How do you deal with the front license plate in CA?
 

Hello Guys! Glad to be part of the BRZ community! Here are two photos that I took today. LMT+SWP+Package 2C. That is it! First post as well.

One nagging question is that the dealer wants to drill two holes on my front bumper to fix the license plate. I stopped them. But I really could not figure out a good way for the license plate installation.

I there an aftermarket license plate holder that can be tied to the front bumper so that we can keep the beauty of my BRZ intact?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Dimension issue. Here are the pictures.

i seen ones that screw into the front tow hook, cant remember who makes them, cause we dont need front plates where i live :)

grimmspeed mounts to the tow hook. clean and easy install! :)

you can get them here ---> http://www.86-zn6.com/GrimmSpeed-Lic...-Kit_p_88.html

and here's a pic of it installed

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...6/IMG_7384.jpg

this is a very old question.. which can be answered with a simple search on this forum.

but since you just got the new car, and kind enough to post the photo, i will give you a short answer

here are your options

1. drill the holes, and mount it the way your dealer wants to.
-pros- it's free, quick, and doesn't look THAT bad (not to mention legal)
-cons- you are drilling holes into your bumper

2. buy license plate relocator (grimmspeed, or whatever from amazon/ebay)
-pros- no holes on your bumpers. can 'some what' customize the location/look of the license plate. no trouble from the police
-cons- it will cost you around $40-$80, and you have to install it yourself

3. place license plate on the dashboard
-pros- no holes on your bumpers. FREE.
-cons- can rattle. will slide during quick turns. might be illegal (depending on the cop)

4. no front license plate AT ALL
-pros- no holes on your bumper. free.
-cons- you WILL get tickets.

I searched first. But so many threads cropped up. So I gave up. Sorry for being a little lazy. Your suggestions are very good.

No license plate for about a year and a half now. No fix it tickets yet. *knocks on wood*


... Hypothetically, can you say that it's a lease.. and the dealer did not drill holes into the front bumper.. so if I were to drill holes I'd get charged for a new front mustache?

Registration card indicates if it is a lease. If you say it is and it isn't, the cop will likely notice you are bs'ing. That might draw even more scrutiny.

Oh yeah, did not think about that. :bs:

There's the magnet and/or ziptie option, look in the DIY directory.

Option #5 - magnets. no drilling, uses stock license plate frame.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35261

It's hit and miss with getting tickets for no front license plate in my experience. My cousin has had no front plate on her IS250 since 2008 and have never gotten pulled over for it. On the other hand, I've known people who have been stopped several times. It might be due to loud ass exhaust and attracting attention though.

I had the Grimmspeed front relocator and have no issues.

Using the forum search function is horrible.

Use Google: type in "[search parameter] site:ft86club.com"

Example: https://www.google.com/#q=front+lice...e:ft86club.com

The Grimmspeed option shows up on the first page, as well as other DIY options.

-alex

Almost 10 months, got a speeding ticket, no mention of front plate. If you fear getting pulled over for other reasons, the cop will likely pile the missing plate on top of whatever infraction (run a red light, speeding, drifting whatever). Might get pulled over if you're acting suspicious with the plate being used as an excuse and get a "fix it ticket" or the full "you dun goofed ticket". The only reason mine isn't installed is because the dealer didn't do it and I got lazy. I'll put it on if someone gives me shit, I'll also mount it lower and not drill into the painted part of the bumper.

tl:dr When's the last time you saw a Corvette with a front plate? Doesn't seem to be a problem from what I've seen, might get hassled if you look like a troublemaker though.

I was first delighted at seeing your DIY reference. But it requires taking off the front bumper cover. That is a big challenge for me. So back to the aftermarket stuff. The main competitor of grimspeed is this one:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Platypus-Holes-License-Plate-Subaru/dp/B00BJ78XQQ/"]The Platypus Tow Hook "No Holes" License Plate Mount for Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S : Amazon.com : Automotive[/ame]

Has anybody tried both? The grimspeed kit looks better made. But the other one has a soft backing and the gap between the car and the plate holder is larger. So I do not need to worry about damaging the paint in case it rotates. Anybody can help?

BTW, I really do not like the asymmetric look. But if this is what it takes to avoid the hole, so be it.

I like the GrimmSpeed license plate relocator, secure into the tow hook. I would have tried the magnet technique by @shiumai but I already had bought my kit.

How about a solution that uses the OEM bracket as a donner?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47285

3m double sided automotive tape

Counterpoint: last night at the NLDS game at Dodger Stadium, I saw a police officer give out front license plate tickets to parked cars at the stadium.

You do not need to be moving to be given a front plate ticket. Any police or parking enforcement could give you that ticket.

-alex

i was daunted by it too, but the DIY for taking the front bumper off was very clear and it wasn't a difficult job. i'm not one that really does much mechanical work on cars, so i'm probably just as challenged as you :D.

