Has anyone removed their front license plate? I would like the look without... I mean it is illegal but they can only give you a warning, right? Anyway, the holes are about 3/16"... what did you use to fill these? Did you colormatch, if so, how?

Also, there are 2 other small holes in mine, not drill holes but from screws... they are indented... kind of... how can i patch these up? they are noticably deep, like less than a millimeter but still... any ideas?

Also, over one of the bolt holes is kind of piece of the car, its the paint but its like flaked up and is covering part of the hole? Hard to describe... can I just rip this off or what? Thanks for any help!

raley

 

What year Protege are you talking about? I have a P5, and I took the front license plate off. I bought some plastic screws w/caps and painted the caps with touch up paint that matched my vehicle color. It looks great!

As for the illegal part, Im not sure I understand you. Unless you live somewhere that requires the license plate to be on the front of the car, you shouldnt have to worry. Is this the case in some states? Canada? Let me know, sounds interesting.

BTW, I bought the plastic screws and covers at Walmart, $1.99 for (4).

 

There are front and back license plates in Ontario and other parts of Canada.

 

Ohio requires front plates, but our neighbors in PA and MI don't have to wear them.

I have seen a lot of cars in OH without front plates driving around, so I don't think it is very rigorously enforced. I'm not brave enough to try taking mine off, though, even though it looks a lot better.

 

Ya, forgot to mention... its a '99 ES... Do the caps look good ? or do they stick out kind of and are noticeable? I just really wanted some plugs or something so you wouldn't be able to tell... thanks for any more input you guys have!

raley

 

Here is a pic of what I am talking about...

 

I have done the same thing with my wifes silver ES just bought some screws with plastic caps at pep boys and used touch up paint to paint them ( least exspensive idea) plus you will devalue your care by getting the bumper sprayed. The indentions you are talking about look like they are for european plates.

 

I like this topic, hence I have the same question as well.
I've called DMV regard this, and of course they told me it's illegal to have w/o them. However, I have seen WAAAY too many cars w/o front licence plate, seems like they don't have any problem driving them. In addition, I was also told that the purpose of front licence plate is for the cross red light camera, heard if you cross a red light and they took the picutre of you w/o the front licence plate, they would double the finds.

I live in Santa Barbra, California. Anybody here reads this board have their taken off, and not get in trouble?

 

I like what you did mnkyboy. Is your strut bar bent or is that how they are made?

 

Thanks . As for your question, I havent done anything to the strut bar, I hope thats how they are made. Is yours different? I notice that you have a Vivid Yellow P5 also (from your avatar). Is yours different? Is anyone elses different?

 

Lemme run outside and check hold on...

 

Nevermind. Mine is bent too. I wonder why...

 

From what I know, a cop can't pull you over for not having your front plates. However, if you get pulled over for something else and they notice that you don't have one, you'll get a fix-it ticket. I live in California (where it's illegal) and have been driving without front plates for 9 months now, and no problems so far.

 

I simply "found" a yellow decal that matched car, then with a exacto-knife I trimmed the decal into the size of "dime", I then applied to the vehicle.......


Here in California it is illegal to run with "no front lic. plate", so I simply carry my "old" mounting bracket under my front seat, then If the cops pull me over, all I say is "Officer, the license plate bracket broke yesterday on the way home".......

Later, Speedbump

PS. in over 20 years of driving here on the left coast and I've only been ticketed once for driving with only 1 license plate, so I kind of like the 'odds......

 

Here in CT you must display both plates. I took my bracket off recently, cause I couldn't find small enough screws to fit the plate on! I also work for a local police department, and have yet to see anyone ticketed or warned for not having it. However, it is always wise to have the bracket/plate in the car, so you don't look too bad, if you happen to get pulled over.

Those caps should work fine to plug it. On mine it's hardly noticeable unfilled (black P5). Looks a lot better though!