how can I install the front license plate? (Milwaukee, Madison: purchase, high school)

[waspwi]

We just moved to Madison area. Today, I got my car's WI license plate. I was told that I have to put one of them in the front. My question is my Buick Century don't even has any holes in the front bumper, how can I install the front plate? Drill some holes? Anyone has any information? Hope I don't need change a new bumper.

By the way, will the cops will stop me if I don't have the front plate? how risk?

[ranger17]

near every car is equipped for a front plate as many states require them. They either come with a bracket that bolts up behind the bumper, or may have 2 small "dimples" in the plastic bumper itselt that the dealer would normally have drilled thru to get to the threaded inserts behind it.

Speaking from experience, i'd get the plate on as it is a way to get pulled over. you may have some time being a transplant but my opinion i wouldnt wait too long

[Ragnar]

I drove in WI for nearly a year before putting on the front plate. I came from a state that required only a back plate, so I thought the second plate must be backup just in case I lost the first one. At the time, I had an old car and had to strap the front plate on with a makeshift bracket. If you need to use wire, make sure you get stainless steel wire, or it will rust, and badly. You may also be able to purchase an inexpensive front bracket for your car off Ebay or someplace similar.

I still generally prefer the look of cars without front plates, but many front bumpers now have more integrated places for the front plate, so at least it doesn't always look tacked-on.

Find a away to attach that front plate straight away!

[Drover]

Many cars have a tow hook plug in the front bumper with a little plastic cover over it. A handful of companies make a bracket where you can use the tow hook plug to mount a front plate bracket -- no drilling necessary. Check to see if there's a tow hook plug on the front of your car; and if so, do a Google search for "tow hook license plate bracket".

[mizzou65201]

Visit a Buick dealer, or do a search online for a GM parts store. There should be a specific GM part number for a front plate bracket for your specific year vehicle.

[nidex]

Originally Posted by mizzou65201

Visit a Buick dealer, or do a search online for a GM parts store. There should be a specific GM part number for a front plate bracket for your specific year vehicle.

Personally, I would not even think of doing this. Not worth the who-knows-how-many-hundreds-of-dollars they're going to charge you to do this. Drill holes in the plastic bumper cover, no big deal. Hell, you don't even need a drill. Just get 2 self-tapping screws; you could probably even use wood screws and turn them into the bumper cover with no issue.

Honestly though as long as you don't drive like a fool (which I'm guessing you don't since you drive a Century ), you should be fine. I've only been hassled for a front plate once when I was on my way to high school probably 8 or 9 years ago now, just because the cop wanted to know why I was late to school and whatever else. This was around Milwaukee though, if you live in the sticks and are driving late at night and find a cop with nothing to do looking for someone to bother, it might cause you to get pulled over.

[ccjarider]

is it just me or is this kind of a scary question given that, I assume, OP has a Drivers license?

[ranger17]

Originally Posted by ccjarider

is it just me or is this kind of a scary question given that, I assume, OP has a Drivers license?

well if they are from a state like SC that has no requirements for front plates and it's only on a car passing thru thay you see one, it may just be new to them. And maybe now that they have to deal with it they realize they cant just attach it since their car didnt have the bracket (or those holes in the bumper cover pre-drilled ).

As for putting it on, i'd still suggest it.