License plate covers

**Lonnie** · 01-27-2021, 08:35 AM

WOW. Good post an such a "simple" , overlooked automotive item.

I will say this about stainless steel rust-proof screws that not all stainless is "rust-proof" or corrosion-proof. MOST OTC stainless at hardware stores comes from "offshore" (China or Taiwan) manufacturers and is 410-series that is cheaper to buy and machine. The "better" grade is 302/304. The REALLY good grade is 316 (think surgical-medical grade or salt-water corrosion resistant), but that is like 6 times the cost of 410 series. 410-stainless is still better than plain steel screws that will rust. One way to tell if it really cheap stainless steel is to bring a magnet with you and see it the stainless steel is slightly magnetic. If it is, it`s cheap stainless. Works well on testing less-expensive (AKA, cheap) imported "stainless steel" kitchen knives/cutlery.

Laugh as you will, I put anti-seize compound on license plate screws, only to realize that MOST domestic car manufactures have PLASTIC threaded inserts in the sheet metal to attach license plate with.

Stolen license plates a big thing. I do not know of any dealer that substitutes the OEM screws with tamper-proof Torx head screws, the screw head that has a 5-sides star-shape with a "post" in the middle of the star drive to prevent removal or "tampering. Yes, they make special tools that "fit" this screw-drive, and yes, they are readily available to the general public, but most license plate thieves would not think of carrying these "special" tools around. Just food for thought.
(Only a CADD Technician who has experience with screws, the material types that they are made of, and the drive head on them would think of those things.)

Speaking of screw head drives, the screw cross on Japanese cars is different than a Phillips-head screw cross and is referred to as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screw. Yes, they make special screw driver tips to "fit" these screw cross drives. Those of you who may have inadvertently tried a Phillips-tipped screw drive in a JIS screw, which seems to fit , but then stripped out the head drive when trying remove it to tighten it, well, now you know why.
More food for thought.....

**bob m** · 01-27-2021, 09:01 AM

Thanks all. Before I posted this, I ordered a cover from Weather Tech and though well made, my plate did not fit inside as well as it should - huh? go figure, but I did not like the fact that the bare plate could be touching the paint and possibly incur scratches. Soooo, with the input here, I bought the silicone covers mentioned from Amazon.

As an aside a few years ago, while driving to work in NYC one morning, I got pulled over by the police. I was not speeding, went through any traffic lights, my lights were all working, so I could not imagine why the pull over - other than the fact that I did not have my front plate on the car - even though in NY and NJ it was required. Sooooooo the police officer told me that the covered plates were prohibited and let me go w/o a ticket. I couldn`t figure out why they would be but apparently they hinder traffic cameras from getting a clear pic if you should run a light. After that, I swapped out that covered one for the one from Griot`s, but unfortunately left it on my Audi when I traded it in for my CX-5. Live and learn.

**Accumulator** · 01-27-2021, 03:11 PM

Accumulatorette likes having an Isringhausen Imports frame on the back plate of her A8, but other than that we don`t run any frames on any of our vehicles. I`ve tried [you name it] but always come back to preferring none at all. No problems, I still have the same plates on everything that I got the last time Ohio required new ones (and that was a long, long time ago...decades) since they get nasty (well, OK..there`s a bit of very minor accident damage on two of `em, but at this point I really do consider it "patina").

**Accumulator** · 01-27-2021, 03:15 PM

Ohio recently dropped the Front Plate Requirement, but it was selectively enforced anyhow. We`ve both received plenty of tickets in states where the front plate was required, but while some LEOs commented on it, neither of us was never even given an official warning let alone a citation for it. I consider it merely a means of [messing] with people that the LEO wants to hassle (confirmed, BTW, by numerous LEOs I`ve known), and we`re not in that demographic.

**Bill D** · 01-27-2021, 03:28 PM

Ah! So glad to hear you don’t need a front plate any more! Cars look so much better without them. You’re more like us down here now!

**PoisonTheWell** · 01-27-2021, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by bob m

I was not speeding, went through any traffic lights, my lights were all working, so I could not imagine why the pull over - other than the fact that I did not have my front plate on the car - even though in NY and NJ it was required.

Pretty typical for crossing the bridge.

**bob m** · 01-28-2021, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by Lonnie

WOW. Good post an such a "simple" , overlooked automotive item.

