Front plates are ruining beautiful cars

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno) 04/20/2014 at 13:24 • Filed to: None

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Look at this shit!

Front plates are required in some states, and not in others. Why is that? Do some states want to make extra sure that you're driving a legally registered vehicle? I've decided, no, they just want to ruin the front ends of cars.

Lets take this CTS-V for example:

The front plate mount completely ruins the flow of the front end. It also messes with the amount of air getting to the radiator. Which, as Chevy has found out with the Z/28, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! The problem persists though, people in states that require front plates can't take the bracket off. I know what you're thinking:

But Logan, just take the plate bracket off, most cops won't care that there isn't a front plate.

Yes, most cops probably won't care that there isn't one. But, there's that one time that you'll get pulled over by Mr. Badass McCop who's going to fine you for not having a front plate. A fine that can cost you up to $100 in the state of Missouri.

Car manufacturers design cars to only need a rear plate, then usually find some way to slap one on the front for those states that require one. Most of the time it ends up looking like a big plastic box screwed into the front bumper.

This goes on an E39 M5:

Yup, screw that right into the bumper of your expensive M car! It's not like you have a choice. And if you bought one new in Missouri or other front plate states, have fun taking it off and finding a way to fill those screw holes!

I just don't get why it's required in some states and other not. Can't we all just not need one, and stop ruining the front ends of cars everywhere? So do us a favor, front plate states, and stop requiring them! Plenty of people out there would thank you for not ruining their car anymore.

Ravey Mayvey Slurpee Surprise > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 13:42

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Ontario has the same issue. I'm jealous of the Quebec and Alberta cars that come in, brandishing their bare fronts. RELEASE THE FULL FRONTAL AUTOMOTIVE NUDITY, ONTARIO!

jimz > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 13:42

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I'm glad MI is one of the states which doesn't require them.

a couple months ago, one of the state representatives (from Detroit, no less) talked about introducing a bill to require them again. As if there aren't any more pressing things to worry about in MI and Detroit.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jimz 04/20/2014 at 13:44

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You know, lets not focus on the fact that we're a bankrupt city. No, lets focus on the fact that we need to bring front plates back!

jimz > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 13:46

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http://www.freep.com/article/201310…

Roberto G. > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 13:56

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Wholeheartedly agree!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 14:03

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Be glad you don't need the giant plates us europeans have.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 04/20/2014 at 14:09

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Oh god, that would drive me even more mad!

Arben72 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 14:24

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I don't understand why some states require front plates and some don't. Most of those that require it rarely enforce the law. My state requires it and I told my dealer if I find the mounting bracket on my bumper, I'll refuse delivery.

Jason Reece > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 14:26

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I am so glad that Georgia only requires a rear license plate! Just having the one seems to work fine for law enforcement and identification purposes. But for some reason 30 states (at last count) and the District of Columbia require FRONT and rear plates!

Manuél Ferrari > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 14:27

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I like to live dangerously. My state requires front plates. I don't mount them if the car didn't have it mounted when I bought it.

It's always a risk because it gives cops a reason to pull me over and give me a breathalyzer and search the car. The good thing about this is it helped me kick my habit of drinking and smuggling immigrants in my trunk for a few bucks.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 14:28

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They're sooo ugly!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Arben72 04/20/2014 at 14:28

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My dad has tried multiple times to go without a front plate, but he gets pulled over about it more often then not.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jason Reece 04/20/2014 at 14:29

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30!? Jesus.

HiredHand > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 15:01

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As much as everybody tells me I'm a nerd for even considering it, I really want to install this on the Audi:

Arben72 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 15:03

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I've never gotten pulled over in the last 4 years over no front plate. I've been pulled over a couple of times in that time, but they never mentioned lack of front plate. Maybe I'm just lucky but I'll see a no front plate ticket as a tax to keep my front end looking good

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Arben72 04/20/2014 at 15:05

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It might be because his blue, lifted, and loud Silverado sticks out like a sore thumb.

Arben72 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 15:09

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Maybe, I'm going run no front plates on my saabaru, 3 in. catless turbo back exhaust, bov, and soon an external waste-gate. It's going to be interesting to say the least.

wiffleballtony > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 16:59

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Fortunately my state of Arizona doesn't require front plates. Freedom!

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 19:37

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Ridiculous

Conan > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/20/2014 at 23:18

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I hate that we have to have them in Virginia. I don't want to tempt fate for those times when I occasionally speed so I always have them.

crowmolly > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/21/2014 at 10:03

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http://www.jegs.com/p/Altec-Produc…

A good alternative for cars that require drilling a bracket on to the front. Not a good alternative for cars with the front plate provision built in.

ljksetrightmemorialtrophydash > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 04/21/2014 at 17:24

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Car manufacturers design cars to only need a rear plate, then usually find some way to slap one on the front for those states that require one. Most of the time it ends up looking like a big plastic box screwed into the front bumper.

Most U.S. States require front and rear plates, including the three most populous states. Car manufacturers choose to reject this reality and substitute their own. They deserve the blame here.

What the states should do, though, is stop producing such ugly license plates. Enough with the busy designs and garish colors and bad typography and go back to the unobtrusive, legible plates of yesteryear: