Registration plates and the fixing of.

Doubtingthomas · 22nd October 2007, 10:18

I love 'nice classy' registration plates on my cars and I loathe any label or tax disc holder or registration plate that advertises a car dealer. It is usual for me therefore to change registration plates (not the number) upon acquiring a new vehicle and remove all advertising labels, stickers etc. I have found Halfords, imo offer a 'really nice classy' registration plate called Hi-Line. The plate is produced with the aid of a laser and cannot be done in store. It is to order. One can add other features to the plate if one wishes. It is all a matter of personal choice. The name of the supplier on the plate, required by law, is very discreet. They are legal, unlike some "Show Plates" one can buy on line.
I was very interested on joining this forum to discover how the registration plates were fixed to the new Civic. As we all know, usually, both front and rear plates are fixed to the plastic (for want of a better word) bumper and rear hatch by two round head self tapping screws. The screws are threaded through a plastic cup, which should be colour co-ordinated with the plate. I am dismayed at the number of cars, even prestige marques, that bear registration plates fixed unevenly or have cheap screws showing which soon rust. Personally I opt for adhesive pads. No problem on the back but the front plate is mounted on a flexible mounting backplate which is contoured to the front of the car. I have found that with care, one can fix this backplate to the front bumper, utilising the two existing drilled holes but using countersunk self tapping screws and a countersink drill bit. With care the screw heads can be screwed home to be flush with the backplate. As a precaution I used one self adhesive double sided pad in the middle. That allows you to then fix the actual registration plate to the back plate by adhesive double sided pads. Personally I think this looks far neater and you do not have the problem of rusting screws or deciding where to drill through the acrylic plate. I have the blue Euro icon on my plates and I was considering drilling through the centre of the blue symbol. Retail outlets that have blue plastic caps are few (I know some BMW and Audi garages have them). Believe me, once applied, the plates will not come off easily, I broke one of my wife's plastic spatulas last time! So there we are. I hope there are one or two other fussy B's out there who find this info helpful.

montana · 22nd October 2007, 10:30

I'm lost!

Any photos to explain the detail?

Doubtingthomas · 22nd October 2007, 10:38

Hi Montana,
Will do, but I am busy at the moment preparing my previous car for a buyer, I hope.

Kremmen · 22nd October 2007, 11:15

I must admit that the current fixing of the plates is not ideal - sticky pads would have been far better on the rear.

Mine could at the moment be removed in about 30 seconds without damage.

Fortunately I don't regularly park in any dodgy places so I haven't bothered changing them, but if I did I would be looking to get some of those plates that shatter on removal.

As an aside, when I wash the car, the rear plates drip water from behind for quite a while, always have to finish off by removing the final drips about ½hr later

Minkster · 22nd October 2007, 12:47

My rear plates are 'stuck' on, not 'screwed' on. Thought that was the same for all new Civs. Maybe not,

Doubtingthomas · 22nd October 2007, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkster

My rear plates are 'stuck' on, not 'screwed' on. Thought that was the same for all new Civs. Maybe not,

Well done Minkster. I think you may be in the minority. I take it your front plates are screwed on.

TTDegs · 22nd October 2007, 17:23

both front and rear are screwed on mine

(as it were)

robbo51 · 22nd October 2007, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTDegs

both front and rear are screwed on mine

(as it were)

Self tappers straight through the boot??

TTDegs · 22nd October 2007, 17:50

yep - plastic boot lid

(from memory anyway - I don't think there was anything special for the screws to go into...)

dlr did original holes / screwing - I them drilled holes in my plates to match and reused the screws when I put my personal plate on

cautus · 22nd October 2007, 18:21

Both my front and back plates are held on with double sided tape. I stipulated this fixing with my dealer when ordering.
Both my two previous cars, a CRV and an S2000 had the registration plate fixed similarly.

Brodick · 22nd October 2007, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by cautus

Both my front and back plates are held on with double sided tape. I stipulated this fixing with my dealer when ordering.
Both my two previous cars, a CRV and an S2000 had the registration plate fixed similarly.

yes our last civic and CR-V had the double sided tape fixing and at one point the front plate on the CR-V was lost !!!!

They are all screwed on this time with colour coded caps

Doubtingthomas · 22nd October 2007, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by montana

I'm lost!

Any photos to explain the detail?

Hi Montana,
Sorry for the delay in coming back to you but I've been engaged with the buyer of my previous Civic Coupe.
Well, I don't think a photo would be of much help to you because the fixings on my car are all concealed, that is the beauty of it all!
The rear registration plate is straight forward. Just three strips of double sided tape. Signum supply the tapes including a cleansing tissue for the two surfaces, ie reverse of new plate and boot. Just make sure you have the new plate central and level! You can place thin strips of BluTack as guides.
As far as I know, unless specified otherwise, all the front registration plates on the new Civics are fixed by the supplying dealer by two round head self tapping screws embodied in colour coded plastic cups. It's the easiest and quickest option. The plastic cups hide the screw head from sight and protect them from the elements, but they still rust in time. The two screws, with plastic cups, sit proud of the registration plate and go through the registration plate and the flexible black plastic mounting plate/bracket behind into the plastic front bumper. The flexible mounting plate/bracket is contoured so it fits snug up against the front lines of the car. Have a look at your or any new Civic. I prefer a smoother, neater appearance, whereby the new registration plate is not drilled, just fixed to the mounting plate/bracket without screws, (by double sided tape). The mounting plate/bracket is fixed in turn to the front bumper by countersunk screws and tape. This enables the actual registration plate to be fixed to the mounting plate/bracket by double sided tape, ie on a completely flat surface. At the end of the day, it depends on how 'fussy' and discerning one is. I, like you, have a great motor. I like a registration plate and how they are fixed, to match. Yes, I am very fussy and particular. Hope this helps.

cautus · 22nd October 2007, 19:55

Brodick
Never had any problems with any of mine.
Decided at one point to change the plates on the S for a different design and gave up after finding I couldn't get the old ones off.
Would never return to the old screws.

