On the faces of many Prii, there is a rectangular bracket that serves for holding the front license plate, rather than leaving the license plate "bare." I do like how the face of the Prius looks, however, I feel that with the license plate bracket in place, it just feels like unnecessary rubbish. According to a 2012 article entitled " How Many States Require Front License Plates?" published by Cars.com by Rick Popely, the majority of the US states require the front license plate, while only a select few say it's optional. Now, I have most certainly seen people drive without a front license plate, because they either recently purchased their vehicle or they have it placed in the corner of the dashboard. I'm debating whether or not if I should remove the license plate bracket I have on my Prius and place my front license plate in a sheet protector and place it off to the side on the dashboard when driving. It has occurred to me that because of that additional "interference" on the front nose of the Prius, I'm theorizing this is causing more wind drag on the Prius. I understand that a front license plate may help detour traffic and parking crimes, but I feel that its purpose altogether is frankly rubbish. What have you done with your front license plate?
Nothing and I'll be the first one to say it. I'm a LOCAL Central Californian and have always had plates out front. I have also borrowed a car that didn't have one and got dinged by 5-0. Out here, if local cops don't have nothing else to do, they'll pull you over for a fix it ticket. I'm sure I'd get more than a fix it ticket for driving brown in Iowa.
I would leave it alone, or relocate it on the front bumper. If you look on the accessories and modifications threads, you'll see what some have done. They essentially moved it to the drivers side and out of the middle of the car. How much drag are you theorizing the front license plate is causing? IMO it is negligible. Why? I lived in KS for 3 years and there they only have a back license plate. So I was able to remove the bracket while we lived there. I also have a bra on the front of the Prius as the aero on the hood was causing paint chipping badly by the rocks and debris. I averaged 48 mpg over 50 k miles while driving in Wichita and the surrounding area which was mostly freeway at 65 mph. We moved to the Bay Area of California and have similar driving conditions which is mostly freeway but the speeds are faster by about 5 mph now (and some hills too). California has front and rear playes, so back on went the bracket. Over the 60 k miles out here I have averaged 47 mpg. I wouldn't over think it too much and leave the holder on the front of the car somewhere. No need to give law enforcement addition reasons to "investigate" you.
I removed the frame, bent the license plate to fit the curvature of the nose of the Prius, and mounted it centrally over the lower air intake. Sliding plexiglass "doors" allow opening the rest of the air intake in summer, or sliding them closed gives a total lower air intake block for the winter.
I have left mine own. State law requires it. I tried driving without one when I had my 2006 Scion XB, but too many "looks" from the police on motorcycles kept happening. I don't want to attract them to me anymore than necessary. Some day I may move it to the passenger side or lower, but for now, I'll leave it be.
You think the plate looks like rubbish on your front bumper just think about how Red Neck and Ghetto it will look in your front window. Some states will give you a ticket for blocking part of the front window. If your worried that much about about wind drag ruining your MPG you should probably trade it for a bike.
Iowa requires a front plate for all vehicles made since 1948, except motorcycles. (Semis are only required to have a front plate) Iowa Code 321.37
I posted about this. Just bought a used Prius3 with the dealer logo plate in front. Took it off. You are left with two screw holes in the front bumper! That didn't thrill me. I called the dealer, and he said just replace the screws. Which I did. Now I have two screws in the center of the front bumper. Thinking of painting the screwheads with touch up. Toyota didn't bargain for holes in the front bumper. The dealer did. Look at my old '08 in the pic. No holes in front bumper. That was 8 years ago. Times have changed.
The car comes with a bracket and the dealer is supposed to install it and I think they made me sign a form that they offered to install it. Four years and I haven't been pulled over or ticketed for no front plate.
Louisiana only "rents" us 1 for the rear.. So no plates on front. They want 'em back eventually! Or severe fines next time someone attempts to register a vehicle! the State wont let us put on any kind of plate at all on front.. I wonder if a big bumper sticker would get their attention?
The only problem I have with front plates is that they're invariably part of the "bumper", ie: the first dang thing to hit your rear bumper with careless parallel parkers, the other guy or me. It's too bad they're not decently recessed or lowered, whatever. That aside, here the law says I'm to have a front plate, so that's what I do. FWIW I think it's a commendable idea.
