Doug's article about plate-o-rama...

"El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!" (lightningzone)
12/19/2015 at 10:39 • Filed to: None

Kinda silly, in a high school cheerleader rivalry, way.

Seriously, who gives a shit what shape someone’s license plate is. Neither American or European license plates are superior. They’re just different, and how good they look/fit depends on the car they are.

In many cases, American license plates ruin the look of bumpers on European cars, even if they come in matching colors, simply because the plate areas were designed to accommodate the sleek plates, EU uses.

The DMV should just allow people to choose the fitting shape of license plate, and put an end to the whole nonsense.

DISCUSSION (21)

Master Cylinder > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
12/19/2015 at 10:51

Alternatively, live in a state that doesn’t require front plates. Now everyone’s front bumpers look great!

BlackberryShawtyHasAnE46 > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
12/19/2015 at 11:03

As much as I complain about living in Georgia I'm really grateful that I don't have to have a front license plate they're just not cute aesthetically

petebmwm > Master Cylinder
12/19/2015 at 11:04

damn you pensylvania!!!!!!

Svend > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
12/19/2015 at 11:19

I take it other shapes are out as well.

Regular

Kinja'd!!!

Recess shaped

Kinja'd!!!

Katsumoto > Svend
12/19/2015 at 11:29

So the DMV in your country gets measurements on cars to fit the rear plate to the space it’s in? Like that 2nd pic? Or it is only on certain vehicles?

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > petebmwm
12/19/2015 at 11:34

Damn you illinois

Svend > Katsumoto
12/19/2015 at 11:42

The DVLA (U.K. DMV) only handle the registration of the vehicle (the paper and electronic side of things). You can have plates made up by them or have a car dealership or garage make them up for you. A few years ago someone started making shaped plates for Jaguar S and X Types, Range Rovers and Rover 75s. It caught on to a degree and some have the shapes tailored to their car.

It’s all legal as long as it’s reflective, a set size and type of font, correct spacing is observed, a postcode of where the plate was made and conforms to a set minimum size overall (there is one exeption in ‘grey import’ cars and a smaller licence plate with a fractionally smaller font is allowed to conform to JDM style recesses).

Katsumoto > Svend
12/19/2015 at 11:54

Hmmm. I wish we could do that here, although people would try to get all the different colors by instead of just the 1 legal one. Then it would go away here in the states.

scoob > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
12/19/2015 at 12:12

Kinja'd!!!

It matches the Piss Yellow paint!

scoob > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
12/19/2015 at 12:13

Damn you New York

McMike > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
12/19/2015 at 12:22

The DMV should just....

.....drop the front plate requirement.

If all 50 states required a front plate, USDM bumpers would accomodate them. Because they don’t, all US front plate mounts are an afterthought.

B Reynolds > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
12/19/2015 at 12:44

Being required to have a front plate sucks no matter what it looks like!

TheHondaBro > scoob
12/19/2015 at 13:51

Damn you Washington

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > TheHondaBro
12/19/2015 at 13:57

no front plate on the GLI. holding it in the windshield yo

TheHondaBro > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
12/19/2015 at 13:58

I’ve been considering doing that. I just want to get the damn bracket off.

scoob > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
12/19/2015 at 14:25

Is that legal? I suspect it would be more annoying if cops pull you over just to find out it’s in the windshield.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Master Cylinder
12/19/2015 at 15:43

What’s hilarious is that although it’s popular to hate front plates, a lot of cars are actually designed for front plates.

In Arizona, where cars are only issued one plate for the rear, you see a lot of awkward front plate brackets that never got taken off.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > El Relámpago(LZone) - Humanity First!
12/19/2015 at 15:54

There is no escaping the fact that European cars were designed for European plates, and that taller plates like US/Japan may intrude on styling elements.

That said, it’s ridiculous that front plates are not more strictly enforced in parts of the US. There should be no debate—one on the front, one on the rear just like the rest of the world requires. Missing a plate? Get it fixed or lose your registration.

If cars wouldn’t last a day with missing plates, Californian roads would be a much safer place. My blood boils when I see a creaking car on bald tires and wobbly wheels, running around with no plates at all. A daily sight here in CA. Also on my wish list: Mandatory annual safety inspections, because people apparently cannot be relied on to maintain their cars.

Master Cylinder > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/19/2015 at 17:12

Yeah, my front bumper has two little holes for mounting a plate bracket. It’s kind of ugly but it still looks better than having a plate that’s wider than the bumper.

Master Cylinder > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/19/2015 at 17:13

Some places don’t require a front plate at all, it’s not a matter of whether it’s being enforced or not. In Michigan, all you need is one plate on the back of your vehicle. Although plenty of people don’t even bother to do that.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Master Cylinder
12/19/2015 at 17:57

Yes, I recall Arizona doesn’t even issue a second plate for any car.