[grnmachine]

Did a search and couldn't find much on this.

While waxing the Green Machine the other day I noticed a slight black groove which had been imbedded into the front bumper apparently from the front license plate frame bouncing against it for so long. I think I once noticed this and thought it was just black rubber substance which had come off of the frame onto the bumper, but it's not.

Can one simply remove this frame and reattach the plate without the frame? I think we are legally bound to have front plates here, otherwise I'd ditch it altogether.

 

[minako]

I was inspecting this myself, but it appears that you need the bracket because the front of the bumper is a slight "V" shape. You could always screw the license plate directly into the bumper to the side of the "V", I guess, but that would still allow the plate to dig into the paint. I know it's illegal to have no front plate here in California, too, but I'm soooo tempted to remove it. I hate seeing that beautiful blue paint get ruined!

 

[spacebug]

Plate removal

It's not legal here to run without a front plate, but it was the first thing I removed from my Insight. Have also run my last two cars without them and never had a problem. I keep the plate in the back and the only time I was stopped, I showed them the plate and told them I needed to get a bracket. No problems since. I just prefer the clean look of the front bumper without the plate.

Missing front plate is one of those extras that the cops will get you for if you give them a reason. If you obey (within reasonable limits) the local speed limits and don't draw unnecessary negative attention to yourself, you'll likely be fine.

Where in New England are you? I'm hoping to get a small get together going this summer for New England Insighters.

 

[bretthans]

IIRC some folks in the old Yahoo group did this a long time ago. I don't remember the details, but I think they removed the bracket and used the bracket bolt through a hole in the middle of the license plate. They also bent the license plate so it wrapped around the bumper in an attempt to improve the aerodynamics. I don't recall what they used to keep the plate from scratching the paint.

 

[Guest]

lost plate

I lost my plate a long time ago. Whenever I get pulled over for this I'll go "Really?". Until then... the car is more aerodynamic.

Haven't mentioned this to the wife... not as good of a liar. Thus when she goes "Really?". it will come from honest astonishment.

 

[kari]

I must have bad luck, when my license plate honestly fell off of my last car I would get tickets from NYC cops all the time for no plates! it wasn't as bad driving around, but if I left the car parked it was a cop magnet. they would ticket even when I left the plate in the front window.

 

[trunkout]

omg

just put in in the front window....done it for decades now.

 

[gomarlins3]

I ran a strip of the felt side of velco along the license plate frame where it touches the bumper so the felt hits the bumper not the frame. Works fine.

 

[trunkout]

Re: omg

just put in in the front window....done it for decades now.

yeah.....and got a ticket for it this weekend....
how ironic....

 

[minako]

That stinks!!! I'm sorry to hear that.

 

[kari]

Re: omg

yeah.....and got a ticket for it this weekend....
how ironic....

oh no! I hope I didn't spread the bad luck around.

 

[goat961]

Re: omg

just put in in the front window....done it for decades now.

yeah.....and got a ticket for it this weekend....
how ironic....

got pulled over for it in my home town this morning...

 

[flunkysama]

Maybe in the future, they'll have flexible stick-on front license plates (Quick, someone patent that!)

Untill then, just do what I do and lie to yourself. Tell yourself that it decreases drag just like the aerospike on a Trident missle.

 

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Maybe in the future, they'll have flexible stick-on front license plates

Would a stick-on vinyl sign meet the USA legal requirements? Might be worth looking up the relevant legislation to see what the wording is.

 

[MrCoffee]

I'm glad we don't need a front plate here in Arizona.
took my front Lplate brick mount off and it looks better.

 

[JoeMultihuller]

Yes, it does look better, but we DO do it for aerodynamic reasons, don't we? http://www.katiekat.net/Vehicles/Insigh ... ghtsSE.jpg
"But officer, I'm being patriotic and really trying to save petrol (see, it's 75.9lmpg) just so you can use it to zoom around in your gas-guzzler and chase bad guys!" :roll:
(I still remember over 30 years ago the equivalent of our highway patrol in Holland zipping around in Porche 914s wearing bright orange helmets)
Amazing how long it takes to get license plates for a new car - still haven't received mine after six weeks.
Like the idea of putting it under the front windshield ... maybe a foam wedge to prop it up, or Velcro... :?
JoeS.