Michigan's license plates are very thin metal nowadays. I'd taken mine out of the rigid plastic plate holder my dealer had put on because it hid part of the most attractive part of the plate, which is along the bottom edge:



Now, because the metal is so flimsy and there are only the two holes on the top fastening it, the car wash catches the right-hand side of the plate and bends it out all the time

What I'm looking for is a rigid, strong plate holder/frame that's narrow on sides, top, and bottom, and isn't inclined to bend. Don't care what material. Want it to be black, preferably.

Needs to capture the plate either along the sides--the plate sliding into slots, or along the bottom, to persuade the plate to lie more-or-less flat-ish.

Anybody have any recommendations?

Sillycone plate backer and frame.

https://www.amazon.com/Silicon...id=1617213720&sr=8-6

Not sure if it applies where you live, but some states impose fines if portions of the plate is covered by a frame. All tied to the electronic readers at the toll roads.

NC has that type of law - heavily enforced when it first came out but think they have backed off enforcement. But it's on the books and an officer can pull you over if you're not in compliance.

Arizona requires the State name and the number itself to be uncovered. Other than that they don't care.

I see these are sold out, but others that are similar available. I brought these and used them on my cars. I like that they are thin, stainless, and 4 holes. The two hole ones just bend and wobble.

Amazon frame

Here in IL we produce so cheap plate.... How cheap are they.. It is now a wrap like covering not paint. So it gets brittle bubbles and then peels off to bare metal. Because of the break neck speed of our DMV (8 months already), my brother gets to visit with patrol officers on a regular basis for "not having proper plates". Most times they see the paper work and let him go, but twice already he has received warning tickets. When ask what he could do, they said show the paper work to the court.

Like above we use to be able to use a clear shield but that was taken away a few years ago.

I've tried metal frames a couple of times. Didn't work out for me. Perhaps this thread will identify something better than what I've tried.

What I'm planning to do is just use a power tool to remove the plates for the wash and then reinstall the plates after the wash.

Or wonder if I can basically epoxy a solid frame to the backside of the plate....?

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Sillycone plate backer and frame.

I actually have something like that now. It does nothing to prevent the car wash from grabbing and bending the plate.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I've tried metal frames a couple of times. Didn't work out for me.

In what way(s), specifically, did they not work out?

I have this on the front.

https://www.weathertech.com/bumpframe/

These are quite good.

https://www.griotsgarage.com/p...ourPicks&from=Search

Ones I’ve tried still resulted in bent plate even though the frame didn’t bend. Plate doesn’t bend as much but still gets bent.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
the car wash catches the right-hand side of the plate and bends it out all the time

I know what you're saying -- my front plate gets caught all the time.

I'm likely overengineering it, but I'm thinking this:
* Cut a plate-length strip of 1/4" aluminum, an inch wide.
* Attach the strip to the back of the plate, aligned with the lower edge, using 3M VHB tape.
* Drill and tap two 1/4-20 holes in line with the original plate holes, then add stainless button-head screws.

The tape holds the strip on, the bolts make use of the plate holes [and ensure that strip's not coming off], and the strip gives some rigidity/protection to the plate (especially if it extends 1/4" or so beyond the left/right ends of the plate).

Going a notch further, I'd coat the back side of that aluminum strip with Plasti-dip to protect the body surface behind it.

- - - - - - - -

Heck, now that I've typed all that, I'm thinking on cutting a 1/4" thick aluminum plate about 1/2" wider and taller than the plate, then milling out a centered pocket about 1/8" deep for the plate to sit in. Drill holes to match the plate holes, bolt it on the truck, and carry on. But I'm nerdy like that.

I wonder if using acrylic plate covers (supposedly unbreakable) over your license would work?

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Michigan's license plates are very thin metal nowadays. I'd taken mine out of the rigid plastic plate holder my dealer had put on because it hid part of the most attractive part of the plate, which is along the bottom edge:



Now, because the metal is so flimsy and there are only the two holes on the top fastening it, the car wash catches the right-hand side of the plate and bends it out all the time

What I'm looking for is a rigid, strong plate holder/frame that's narrow on sides, top, and bottom, and isn't inclined to bend. Don't care what material. Want it to be black, preferably.

Needs to capture the plate either along the sides--the plate sliding into slots, or along the bottom, to persuade the plate to lie more-or-less flat-ish.

Anybody have any recommendations?

We have this same issue on our highlander because it only has the top 2 screws.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Michigan's license plates are very thin metal nowadays.

AZ is now making plastic plates. I haven't held a new one yet, so don't know how thick they are. Before the plastic, the metal was getting quite thin, and more flimsy once they stopped embossing the letters/numbers.

OK, then, how about this...


Carshow Frames

The only thing is it's made of ABS plastic and I don't know how strong it would be with only the top two mounting screws.

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
OK, then, how about this...

That one looks pretty good. I'll give it a try.

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody!

Go touchless, it’s hard for me to have a bunch of padded fibers contaminated with dirt from the previous vehicles beating the hell out of my paint and clear coat. Instead have high pressure nozzles pointed inches away spraying off the chemicals in the soap.

quote:

Originally posted by Ozarkwoods:
Go touchless, ...

I would if I could, but there are none nearby

If there were touchless car washes nearby, I'd have both cars ceramic'd, too.

quote:

Originally posted by Ozarkwoods:
... it’s hard for me to have a bunch of padded fibers contaminated with dirt from the previous vehicles beating the hell out of my paint and clear coat.

Agree wholeheartedly, but I can't wash the cars at home because we're on well water. I tried it. Once. That was a disaster. Non-winter dirt, grime, and pollutants sitting on the paint is no good for it, either. And even the detailing shop where I'll be taking the cars couldn't argue with me when I said "Yeah, they're bad, but salt coating the vehicle from top to bottom and bumper to bumper is far worse."

So I live with the car washes ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
OK, then, how about this...

That one looks pretty good. I'll give it a try.

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody!

Let the rest of us know how it goes.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

So that’s what state this plate is from. Saw a car with this plate on the highway and couldn’t make out what state it was.