In case anyone wants to see the schedule of fines for traffic infraction in California (using Orange County as a reference):

http://www.occourts.org/directory/cr...ilschedule.pdf

This pretty much covers everything you would get a ticket for in CA.

-alex

I've never put a front plate on any of my cars. I've never got a ticket for it. My dad has never done it either and has never gotten a ticket. I know they are more strict the closer you get to LA, I am more in the IE and never had a problem.

Not advocating breaking the law here ^_^

I personally don't run a plate on my car and just take my chances. If you're fed up with the tickets you're getting though, this works nicely:

http://www.modbargains.com/images/Pr...ion-FR-S-2.jpg

It's a nice piece that I had on a previous vehicle of mine. It's totally worth it for a couple reasons. The most obvious reason, not getting tickets, but what made it worth it to me is that I've been backed up into several times, probably from someone trying to parallel park, but the no holes plate here takes the brunt of any small bump you might get from another car, taking the hit instead of your bumper, which is quite nice :)

*knocks on wood as well* I'm going on a year and 5 months with no front plate (since May 2012) and I haven't gotten tagged for it once. Driven all over the Bay Area and down to LA twice, and haven't had a single cop give me a second glance.

The issue with this is that I also want to put a car cover on top. The white car we have is a true dust magnet. This is the 1st time that I cannot wipe the dust off. It just move to the place where my rag leaves the body of the car. Is there anything especial with the paint? I am kind of surprised. Never seen it before.

Can you explain which part of the bracket you stuck the tape to? I assume the 2 circular spots on the side, anywhere else?

There is a tow hook cover on the front that gets removed and the plate utilizes that instead, so if you wanted to put a car cover on it, just unscrew the plate from the car and you're good. Takes about 10 seconds to remove from the car completely, and 10 seconds to put back on, so it's not like it will be an annoyance if that's what you need to do to get the car cover on.

no bracket. i just taped the plate directly to the mustache. i also tied a rope to one of the holes just in cause it falls off. but in the hot so cal summer we've had, its been solid.

I have used Skene Design (skenedesign.com) brackets before on other cars. I just ordered some for my BRZ.

My dad has had his miata for 11 years without a front plate, my BMW had no front plate for 4 years, and my BRZ has had no front plate for 5 months now. No tickets. I've been pulled over and no mention of missing plate. I live in Los Angeles.

I wouldn't worry about it. Hell, I have an FR-S with no front plate, so I don't worry about it.

The thing about the front plate is that there is absolutely zero repercussion for repeatedly failing to obey the law. In other words, all you have to do is pay $15 now and then, and you never have to run a front plate ever again. That's pretty fair IMO---on the other hand, the "fee" for being able to drive as fast as you want all the time (aka speeding tickets and insurance) can get pricey!

To reiterate, just go without a plate. If you ever get pulled over, just accept the ticket. Mount the plate somehow (try a free method, like zip ties or something), meet an officer, go to the courthouse, and pay your 15 bucks. OP, if you're in SF, just head down to the station on Bryant and you can get a cop to sign off right in front of the courthouse.

In 10 years and 14 cars in this great state, I've gotten exactly ONE ticket for no front plate. I got it signed off, paid my fine at the courthouse, and then immediately took the plate back off :D

I never really understood this discussion... either put the plate on where it belongs, or don't put it on at all. If you hate how the car looks with a front plate, then don't put it on but deal with the consequences. It might be a violation to drive without one, but it's not exactly the most enforced vehicle code anyway, let alone the most enforced fix-it ticket. If you're concerned about it, then put it where it belongs, and you never have to worry about it again. Drive by the cops and wave.

In my opinion, the offset plate looks corny on the 86, since there's no reason for it (meaning no FMIC). For people who are worried about drilling holes... seriously, how often are you going to take the front plate off and have the holes being exposed? Likely not often, unless you want to be Mr. Cool at the weekly late night parking lot meets with the other teenagers.

My current (and previous) car, I drove around without a front plate for a year, no problems. And then I just decided to put it on (since at the time I was applying for law enforcement and didn't want to bother with risking getting any stupid tickets), and it didn't bother me one bit.

There is a thread on here somewhere that suggested really strong magnets

i had a friend who used zip tie for his plate (he zip tied it agaist the grid, went to the DMV to get the ticket waive and then just leave it :)

To take the bumper off, is it a one man's job or two men's? I really like your approach, but I am also scared.

No plate/no care

i did it by myself.

I used to just put it up on my dash... but you're really taking chances on that... after numerous pull-overs and fix-it tickets (even from PARKING ENFORCEMENT), i just have my front plate where it belongs...

Saves me time and honestly, it doesn't look that bad..

^ Yup. Plus you can still get a ticket anyway with the plate on your dash.

Make sure you get anti seize for the mount.

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