Number plates - how do you fix yours?

[Jonny TVR]

After spending some time getting the sticky residue off my car from the numberplates I wondered what other people do.

On a couple of my cars there are already holes for screws. I'm starting to prefer this method to the sticky type. However where there aren't holes I'm left with little choice except using sticky pads.

I have seen suction cups instead but haven't tried these. Has anyone tried?

Edited by Jonny TVR on Friday 6th November 10:33

[Trevor555]

From memory don't number plates have to be screwed on if you're driving on the continent?

Sticky pads work ok on smooth painted surfaces, but not so well on a textured plastic bumper.

[grudas]

double sided tape.

no way am I drilling into my bumpers.

front of my s2000 is a sticker number plate(reflective, correct size etc)

[ddom]

Silicone has always worked very well for me.

[mikeswagon]

I got a roll of 3M Dual lock tape, seems much better than generic pads which started to come away after a while.

[bqf]

mikeswagon said:

I got a roll of 3M Dual lock tape, seems much better than generic pads which started to come away after a while.

I fixed my new plates on with this literally hours ago. It's very good, and much easier to remove when you want new plates or whatever. 3M VHB it's called

[Pig benis]

I really like the Halfords super sticky pads, they work a treat even on curved bumpers and metal numberplates

[SturdyHSV]

I use a pair of 3M velcro pads. Plates haven't been stolen yet

I think they were 3M anyway. Also, it's not velcro as in the furry kind, it's like a plastic velcro... Hard to articulate, I'm sure there's a word for them.

[Gilhooligan]

I use those sticky pads from Halfords. Nothing worse than ugly screws holding a number plate on. Looks less cluttered when stuck on.

[Jaguar steve]

Job done.

Then there's no call for any narcissistic self-absorbed preening about your car looking better without one or any entitled Cockney Wnanker whining that honestly, on me muvvers life Officah it's just fawllen off off me mowtah this morning when you get a tug.

[grudas]

bqf said:

I fixed my new plates on with this literally hours ago. It's very good, and much easier to remove when you want new plates or whatever. 3M VHB it's called

dual lock is different to VHB.

I've had mixed results with VHB.

in theory it should work and often plate sits on the car for 5-10 days and randomly falls off and I find it on the driveway.

I think temperature change makes a massive difference to this tape.

I have had it heated up before sticking on and it has held on better but still over-all mixed results.

[paintman]

Double sided foam tape. Either the general green plastic covered stuff on a roll or the pads sold for the purpose.

Clean the surfaces of the plate & the place where you're putting them with a degreaser - clutch & brake cleaner or panel wipe.

Old residue can be removed with clutch & brake cleaner (never tried WD40 so can't comment) & paper kitchen towel but it can sometimes take a bit of time.

[JamesRF]

I use the heavy duty Velcro strips they work great. Can pick up a big roll from Halfords for £8 lasted me years.

[irfan1712]

JamesRF said:

I use the heavy duty Velcro strips they work great. Can pick up a big roll from Halfords for £8 lasted me years.

i second this. Brilliant stuff.

i would recommend getting the heavier duty velcro form halfords as shown in that image as opposed to the 'lighter' ones. I found the lighter one a bit flimsy as a number plate is quite heavy for the standard one, especially upfront when its up against wind. My front plate is being helf on the front of the car by one strip running across the top of the number plate and thats it (due to the shape of my bumper theres no real flat surface )

the sticky pads, even the better 3m ones, make an absolute mess of the car and i'd never use them again.

As its held on with velcro its a doddle to remove for cleaning behind / around it too.

[Pica-Pica]

Jaguar steve said:

Job done.

Then there's no call for any narcissistic self-absorbed preening about your car looking better without one or any entitled Cockney Wnanker whining that honestly, on me muvvers life Officah it's just fawllen off off me mowtah this morning when you get a tug.

There is no ‘t’ in the glottally stopped ‘mo’ur’.

[Tickle]

Jaguar steve said:

Job done.

Then there's no call for any narcissistic self-absorbed preening about your car looking better without one or any entitled Cockney Wnanker whining that honestly, on me muvvers life Officah it's just fawllen off off me mowtah this morning when you get a tug.

This way is also great for modifying spaces in numbers/letters to make a new word with strategic yellow/white/black screw caps. Looks really good.

[NewUsername]

Screwed on number plate holders, pressed metal plates.

[NewUsername]

For those whining about not wanting to drill holes in the car, why? Who's ever going to see the holes?

Do you whine about the fact the inner wings have been drilled to mount the washer bottle too?

[grudas]

NewUsername said:

For those whining about not wanting to drill holes in the car, why? Who's ever going to see the holes?

Do you whine about the fact the inner wings have been drilled to mount the washer bottle too?

my front bumper has got 8 holes from people screwing in their number plates at different spots since 2004.

plus I like my clean bumper and usually use a retractable plate for shows so I can remove it/hide it when car is at shows/meets and put it back on when on the road.

wouldn't call it whining just preference.

[Gilhooligan]

NewUsername said:

Screwed on number plate holders, pressed metal plates.

Don’t they fail MOTs? The pressed part that is. I’ve got metal plates on my car that I bought recently from Halfords. Didn’t realise they’d stopped using plastic ones.