License Plate Mounting Tips

[Madlock]

I've just mounted my license plate - rear only (despite living in a "two plate" state).

 

 

My goal was to avoid the undue irreversible damage to the vehicle self-tapping screws always cause while affecting an attractive outcome. I'm very happy with the outcome.

 

I began by choosing WeatherTech's (a division of MacNiell Automotive) ClearCover. It's a robust clear plastic lens that includes a small gasket to help create a seal between plate and the plastic cover. It's certainly not cheap (about $25 per), but it's a terrifically well-made product (as much as a license plate frame/cover can be), if not perhaps the product of just a tad of overthinking the problem it's meant to solve.

 

What I like best about ClearCover is that despite being a solid piece of molded clear plastic, it also comes with several border colors to choose from including Clear, Black, White, Red, Chrome, and Brushed Metal. I chose Red for my Performance White GT500 with Red SVTPP Stripes - and it looks terrific. For a different color GT500, or even for a Performance White GT500 with a different stripe color (or none at all), one of the other colors would look just as terrific. I'm very pleased.

 

It also comes with screw concealing caps that are more than just covers for the screw heads. ClearCover has recessed screw head compartments (like it's molded for the equivalent of counter-sinking the screw heads), so the covers that pop over each screw head recess lays flush. Again, it's a little over-engineered, but it's elegant nonetheless - and not hard to justify to those willing to spend $55K on a Mustang - only to leave a blemish on its ass for the sake of a free or cheap license plate frame (or none at all).

 

Best of all, because the plate rests firmly against the ClearCover's gasket, it forms a relatively rigid unit. This allowed me to attach the plate using ONLY the two bottom screws which tap into the dark gray/black plastic air diffuser rather than having to tap into the white painted body area too. Of course, to 90% of people, this is as anal retentive and over-thought as the ClearCover itself - but to anybody who wants to sell his GT500 and make it as attractive as possible to somebody who may want to buy it to park it, anything that would allow me to return the car to "factory" with no visible sign of alteration for $150 rather than having to patch and repaint (or worse) is all good to me - and helps to justify ClearCover's price premium. Also, the flush recessed screw head covers conceal the fact that only (the lower) two screws are being used. It works beautifully.

 

Also, before affixing the plate, I also took the precaution of affixing adhesive rubber "feet" made for furniture legs a the four corners of the plate on its reverse. This ensures the sharp edge of the stamped metal plate won't even come in contact with the vehicle, let alone potentially scratch it if it's removed later. It also provides a bit of resistance at all four corners which makes the mounting the plate using only two screws more stable and prevents any inadvertent vibration or "flopping". The rubber "feet" were available at my local Wal-Mart for about $2.00 for a pack of a dozen. I had also considered using rubber washers as bushings between the plate and the vehicle body, but the cushioned feet at the four corners worked well enough - and adding washers to the screws would have been a bit TOO "belt and suspenders", even for me.

 

I bought a pair of ClearCovers (to save shipping), and will be using one on the front too in combination with one of the custom "no drill" GT500 brackets if I ultimately get too much heat from local LE over my lacking a front plate. Again, the red color will mate well with the vehicle - as any of the other colors could similarly with other GT500 colors.

 

I'm really satisfied with the outcome - both practically and cosmetically, whether driving the car or parking it for display. Some people might think a person is crazy for spending $50 for a pair of plastic license plate frames, but the ClearCover is a very well-made product - every bit as good as WeatherTech's Digital Fit line of custom molded floor pan liners. They're certainly not cheap - and having them in all 4 vehicles I own was about an $800 decision in total, but they're the only product that actually keeps a car's carpet like showroom new no matter what.

[tpenziner]

I've just mounted my license plate - rear only (despite living in a "two plate" state).

 

 

My goal was to avoid the undue irreversible damage to the vehicle self-tapping screws always cause while affecting an attractive outcome. I'm very happy with the outcome.

 

I began by choosing WeatherTech's (a division of MacNiell Automotive) ClearCover. It's a robust clear plastic lens that includes a small gasket to help create a seal between plate and the plastic cover. It's certainly not cheap (about $25 per), but it's a terrifically well-made product (as much as a license plate frame/cover can be), if not perhaps the product of just a tad of overthinking the problem it's meant to solve.

 

What I like best about ClearCover is that despite being a solid piece of molded clear plastic, it also comes with several border colors to choose from including Clear, Black, White, Red, Chrome, and Brushed Metal. I chose Red for my Performance White GT500 with Red SVTPP Stripes - and it looks terrific. For a different color GT500, or even for a Performance White GT500 with a different stripe color (or none at all), one of the other colors would look just as terrific. I'm very pleased.

 

It also comes with screw concealing caps that are more than just covers for the screw heads. ClearCover has recessed screw head compartments (like it's molded for the equivalent of counter-sinking the screw heads), so the covers that pop over each screw head recess lays flush. Again, it's a little over-engineered, but it's elegant nonetheless - and not hard to justify to those willing to spend $55K on a Mustang - only to leave a blemish on its ass for the sake of a free or cheap license plate frame (or none at all).

 

Best of all, because the plate rests firmly against the ClearCover's gasket, it forms a relatively rigid unit. This allowed me to attach the plate using ONLY the two bottom screws which tap into the dark gray/black plastic air diffuser rather than having to tap into the white painted body area too. Of course, to 90% of people, this is as anal retentive and over-thought as the ClearCover itself - but to anybody who wants to sell his GT500 and make it as attractive as possible to somebody who may want to buy it to park it, anything that would allow me to return the car to "factory" with no visible sign of alteration for $150 rather than having to patch and repaint (or worse) is all good to me - and helps to justify ClearCover's price premium. Also, the flush recessed screw head covers conceal the fact that only (the lower) two screws are being used. It works beautifully.

