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What if I don't want a front license plate?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by mediahound, Sep 8, 2013.

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  1. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    My '13 Prius came with a front plate holder and two holes in the front bumper for it.

    Legalities aside, what if I don't want a front license plate? Are there plug caps that can go into the front bumper holes or something like that? I asked the dealership and they said once the holes are tapped in at the port, there is nothing they can do. And, unlike Honda, they don't make or sell plugs to go in the holes.
     
    #1 mediahound, Sep 8, 2013
  2. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    #2 32kcolors, Sep 8, 2013
  3. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    I used a little bit of paint-able silicone to plug the holes, then covered over with touch up paint (several coats).
    The bumper comes with 2 little nipples where the holes are drilled by the dealer to install the bracket. If you're skilled with the likes of silicone you can re-create those so it looks much like new. It'll never pass a real close inspection but it looks way better than the holes do.
     
    #3 rdgrimes, Sep 8, 2013
  4. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    Thanks. That looks like it will work well. Do you by any chance know what color under Toyota I should order? My Prius is just called 'Black' by Toyota but they have several different black bumper plugs on their site under Toyota.
     
    #4 mediahound, Sep 8, 2013
  5. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    202 Black is Black Onyx.
     
    #5 32kcolors, Sep 9, 2013
  6. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    Thanks.
     
    #6 mediahound, Sep 9, 2013
  7. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    Having previously lived in CA and I know a lot of people didn't want the front plate on. But I always had mine on. I know you likely won't get stopped just for a missing plate, but couldn't you be written up for it if you were stopped for another violation? I've always wondered why tickets aren't issued for missing plates when drive under the scanners on toll roads.
     
    #7 jhinsc, Sep 9, 2013
  8. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    Absolutely.

    I have actually received tickets for no front plate about 5 times on previous cars. I either just paid them, or if it was a fix it ticket, I would install it, have the ticket signed off, and then remove it again.

    Cops won't typically stop you just for this, but if you are stopped for something else, they will be sure to add 'no front plate' to your ticket, resulting in more hassle and fines.

    Usually, it's the city just finding your car parked on the street or in a city parking lot, and they issue you a parking ticket for no front plate, which you just pay. Cities want more and more of the citizen's hard-earned money. This is also another reason why they are now enforcing front plates more; they have red light cameras all over...

    I may just keep the front plate on, although much prefer the look with it off.
     
    #8 mediahound, Sep 9, 2013
  9. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    I'm fortunate in SC we only need the rear plate. I had to fill in the holes in my front bumper when I moved here 11 years ago.
     
    #9 jhinsc, Sep 9, 2013
  10. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    Indeed. California is getting really bad.
     
    #10 mediahound, Sep 9, 2013
  11. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    Not just CA, but NY, NJ, CO and many other state require front plates as well.
     
    #11 jhinsc, Sep 9, 2013
  12. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    My friend in Europe complains about the same thing, but he says it's worse because their plates take up more space on the bumper. I actually like the look of European plates better but he thinks our USA plates look cooler.

    I guess the grass is always greener...
     
    #12 mediahound, Sep 9, 2013
    32kcolors likes this.
  13. Fore

    Fore Don't look back!

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    Dude, change your logo picture it's hurting my eyes!
     
    #13 Fore, Sep 9, 2013
  14. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    Done.
     
    #14 mediahound, Sep 9, 2013
  15. riceroni87

    riceroni87 Senior Member

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    1239052_431231543663703_1320278242_n.jpg
     
    #15 riceroni87, Sep 9, 2013
  16. SAronian

    SAronian Active Member

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    Within the past six weeks three different co-workers in San Francisco have received tickets for a missing front license plate. It's a $117 violation. Prior to that I had only known one other person in California who had been cited and that was 10+ years ago. Did a quick survey around the block and noted about 25% of the parked cars without a front plate, so it is very common.
     
    #16 SAronian, Sep 9, 2013
  17. SFR-DSR-44

    SFR-DSR-44 Junior Member

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    Yup. In the People's Republic of CA they are going after parked vehicles w/o front plates.....need the tax revenue to pay for their underwater pension budgets.
     
    #17 SFR-DSR-44, Sep 9, 2013
  18. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    $117 violation? I thought it's a fix it violation in California? Did it change?
     
    #18 32kcolors, Sep 9, 2013
  19. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

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    When I've gotten pulled over for moving violations, the front plate was always a fix it ticket.

    But parking tickets are not. You just have to pay the fine on those. Or, go to court to contest it.
     
    #19 mediahound, Sep 9, 2013
  20. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    If you have a 2012+ Prius you have the option of moving your front plate down under the bumper on the lower grill.

    I believe member sfcyclist has done it and posted pics of this mod. Looks better, and still legal.

    SCH-I535
     
    #20 xliderider, Sep 9, 2013
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