[Classic]

Just got my new license plates and tried to install them, found out in the back there are only 2 holes to hold the plate while all other cars have 4 holes and in the front there are also 2 holes and the plate hangs over the holder. Why they did not make the plate holder bigger or put 4 holes in the back? Any other person drill extra hold in the back ? :?: :shock:

 

[Seaside Harry]

Plenty of cars these days only have two holes, although some mounting brackets provide tabs to hold the plate along the edge with no screwholes. I mounted our Prius front and rear plates--plus frames for both--with nylon hardware using only the two holes provided for each plate.

Is there some reason why you don't think this won't provide sufficient holding strength? Unless you are planning to tow things from your license plate, I can't imagine why it would be a problem.

 

[G. McCurdy]

I put the plates on "Crackers" (named for the windshield which likes to play catch with flying rocks) with the tamper-proof screws from the local Pep Boys since we have occassional "visitors" at the workplace parking lot who like to collect such things. You can get the little snap-on plastic caps to cover them too.

I did put fours screws in all the holes, both front and back. Took a grinder and flush-cut the lower ones. I added some self-stick fabric Velcro around the perimeter of the rear frame so it wouldn't rattle against the rear hatch.

 

[richard schumacher]

Drill holes in a new car? Eww.

Two holes is fine. This also frees the bottom two holes in the plate to mount a hatch handle. See http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/trunkhandle.html

 

[Classic]

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I did use 2 holes and it is secure but now I have 2 holes from the plate and I did not like the idea of showing these holes. It is just odd they only use 2 holes when license plate has 4.

 

[redwein]

I did use 2 holes and it is secure but now I have 2 holes from the plate and I did not like the idea of showing these holes. It is just odd they only use 2 holes when license plate has 4.

I have never had a car with 4 holes for the license plate. Every single one has had 2. They always have come with a frame from the dealer that holds the bottom with little bumps. That's just my experience.

 

[Seaside Harry]

I did use 2 holes and it is secure but now I have 2 holes from the plate and I did not like the idea of showing these holes. It is just odd they only use 2 holes when license plate has 4.

Ah, this is one of the reasons I used nylon mounting hardware. I didn't want the "empty hole" look either, so I used two of the nylon bolts full-length to mount the plate/frame assembly to the car. For the other two holes I used the nylon nuts that came with the hardware to join the plate and frame, then I cut the bolts off flush with diagonal cutters. Final step was sanding down the sharp edge on the bolt and covering with duct tape applied to the back of each license plate to prevent marring the paint surface on the hatchback.

I also used those hardware-hiding plastic caps that consist of a cup washer that goes under the bolt head and a "button" cap that snaps onto it after the bolts are tightened. Since I have a black license plate frame, the black buttons on each hole make the mounting hardware practically invisible. They also come in plastic "chrome" finish and other colors.

 

[Classic]

I did use 2 holes and it is secure but now I have 2 holes from the plate and I did not like the idea of showing these holes. It is just odd they only use 2 holes when license plate has 4.

Ah, this is one of the reasons I used nylon mounting hardware. I didn't want the "empty hole" look either, so I used two of the nylon bolts full-length to mount the plate/frame assembly to the car. For the other two holes I used the nylon nuts that came with the hardware to join the plate and frame, then I cut the bolts off flush with diagonal cutters. Final step was sanding down the sharp edge on the bolt and covering with duct tape applied to the back of each license plate to prevent marring the paint surface on the hatchback.

I also used those hardware-hiding plastic caps that consist of a cup washer that goes under the bolt head and a "button" cap that snaps onto it after the bolts are tightened. Since I have a black license plate frame, the black buttons on each hole make the mounting hardware practically invisible. They also come in plastic "chrome" finish and other colors.

Great idea. Thanks