 

Also, before affixing the plate, I also took the precaution of affixing adhesive rubber "feet" made for furniture legs a the four corners of the plate on its reverse. This ensures the sharp edge of the stamped metal plate won't even come in contact with the vehicle, let alone potentially scratch it if it's removed later. It also provides a bit of resistance at all four corners which makes the mounting the plate using only two screws more stable and prevents any inadvertent vibration or "flopping". The rubber "feet" were available at my local Wal-Mart for about $2.00 for a pack of a dozen. I had also considered using rubber washers as bushings between the plate and the vehicle body, but the cushioned feet at the four corners worked well enough - and adding washers to the screws would have been a bit TOO "belt and suspenders", even for me.

 

I bought a pair of ClearCovers (to save shipping), and will be using one on the front too in combination with one of the custom "no drill" GT500 brackets if I ultimately get too much heat from local LE over my lacking a front plate. Again, the red color will mate well with the vehicle - as any of the other colors could similarly with other GT500 colors.

 

I'm really satisfied with the outcome - both practically and cosmetically, whether driving the car or parking it for display. Some people might think a person is crazy for spending $50 for a pair of plastic license plate frames, but the ClearCover is a very well-made product - every bit as good as WeatherTech's Digital Fit line of custom molded floor pan liners. They're certainly not cheap - and having them in all 4 vehicles I own was about an $800 decision in total, but they're the only product that actually keeps a car's carpet like showroom new no matter what.

 

I have front mount license plate avail so you don’t have to drill into the front bumper, make no damage " see classified section"

 

 

[inyadreems]

I've just mounted my license plate - rear only (despite living in a "two plate" state).

 

 

My goal was to avoid the undue irreversible damage to the vehicle self-tapping screws always cause while affecting an attractive outcome. I'm very happy with the outcome.

 

I began by choosing WeatherTech's (a division of MacNiell Automotive) ClearCover. It's a robust clear plastic lens that includes a small gasket to help create a seal between plate and the plastic cover. It's certainly not cheap (about $25 per), but it's a terrifically well-made product (as much as a license plate frame/cover can be), if not perhaps the product of just a tad of overthinking the problem it's meant to solve.

 

What I like best about ClearCover is that despite being a solid piece of molded clear plastic, it also comes with several border colors to choose from including Clear, Black, White, Red, Chrome, and Brushed Metal. I chose Red for my Performance White GT500 with Red SVTPP Stripes - and it looks terrific. For a different color GT500, or even for a Performance White GT500 with a different stripe color (or none at all), one of the other colors would look just as terrific. I'm very pleased.

 

It also comes with screw concealing caps that are more than just covers for the screw heads. ClearCover has recessed screw head compartments (like it's molded for the equivalent of counter-sinking the screw heads), so the covers that pop over each screw head recess lays flush. Again, it's a little over-engineered, but it's elegant nonetheless - and not hard to justify to those willing to spend $55K on a Mustang - only to leave a blemish on its ass for the sake of a free or cheap license plate frame (or none at all).

 

Best of all, because the plate rests firmly against the ClearCover's gasket, it forms a relatively rigid unit. This allowed me to attach the plate using ONLY the two bottom screws which tap into the dark gray/black plastic air diffuser rather than having to tap into the white painted body area too. Of course, to 90% of people, this is as anal retentive and over-thought as the ClearCover itself - but to anybody who wants to sell his GT500 and make it as attractive as possible to somebody who may want to buy it to park it, anything that would allow me to return the car to "factory" with no visible sign of alteration for $150 rather than having to patch and repaint (or worse) is all good to me - and helps to justify ClearCover's price premium. Also, the flush recessed screw head covers conceal the fact that only (the lower) two screws are being used. It works beautifully.

 

Also, before affixing the plate, I also took the precaution of affixing adhesive rubber "feet" made for furniture legs a the four corners of the plate on its reverse. This ensures the sharp edge of the stamped metal plate won't even come in contact with the vehicle, let alone potentially scratch it if it's removed later. It also provides a bit of resistance at all four corners which makes the mounting the plate using only two screws more stable and prevents any inadvertent vibration or "flopping". The rubber "feet" were available at my local Wal-Mart for about $2.00 for a pack of a dozen. I had also considered using rubber washers as bushings between the plate and the vehicle body, but the cushioned feet at the four corners worked well enough - and adding washers to the screws would have been a bit TOO "belt and suspenders", even for me.

 

I bought a pair of ClearCovers (to save shipping), and will be using one on the front too in combination with one of the custom "no drill" GT500 brackets if I ultimately get too much heat from local LE over my lacking a front plate. Again, the red color will mate well with the vehicle - as any of the other colors could similarly with other GT500 colors.

 

I'm really satisfied with the outcome - both practically and cosmetically, whether driving the car or parking it for display. Some people might think a person is crazy for spending $50 for a pair of plastic license plate frames, but the ClearCover is a very well-made product - every bit as good as WeatherTech's Digital Fit line of custom molded floor pan liners. They're certainly not cheap - and having them in all 4 vehicles I own was about an $800 decision in total, but they're the only product that actually keeps a car's carpet like showroom new no matter what.

 

 

That has to be the most detailed write up on a plate cover I have ever read. Here is a pic of my plate cover and screws that I painted myself; I don't run a front plate:

 

 

I see your in NJ, we have a very active Mustang club with several Shelby's. Check us out http://www.tri-statestallions.com/

[Madlock]

Oops. Forgot to include a snapshot.

 

 

[11GT500AL]

Just ordered a black ClearCover. Thanks for the link.

[Rachane]

Well, if you're going to put a protective cover over your license plate ... or if you can't use a cover ...

 

None of this is to suggest, endorse, or excuse violation of traffic laws.