New Prius: where's the front license plate mount?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PilotChris\";p=\"96211)</div>

PilotChris,

Inform the dealer, in writing, that since you informed them of the missing required part that "THEY" will be held responsible to pay for any fines received for not supplying you the part needed to attach the front plate as required by CA state law. This part was already paid for and not delivered at the time of delivery of the vehicle.

Here is the CA Vehicle Code relating to license plates in CA.

Display of License Plates

5200. (a) When two license plates are issued by the department for use upon a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which they were issued, one in the front and the other in the rear.

(B) When only one license plate is issued for use upon a vehicle, it shall be attached to the rear thereof , unless the license plate is issued for use upon a truck tractor, in which case the license plate shall be displayed in accordance with Section 4850.5.
Amended Sec. 27, Ch. 594, Stats. 2003. Effective January 1, 2004.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PilotChris\";p=\"96531)</div>

That's normal, as far as I'm concerned. Mine does the same thing when closing the rear hatch or going over bumps. I've considered installing two small pieces of rubber (like rubber feet) on the back of the frame to see if I can eliminate the rattling vibration, but haven't tried it out yet.

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:90155ee169]Yeah, go after the dealer for the front mount, you paid for it. It attaches to the bumper and two metric screws, like for the rear plate, are used to secure the front plate to the mount. You can buy mounting screws that have a hex drive with a central pin and come with a special allen wrench so people can't remove your plates.

Yes, there are only two screw holes for the back license plate. When I mounted my license, in a frame, I used plastic bolts to secure the bottom of the plate to the frame. I also put a couple of strips of self-adhesive foam window insulation (sold in rolls at the home-improvement stores) on the back of the plate, so it's cushioned and doesn't rattle. That would be annoying.[/font:90155ee169]

 

I don't have all the bulletins available right now, and I didn't go through all of them when I was home. At the moment, I don't have access to either PD. PD016 may be the latest one, but be careful. There is a separate PD for all cars BUT the Prius. Also one PD is a summary, where the other has all the details for the tech.

The dealer should already have a printout of the PD, but if not, he can get it from TechInfo. The service department certainly can, if not the sales department.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant\";p=\"96610)</div>

A bit off topic, but is it just me that notices a rather large number of rear license plate frames tend to obscure the state name on the license plate?

 

Yup, that's why they are becoming illegal.

 

So when they move on to the next license plate design, rather than adjust the location of the state's name so it isn't so close to the edge of the plate, we just make the frames illegal. Goverment in action.