course several friends don't even have front plates, so just depends what the CHP priorities and attitude is I suppose.
A quick glance reveals two relative California Vehicle Codes:
CVC 4463, though presumably intended to primarily address the intentional
falsification of registration information, defines it to be a *felony* to
alter license plates. Though it would indeed be an extremely strict
interpretation of the code as written to charge one who has simply trimmed the
edges of their license plate with a felony, it is a possibility. It should be
considered that this code might also suggest that a plate altered in any way
is probable cause for a traffic stop.
CVC 4852, perhaps more to the point, defines that "License plates issued for
motor vehicles, other than motorcycles, shall be rectangular in shape, 12
inches in length and six inches in width."
CVC 4463, though presumably intended to primarily address the intentional
falsification of registration information, defines it to be a *felony* to
alter license plates. Though it would indeed be an extremely strict
interpretation of the code as written to charge one who has simply trimmed the
edges of their license plate with a felony, it is a possibility. It should be
considered that this code might also suggest that a plate altered in any way
is probable cause for a traffic stop.
CVC 4852, perhaps more to the point, defines that "License plates issued for
motor vehicles, other than motorcycles, shall be rectangular in shape, 12
inches in length and six inches in width."
from the CVC...
4463. (a) Every person who, with intent to prejudice, damage, or
defraud, commits any of the following acts is guilty of a felony and
upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the
state prison for 16 months, two or three years, or by imprisonment in
the county jail for not more than one year:
(1) Alters, forges, counterfeits, or falsifies any certificate of
ownership, registration card, certificate, license, license plate,
device issued pursuant to Section 4853, special plate, or permit
provided for by this code or any comparable certificate of ownership,
registration card, certificate, license, license plate, device
comparable to that issued pursuant to Section 4853, special plate, or
permit provided for by any foreign jurisdiction, or alters, forges,
counterfeits, or falsifies any such document, device, or plate with
intent to represent it as issued by the department, or alters,
forges, counterfeits, or falsifies with fraudulent intent any
endorsement of transfer on a certificate of ownership or other
document evidencing ownership, or with fraudulent intent displays or
causes or permits to be displayed or have in his or her possession
any blank, incomplete, canceled, suspended, revoked, altered, forged,
counterfeit, or false certificate of ownership, registration card,
certificate, license, license plate, device issued pursuant to
Section 4853, special plate, or permit.
4463. (a) Every person who, with intent to prejudice, damage, or
defraud, commits any of the following acts is guilty of a felony and
upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the
state prison for 16 months, two or three years, or by imprisonment in
the county jail for not more than one year:
(1) Alters, forges, counterfeits, or falsifies any certificate of
ownership, registration card, certificate, license, license plate,
device issued pursuant to Section 4853, special plate, or permit
provided for by this code or any comparable certificate of ownership,
registration card, certificate, license, license plate, device
comparable to that issued pursuant to Section 4853, special plate, or
permit provided for by any foreign jurisdiction, or alters, forges,
counterfeits, or falsifies any such document, device, or plate with
intent to represent it as issued by the department, or alters,
forges, counterfeits, or falsifies with fraudulent intent any
endorsement of transfer on a certificate of ownership or other
document evidencing ownership, or with fraudulent intent displays or
causes or permits to be displayed or have in his or her possession
any blank, incomplete, canceled, suspended, revoked, altered, forged,
counterfeit, or false certificate of ownership, registration card,
certificate, license, license plate, device issued pursuant to
Section 4853, special plate, or permit.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 12-30-2007
Posts: 107
From: whittier,ca
Hello All
I think I have it figured out. I went to the junk yard today and saw a license plate bracket from early to mid 80's Buick Skylark. I took it off cleaned it and repainted it. I think it is going to work out perfect. It cvame with mounting brackets and screws. It cost me $5. I am attaching pictures. I have not installed it yet. Thanks for all your feedback!
John
I think I have it figured out. I went to the junk yard today and saw a license plate bracket from early to mid 80's Buick Skylark. I took it off cleaned it and repainted it. I think it is going to work out perfect. It cvame with mounting brackets and screws. It cost me $5. I am attaching pictures. I have not installed it yet. Thanks for all your feedback!
John
