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It's a shame that someone would drill holes and screw on that license plate holder when it comes with double faced adhesive pads to attach it with. I'd be bummed out if I had that issue but fortunately when we got ours it still had the plate holder in its factory packaging stored in the trunk floor compartment and was never installed by the previous owner who would rather get a ticket for no front plate than to deface the front of the car.
I chose a removable plate carrier and sourced this one made by innovative Automotive Products and it spends most of the time in my trunk. If I get stopped I'll tell them that I forgot to put it back on after the last show and shine I attended. It was a simple non invasive installation using existing fasteners and screw holes. I noted some other makes are available that look a bit more like they belong since you can get them painted to match the car and are curved to match contours but this one above works well is simple to install and remove. Good luck with your project.
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Whether to replace w/ better holder, have holes repaired & go w/o comes down to one main issue.
What state are we talking about?
States like TX, NY, CA (-) it's commonly reported front plate law's are often enforced.
Others states like WI, IL, IN (+) etc don't seem to care.
Been driving in those W/I/I w/o front plate for many years, never hassled even if I was being cited for something else.
IF living in a stricter state re front plates?
A jazzier replacement bracket covering old area saves a lot of dough vs repair.
Consider why a bracket was there to start as a clue which kind of state, +/-, you're living.
Living in Ohio, supposed to be required, since started driving until now at 50 never had a front plate on my car. Never been pulled over because of it. Pulled over for other things, 1 speeding ticket, 1 warning for speeding(no seatbelt fine). But even then, no mention of plate on front.
Talked to my cousin who is a Police Officer in the city I work, and they said they don't mind cars without plates on the front, they pull those guys over after midnight to check on DUI's. Gives them a legal reason to pull them over.
If I do have to put one on, like mentioned earlier in this thread and reading through a bunch of other threads, there are several options not to drill into the car.
For the time being and a short term solution, I found a product from bumper plugs. $38 w/shipping. Drill a little bit bigger hole than what is there now, and these go into the holes. They have the bumps sticking out like a rivet, but has to look better than holes in the front. They sell matching GM Colors as well. I will take before and after pics.
Then the 2nd issue is the clear bra has a black stain from the plate holder as well as some peeling where the plate holder was, may have to have that replaced.
Last edited by rekud; Nov 1, 2018 at 07:52 AM.
Reason: wrong name for plugs
I too can not see the damage in your posted photo.
Repainting the entire front bumper and then maybe having to blend for a color match...yep can of worms.
Dr Color Chip etc for the win.
Been there, done that. Ultimately, I got a body shop that I trusted to repair the holes, and repaint the front bumper. At the same time, I got a ZR-1 style color matched front splitter , and then added a Top Flight removable plate holder, also with a color matched frame. Just be aware that if you have the bumper repainted, you should wait for a couple of weeks to allow the paint to fully harden if your are going to attach the Top Flight holder, because it uses double sided tape.
There are other options.
1) You could buy a color matched rattle can, and spray the black OEM holder and see what you think. I did this as an interim step - the OEM black on any other color really makes the OEM holder noticeable.
2) As suggested, you could try Dr. Color Chip. I don't know if they will repair the holes - they won't where I live. If they won't, then you could try to repair them yourself using an epoxy putty - JB Weld makes a good product. However, if the damage to the front bumper is like mine was, the screws leave a raised ridge around the holes, which you will have to carefully remove. Then put in the putty and push it in just slightly below the surface, effectively creating the equivalent of a paint chip, which Dr. Color Chip knows how to deal with.
3) There are specialty shops and individuals who repair front bumpers of new cars that have been damaged in transit. Dr. Color Chip here pointed me to one, who quoted a price of around $150. He said when he was finished, no one would be able to tell, unless you knew exactly where to look. I seriously considered this option, but since I knew where to look, I knew it would always bug me.
4) Try to find a pristine bumper in your color on Ebay or elsewhere, and replace yours. Might take a while to find one, and there's a risk that due to fading, the paint won't quite match.
Here are some pics:
With the OEM holder painted - could also paint the Chrome Frame to match
Bumper repaired and painted, ZR-1 spoiler installed, Top Flight installed, but plate removed.
With the plate attached to the holder.
IMHO, of all the plate holders, the Top Flight presents the best. If you decide to go that route, PM me, because unless Top Flight incorporated the mod that I suggested (doubtful), then getting the holder fastened at the correct inset depth wasn't easy. I came up with a fool-proof workaround.
Living in Ohio, supposed to be required, since started driving until now at 50 never had a front plate on my car. Never been pulled over because of it. Pulled over for other things, 1 speeding ticket, 1 warning for speeding(no seatbelt fine). But even then, no mention of plate on front.
Talked to my cousin who is a Police Officer in the city I work, and they said they don't mind cars without plates on the front, they pull those guys over after midnight to check on DUI's. Gives them a legal reason to pull them over.
If I do have to put one on, like mentioned earlier in this thread and reading through a bunch of other threads, there are several options not to drill into the car.
For the time being and a short term solution, I found a product from bumper plugs. $38 w/shipping. Drill a little bit bigger hole than what is there now, and these go into the holes. They have the bumps sticking out like a rivet, but has to look better than holes in the front. They sell matching GM Colors as well. I will take before and after pics.
Then the 2nd issue is the clear bra has a black stain from the plate holder as well as some peeling where the plate holder was, may have to have that replaced.
I live across the river in KY hopefully you drive better than the other Ohioans lol. But yea ive never heard them giving people **** for no front plate, unless the cop is a dick and having a bad day.
I have been pulled over in Virginia beach for illegal display / no front tag before. Yes it is a fix it ticket but court cost are a bitch. There are no holes just dents in the nose along where the top of the holder was pressing into the fiberglass. I buffed the crap out of scratches and indentations but it still irks me. The car has had it since it was first sold in VA and I got it a little over a year after it was installed. I figure if worse comes to worse, I will put some stripe decals on it and move on. I figured I would be on the hook for the repairs but I am trying to get the dealership to work with me on the cost. The body lines should make it easier to blend since it only that 2" section at the top of the tag.
Front End Fix
