This is a real pet peeve of mine. The dealers get free advertising with this simple trick of theirs. If the dealer said they would pay me $1000 dollars for advertising on my car for ten years, I would consider it. This is the easiest diy fix to remove these abominable plate frames yet many just leave them on.
I've always removed dealer frames and invested into "nicer" frames for my licence plate. I agree that I don't particularly like advertising for any dealership, and that's not necessarily a knock against whatever dealership, it's just my vehicle so my choice. Frame's are owners choice. What I think is worse is "Car Max" like decals put directly on the paint. Those are harder to remove, and often leave a ghost outline. At least the licence plate frames are easy enough to change.
Hey, "youse guys" are complaining about nothing....at least the license plate frames are easy to take off. Decals, worse for sure. Then there are the dealers who drill holes and put actual metal dealership logos on the rear of the car. A friend, years ago, bought a new car and insisted at point of sale that no logo be put on the car. He went to pick it up -- and yep -- drilled and installed. He demanded they remove it and repair the holes and paint. They pushed back a bit, but he had it written on the sales agreement so they grudgingly complied.
Hmm -- Thinking back to my friend who insisted that the "no logos" be part of the sales contract -- everyone should just do that if they really dislike the process. As for me, the simple plate frame, I just leave it on the car until I get the plates and then the dealer frame goes into the recycling/garbage bin. I have never found plate frames to be necessary -- indeed -- with my wife, I would have to replace them every six months (somehow, she manages to mangle the front plate on a regular basis -- she knows not how she does it. I now have the fix down -- remove bent plate, put between two pieces of plywood, drive over pieces of plywood a couple of times -- not perfect, but it works). Funny thing, with wifey, even though the license plate is bent to heck, there is never any damage to the bumper, etal...
If it was on the sales agreement I would have demanded another car. Patching and painting the holes is not satisfactory in my book. I would also include a $50/month advertising fee for as long as I owned the car on the sales agreement if removal was not an option.
When I picked my car up when new, the dealer had to "order" the plates and put a 15 day temporary sticker on the rear windshield. At the 15 day mark, I called and they stated the plates were in (you will notice I had to call the dealer, they were supposed to call me). When I stopped to pick them up there was no offer to install them I was just handed the plates and the dealer plate frames. I just left the frames on the counter and walked out with the plates. Really people! This seems to be the norm... As a side note, I don't install them as when the tabs are due, I use a razor tool to scrape off the old tabs, then install the new ones. The frames get in the way, so, no thank you.
a few years ago, we were told by the inspection station that any part of a frame blocking the plate info is illegal, and they removed them for us. since then, i just take them off a new car when i get home. they are better than stickers or drilled plates though.
Whenever I purchase a new car, one of the conditions I always specify before signing the contract is: No stickers, badges, or license plate frames. Otherwise the deal is off.
When I took delivery of my car I had the salesman personally remove the frames and inserts before I left. This country is advertising insane. I hardly watch TV because of it.
License plate frame removal is completely trivial, surely you wouldn't fold a deal over that one, lol. We've got a small black dealership logo with individual letters. Don't much like it, but looks like it'd be laborious to remove, bit by bit. So, it doesn't bother me an I don't bother it, hehe.
Really? That's what you do? Because your profile picture (you know, the little thumbnail on the left of the message) shows a car with unaltered dealer frames. LOL. But the sentiment is good. I for one pull the frames off first thing and put them in the trash. I go with naked plates. There is no functional reason to add a frame.
I actually left the dealer frame on my brand new Leaf because I got some benefit to it. Dealership is directly on my commute from work/home and if I have the frame on, I get free unlimited car-washes. So basically at the rate of 2 a month which is usual at the gas station equivalent of $12/pop, I am basically agreeing for them to give me $24/mo for their advertising and that's OK with me. If the car washes stop, the frame goes! I am sure I could go in without the frame, but that wouldn't really be fair.
Now go back and please read my post very carefully, nowhere does it say that I do what you imply! Beware, sir! That is exactly how nasty rumours start!
I removed the dealer stuff right after I left their lot. My rear end is naked! I was told the license plates will take approximately 90 days to come from the state? I'm going on week 9. (Our California convicts are getting slow in their plate-making. ) "The White Knight "
In BC, Canada they typically have an insurance agent come to the dealership when you're picking up the new car, with a handful of plates, so you can pick and choose a bit. Strange, the delay.
