Front license plate holder

Orsino · 03-23-2005, 02:32 PM

My '05 came with a sealed plastic bag containing what is obviously a support for a front license plate & frame. It fits neatly on the nose, but there's no hardware with which to attach this thing to the car--just the usual two bolts which would attach the plate/frame to the holder.

I see two holes that look as though they would allow two long bolts to go into the grille, but I have no clue as to how to make this work. Can anyone point me in the right direction? The manual doesn't cover this, and I'm unable to find an answer either in these forums or with general Google-fu.

As a follow-up: would a front license plate interfere with air intake and/or reduce mileage?

eak354 · 03-23-2005, 02:36 PM

they should have installed it during predelivery (unless ordered otherwise) you can go back to the dealership and have them install it. didnt the 2 bolts come with it? it should be easy to install yourself.

Prolene · 03-23-2005, 02:38 PM

The front plate holder/frame was already installed when I first saw the car I bought. The frame was attached to the bumper and does not cover any grill area. Screws to hold the holder in place were driven directly into the bumper. I didn't like it. I don't like to have front plates, anyway, for appearances sake, and the sight of the holes in the bumper are a bit of an annoyance.

DanMan32 · 03-23-2005, 04:55 PM

My front plate holder only came with the self tapping screws that screw into the bumper plastic where the dimples are. I ether never receieve, or lost the bolts for the plate itself.

If you don't have the self-tapping screws, see your dealer.

bobc · 03-23-2005, 05:16 PM

As an alternative, Texassalsa04 put the plate below the bumper.

These are from the modification album here on priuschat.com.

-bob

kkister1492 · 03-23-2005, 08:23 PM

But I don't understand why having the license plate lower and then have to cover up the holes in the bumper is preferable to the plate in the bumper. A friend did this, too, and I just don't get it.

prius mdt · 03-23-2005, 08:25 PM

The two screws in the plastic bag are to hold the frame onto the front bumper. Simply poke a hole with an awl where the dimples are and screw the screws in. I find it easier with a 10mm 1/4" drive socket on a cordless drill. Toyota does not supply the bolts to attach you plate to the frame.

Some dealers don't install the frames as they DX (dealer exchange) cars in their inventory to dealers outside of the their state where front plates are optional. People in those states would then have an ugly frame or holes in the bumper where the frame was.

Orsino · 03-23-2005, 09:48 PM

Thanks, Don! That makes sense.

A bolt/screw through the bumper sounds a bit insecure, though. If I asked my dealer to do it, what would they use?

prius mdt · 03-26-2005, 08:47 AM

They would use the screw thru the bumper. Toyota has been doing that for years. Works well even tho it sounds weak.

03-23-2005, 02:32 PM	#1
Orsino Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: (west of) Etlanna, GA Posts: 104 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Front license plate holder My '05 came with a sealed plastic bag containing what is obviously a support for a front license plate & frame. It fits neatly on the nose, but there's no hardware with which to attach this thing to the car--just the usual two bolts which would attach the plate/frame to the holder. I see two holes that look as though they would allow two long bolts to go into the grille, but I have no clue as to how to make this work. Can anyone point me in the right direction? The manual doesn't cover this, and I'm unable to find an answer either in these forums or with general Google-fu. As a follow-up: would a front license plate interfere with air intake and/or reduce mileage? __________________ John Hybrid[sup:54202ac9e3]2[/sup:54202ac9e3] family "Alice" '05 package #6 in Tideland Pearl '05 Accord hybrid in Desert Mist Metallic “When I feed the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” --Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Recife, Brazil

03-23-2005, 02:36 PM	#2
eak354 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 433 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Front license plate holder they should have installed it during predelivery (unless ordered otherwise) you can go back to the dealership and have them install it. didnt the 2 bolts come with it? it should be easy to install yourself.

03-23-2005, 05:16 PM	#5
bobc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Durham, NH Posts: 360 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: Front license plate holder As an alternative, Texassalsa04 put the plate below the bumper. These are from the modification album here on priuschat.com. -bob

03-23-2005, 08:25 PM	#7
prius mdt Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 25 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Front license plate holder The two screws in the plastic bag are to hold the frame onto the front bumper. Simply poke a hole with an awl where the dimples are and screw the screws in. I find it easier with a 10mm 1/4" drive socket on a cordless drill. Toyota does not supply the bolts to attach you plate to the frame. Some dealers don't install the frames as they DX (dealer exchange) cars in their inventory to dealers outside of the their state where front plates are optional. People in those states would then have an ugly frame or holes in the bumper where the frame was. __________________ Don - Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician

03-23-2005, 09:48 PM	#8
Orsino Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: (west of) Etlanna, GA Posts: 104 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Front license plate holder Thanks, Don! That makes sense. A bolt/screw through the bumper sounds a bit insecure, though. If I asked my dealer to do it, what would they use?

03-23-2005, 02:38 PM	#3
Prolene Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 84 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	The front plate holder/frame was already installed when I first saw the car I bought. The frame was attached to the bumper and does not cover any grill area. Screws to hold the holder in place were driven directly into the bumper. I didn't like it. I don't like to have front plates, anyway, for appearances sake, and the sight of the holes in the bumper are a bit of an annoyance.

03-23-2005, 04:55 PM	#4
DanMan32 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 3,775 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My front plate holder only came with the self tapping screws that screw into the bumper plastic where the dimples are. I ether never receieve, or lost the bolts for the plate itself. If you don't have the self-tapping screws, see your dealer.

03-23-2005, 08:23 PM	#6
kkister1492 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 354 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	But I don't understand why having the license plate lower and then have to cover up the holes in the bumper is preferable to the plate in the bumper. A friend did this, too, and I just don't get it.

03-26-2005, 08:47 AM	#9
prius mdt Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 25 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Front license plate holder They would use the screw thru the bumper. Toyota has been doing that for years. Works well even tho it sounds weak.

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