I will say this about stainless steel rust-proof screws that not all stainless is "rust-proof" or corrosion-proof. MOST OTC stainless at hardware stores comes from "offshore" (China or Taiwan) manufacturers and is 410-series that is cheaper to buy and machine. The "better" grade is 302/304. The REALLY good grade is 316 (think surgical-medical grade or salt-water corrosion resistant), but that is like 6 times the cost of 410 series. 410-stainless is still better than plain steel screws that will rust. One way to tell if it really cheap stainless steel is to bring a magnet with you and see it the stainless steel is slightly magnetic. If it is, it`s cheap stainless. Works well on testing less-expensive (AKA, cheap) imported "stainless steel" kitchen knives/cutlery.

Laugh as you will, I put anti-seize compound on license plate screws, only to realize that MOST domestic car manufactures have PLASTIC threaded inserts in the sheet metal to attach license plate with.

Stolen license plates a big thing. I do not know of any dealer that substitutes the OEM screws with tamper-proof Torx head screws, the screw head that has a 5-sides star-shape with a "post" in the middle of the star drive to prevent removal or "tampering. Yes, they make special tools that "fit" this screw-drive, and yes, they are readily available to the general public, but most license plate thieves would not think of carrying these "special" tools around. Just food for thought.
(Only a CADD Technician who has experience with screws, the material types that they are made of, and the drive head on them would think of those things.)

Speaking of screw head drives, the screw cross on Japanese cars is different than a Phillips-head screw cross and is referred to as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screw. Yes, they make special screw driver tips to "fit" these screw cross drives. Those of you who may have inadvertently tried a Phillips-tipped screw drive in a JIS screw, which seems to fit , but then stripped out the head drive when trying remove it to tighten it, well, now you know why.
More food for thought.....

Agree, very overlooked. Good info on the SS screws. Thanks.

**bob m** · 01-28-2021, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by 512detail

See above post

I`d also recommend adding rust proof screws

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I just got those covers today and dang it, there isn`t any little covers for those screws.

**512detail** · 01-28-2021, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by bob m

I just got those covers today and dang it, there isn`t any little covers for those screws.

I`m sure you can get covers. I don`t use any personally.

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**bob m** · 01-28-2021, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by 512detail

I`m sure you can get covers. I don`t use any personally.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

I`m not asking sarcastically, but you prefer the look of the bare screws over the covers?

**512detail** · 01-28-2021, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by bob m

I`m not asking sarcastically, but you prefer the look of the bare screws over the covers?

It has neve came up as a visual issue to me. I`ve actually only had 2 clients ever who have had the screw covers. I guess it looks better but it has never been something I said to myself I have to have.

I also have a factory front plate drilled into my bumper and have zero issues with that. I bought vanity plates and I paid a lot for them so I dont mind showing them.

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**Accumulator** · 01-30-2021, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by bob m

I`m not asking sarcastically, but you prefer the look of the bare screws over the covers?

I do

I had used all sorts of covers/fastener covers/etc. for ages, but one day I woke up and just wanted Form to follow Function. Like.."this is a license plate; it`s held on with these screws". Anything else just looks weird to me anymore...go figure...

**BudgetPlan1** · 01-30-2021, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Accumulator

I do

I had used all sorts of covers/fastener covers/etc. for ages, but one day I woke up and just wanted Form to follow Function. Like.."this is a license plate; it`s held on with these screws". Anything else just looks weird to me anymore...go figure...

Probably near heresy but I`ve still got the dealer plate frames on all of our cars.

**dgage** · 01-30-2021, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by BudgetPlan1

Probably near heresy but I`ve still got the dealer plate frames on all of our cars.

And poof, the legend in my mind that was BudgetPlan1 “Master Coating Guru” went up in smoke in a microsecond.

**BudgetPlan1** · 01-30-2021, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by dgage

And poof, the legend in my mind that was BudgetPlan1 “Master Coating Guru” went up in smoke in a microsecond.

We had a ton of fun at the dealer on the days we bought/picked up the Cayman & Corvette, not totally offensive plate frames and seeing them reminds of those days

Wife`s Civic has a dealer frame that`s pretty nice, heavy chrome looks OK and does the job. Getting a bit dinged up, thinking of asking the local Honda store if they`ll give me a new one...if free, I`ll continue advertising!

My Accord i just really don`t think/care much about. Maybe i can score a 2nd `good` freebie from local Honda store...