What do you have instead of a front license plate?

[Merc_Girl]

There was a time, when I was a child, when nearly every state in the USA issued two plates--front and rear. Many of them did this annually! So, you had to replace your plates each year.
After a while, New York (where I grew up) changed it so that they only issued a tiny metal "year plate" that fitted to the corner of the license plates to update them for the current year.

Then, as they say, "it's all about the Benjamins": it became a money issue. (Note for those unfamiliar: Benjamin Franklin is on our USA $100 bill) Some states only issued a rear plate, saving the states millions of dollars each year. Renewals came not in the form of new plates, but of little stickers.

But there are massive costs in each direction: if you order a new car in a one-plate state (Michigan for example) you will not get a front license plate "system" which, though mostly made of plastic, is a big contrivance that is affixed to a bumper somehow. When I bought my father a 5-year old car in Michigan some years ago, we had to pay a fair price online to get a front license plate assembly for his 2-Plate Massachusetts.

Some interesting reading, as it also brings into the equation photographing cars at borders and red light cameras, etc.:

https://www.cars.com/articles/how-many-states-require-front-license-plates-1420663046920/

Thanks Michael

It all sounds very complicated!

In the UK you are issued with number plates, albeit you can purchase ‘private plates’. For revenue, we are required to pay a ‘road tax’, which used to be in the form of a circular paper disc that you had to display in your windscreen. Now it’s all electronic, so paper discs are no longer issued, but all linked to the police system which also checks if you have insurance and I think your MOT (test cars between a certain age have to undertake to ensure they are ‘roadworthy’).

Katie

[J. Huber]

Both my front and my back plates have changed over the years. My latest incarnation came after I found too many people asking me what "Guzzi" meant... (no, it had nothing to do with the Motorcycle). But since you asked... one day in about 1985 my 7 year nephew said "hey can we take a ride in the Goozzi?" No idea where he got it but the nickname stuck.

Anyway, I eventually switched to the more self-explanatory 63 230SL. I still have people look at the rear of the car and ask: "Nice, what year?"   63   "Cool. What model?" 

James

[mdsalemi]

It all sounds very complicated!
Katie

Actually, not complicated at all. Every state has its own registration requirements (along with insurance requirements). So if you live in the state of North Carolina, as I do, the New York registration issues don't matter to me in the least. So, everyone is only concerned with their own state requirements.

What appears or appeared as complexity as how this has evolved over the years. Those states that went to one plate feel that the extra cost of a second plate for the front isn't worth the cost of administering the program or making the plates. Of those states that have two plates some have--if you have read the article link I provided--derived an enormous revenue stream out of "red light" and other kinds of robotic enforcement that is directly attributable to being able to pick up the front plate image. They are not likely to change that! Where I used to live in Michigan, there were no red light cameras or robotic speed enforcement. So, a single plate sufficed. Here in NC, I think its the same--but I have yet to explore more of the state. Haven't seen any of those things yet.

Remember, all of the UK in land area is smaller than the State of Michigan, my former home.

[MikeSimon]

But there are massive costs in each direction: if you order a new car in a one-plate state (Michigan for example) you will not get a front license plate "system" which, though mostly made of plastic, is a big contrivance that is affixed to a bumper somehow. When I bought my father a 5-year old car in Michigan some years ago, we had to pay a fair price online to get a front license plate assembly for his 2-Plate Massachusetts.

 

When I lived in Michigan, my new company car (Pontiac Bonneville) had a front license plate "holder" (made of plastic) that was loose in the trunk

[mdsalemi]

When I lived in Michigan, my new company car (Pontiac Bonneville) had a front license plate "holder" (made of plastic) that was loose in the trunk

Since Pontiac has been dead since 2009, and the Bonneville died in 2005, that's a long time ago. They (the car companies) generally don't deliver what isn't needed. We had, over the time we lived in Michigan (33 years) about 35-40 company lease cars. None came with the front plate assembly since they were not required. Neither have any of the new cars we've leased since my wife retired from Ford. Who knows--maybe they actually did put these in the cars. I bet if the cars came with them, either the dealer or the company lease car facility removed them.

...which brings up an interesting anecdote about dealers removing things. A few years ago when the new S-Class was introduced, MBUSA lent one to the MBCA for display at Concours of America. We had it on display at our tent on the show field. When the weekend was done, we discovered that some "guest" at the show had pilfered the ash tray! We were so embarrassed at the situation. The company that managed their press fleet then told us how to "sanitize" the car for public display--basically removing EVERYTHING in the car that isn't bolted down (manuals, ashtrays, lighters, tools, etc.) and re-install upon return. Later I was relating this story to my salesman friend at Mercedes-Benz of Novi, noting there was an S-Class ashtray on his desk holding spare change.  He was laughing, turned around, opened up a drawer, and in the drawer was about 25 new ashtrays.

"Nobody wants these &^%$ things in their cars any longer. So we take them out."   

[FastWgn]

This was my wife's 50th Bday present. And clearly sunscreen is good for driving a Pagoda.....

[Shvegel]

Mike,
When I worked for Saab every car came with a front plate bracket in the trunk and a couple little dimples on the front bumper cover where the screws went.  Part of the pre-purchase inspection was to mount the front plate bracket if you were in a state that required it. We never mounted them until the car was sold because we often traded cars with other out of state dealers and having screw holes in the bumper if you didn’t need a front plate was not a good thing.

[Pawel66]

Used to drive 95 Aero. What a fantastic car!

[Nickw]

Heres mine

[MikeSimon]

Mike,
When I worked for Saab every car came with a front plate bracket in the trunk and a couple little dimples on the front bumper cover where the screws went.  Part of the pre-purchase inspection was to mount the front plate bracket if you were in a state that required it. We never mounted them until the car was sold because we often traded cars with other out of state dealers and having screw holes in the bumper if you didn’t need a front plate was not a good thing.

Pat:

I know. I am starting to get tired of receiving responses to my posts that - in some form - question the facts. I may refrain from contributing anything.

[TOM250SL]

Personally I think it looks best with nothing!

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Personally I think it looks best with nothing!

I agree Tom, unfortunately in Canada only Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba still require front licence plates on passenger vehicles. I have a specialty plate front and back on my car it reads "MERZ1969"

Dieter