Doubtingthomas · 22nd October 2007, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by cautus

Brodick
Never had any problems with any of mine.
Decided at one point to change the plates on the S for a different design and gave up after finding I couldn't get the old ones off.
Would never return to the old screws.

Hi Cautus,
Yes, they stick like s**t to a blanket. A hair dryer on the highest hot setting helps in removing them I've found.

montana · 22nd October 2007, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubtingthomas

Hi Montana,
Sorry for the delay in coming back to you but I've been engaged with the buyer of my previous Civic Coupe.
Well, I don't think a photo would be of much help to you because the fixings on my car are all concealed, that is the beauty of it all!
The rear registration plate is .........

Thanks, I'm going to mention this to my dealer as I pop in to check on my order this weekend.

22nd October 2007, 10:18	#1 (permalink)
Doubtingthomas Honda aficionado Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 14th August 2007 Location: Chorley, Lancashire Posts: 621 Thanks: 8 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Registration plates and the fixing of. I love 'nice classy' registration plates on my cars and I loathe any label or tax disc holder or registration plate that advertises a car dealer. It is usual for me therefore to change registration plates (not the number) upon acquiring a new vehicle and remove all advertising labels, stickers etc. I have found Halfords, imo offer a 'really nice classy' registration plate called Hi-Line. The plate is produced with the aid of a laser and cannot be done in store. It is to order. One can add other features to the plate if one wishes. It is all a matter of personal choice. The name of the supplier on the plate, required by law, is very discreet. They are legal, unlike some "Show Plates" one can buy on line. I was very interested on joining this forum to discover how the registration plates were fixed to the new Civic. As we all know, usually, both front and rear plates are fixed to the plastic (for want of a better word) bumper and rear hatch by two round head self tapping screws. The screws are threaded through a plastic cup, which should be colour co-ordinated with the plate. I am dismayed at the number of cars, even prestige marques, that bear registration plates fixed unevenly or have cheap screws showing which soon rust. Personally I opt for adhesive pads. No problem on the back but the front plate is mounted on a flexible mounting backplate which is contoured to the front of the car. I have found that with care, one can fix this backplate to the front bumper, utilising the two existing drilled holes but using countersunk self tapping screws and a countersink drill bit. With care the screw heads can be screwed home to be flush with the backplate. As a precaution I used one self adhesive double sided pad in the middle. That allows you to then fix the actual registration plate to the back plate by adhesive double sided pads. Personally I think this looks far neater and you do not have the problem of rusting screws or deciding where to drill through the acrylic plate. I have the blue Euro icon on my plates and I was considering drilling through the centre of the blue symbol. Retail outlets that have blue plastic caps are few (I know some BMW and Audi garages have them). Believe me, once applied, the plates will not come off easily, I broke one of my wife's plastic spatulas last time! So there we are. I hope there are one or two other fussy B's out there who find this info helpful. Last edited by Doubtingthomas; 22nd October 2007 at 10:23.

22nd October 2007, 10:38	#3 (permalink)
Doubtingthomas Honda aficionado Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 14th August 2007 Location: Chorley, Lancashire Posts: 621 Thanks: 8 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Registration plates and the fixing of Hi Montana, Will do, but I am busy at the moment preparing my previous car for a buyer, I hope.

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This thread is about: Registration plates and the fixing of., it's in General Discussion at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; I love 'nice classy' registration plates on my cars and I loathe any label or tax disc holder or registration plate that advertises a car ...

22nd October 2007, 10:30	#2 (permalink)
montana Valve Cap Join Date: 30th September 2007 Location: Cheshire Posts: 47 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'm lost! Any photos to explain the detail?

22nd October 2007, 11:15	#4 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,577 Thanks: 7 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	I must admit that the current fixing of the plates is not ideal - sticky pads would have been far better on the rear. Mine could at the moment be removed in about 30 seconds without damage. Fortunately I don't regularly park in any dodgy places so I haven't bothered changing them, but if I did I would be looking to get some of those plates that shatter on removal. As an aside, when I wash the car, the rear plates drip water from behind for quite a while, always have to finish off by removing the final drips about ½hr later

22nd October 2007, 12:47	#5 (permalink)
Minkster Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 31st May 2007 Location: Grantham, UK Posts: 124 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My rear plates are 'stuck' on, not 'screwed' on. Thought that was the same for all new Civs. Maybe not,

22nd October 2007, 17:23	#7 (permalink)
TTDegs Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 4th August 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 5,638 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	both front and rear are screwed on mine (as it were)

22nd October 2007, 17:50	#9 (permalink)
TTDegs Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 4th August 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 5,638 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	yep - plastic boot lid (from memory anyway - I don't think there was anything special for the screws to go into...) dlr did original holes / screwing - I them drilled holes in my plates to match and reused the screws when I put my personal plate on

22nd October 2007, 18:21	#10 (permalink)
cautus Supporter Valve Cap Join Date: 29th September 2006 Location: Windsor Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Both my front and back plates are held on with double sided tape. I stipulated this fixing with my dealer when ordering. Both my two previous cars, a CRV and an S2000 had the registration plate fixed similarly.

22nd October 2007, 19:55	#13 (permalink)
cautus Supporter Valve Cap Join Date: 29th September 2006 Location: Windsor Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Brodick Never had any problems with any of mine. Decided at one point to change the plates on the S for a different design and gave up after finding I couldn't get the old ones off. Would never return to the old screws.