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The Best License Plate Frames To Accent Your Car’S Grille

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Last Updated: May 3, 2024, 1:31 p.m.

Bought a new car and looking for ways to make it look even cooler? Or is your license plate looking a little worse for wear? Or maybe you’re just trying to show off and protect your customized license plate? Well, get yourself a quality license plate frame! You can decide how you want your license plate to look with these accessories, and the great thing is that they come in tons of designs; you can even customize them as you like. If you’re truly interested in license plate frames, we’ve got you. Our experts have highlighted some of the highest-rated license plate frames in 2023 alongside some of their most notable features in this buying guide.

We’ve also included some vital buying information about license plate frames, so rest assured you’ll be able to get what’s right for your vehicle. License plate frames are great, and you’re about to find out why.

Buying Guide to Finding a License Plate Frame

License plates often look basic and they’re usually not that well built since they can bend or rust easily. For a car owner, this can be annoying, especially since they aren’t cheap to replace. To solve this problem, you could just buy and fix a license plate frame instead of worrying about these issues. License plate frames are designed to protect your license plate’s integrity, and the high-quality ones come in amazing designs that boost your car’s aesthetic outlook. We’ve highlighted some of the finest license plate frames in the previous section, but you’re obviously free to explore and choose something else for yourself. To this end, we’ll be discussing some of the features to consider when buying license plate frames. You’ll also find answers to some frequently asked questions about these license plate accessories at the end.

Tips for Installing License Plate Frames

Before providing the tips for installing license plate frames, let’s begin with some of the tools you’ll need to install them.

Microfiber towel
Bubble level
Electric drill
Drill bits
Socket wrench
Anti-vibration spacers
Sockets of varying sizes
Stainless steel mounting hardware
Standard-sized license plate screws
Screwdriver

Now, let’s check out the steps to install a license plate frame:

Begin by thoroughly cleaning your license plate and the mounting site on your car. Remove and wash off any form of debris from every angle, especially the back of your license plate.
Peel the paper from the rubber spacers to reveal the adhesive
Stick the spacers to the back of the license plate and ensure that the mounting holes are well-aligned
If your vehicle only supports 2-hole mounting, cover the other two holes with rubber plate bumpers
Insert the license plate by its bottom’s edge into the frame to ensure that the mounting tabs hold it firmly
Insert the stainless steel screws into the hider caps
Let the license plate and frame mounting holes complement those on the vehicle
In a clockwise direction, drive each screw into the vehicle’s mounting holes with the hardware hider cap
Using a screwdriver, tighten every screw till they are firmly locked in
Ensure that all the hardware hider caps are properly closed
Finally, clean off any dirt or fingerprints from the license plate with a microfibre towel

Choosing the Right License Plate Frames: Tips and Tricks

No license plate frame is the same due to certain differences and features. We’ll be highlighting some of these features below for you to consider when shopping for plate frames.

Type

License plate frames come in various shapes, and you are free to choose any of them as long as they’re legal in your state or region. Let’s check out some of the types of license plate frames:

Slim

This type of license plate frame should be your go-to if you’re looking for something simple and modest. As the name suggests, it features a slim frame that doesn’t cover your plate and registration tags at all, leaving them visible. It should be noted that because of their thin frames, they don’t add much aesthetic value to your vehicle or license plate.

Semi-wide bottom

Here we have a semi-wide bottom frame that measures eight inches wide, with its corners open. Its design allows for more visibility for your plate and registration tags, although you should know that it may cover your license plate’s center content. Due to the obstruction in the center, this type of frame is illegal in some regions, so confirm with your state authorities before getting it.

Wide-bottom

This license plate frame has a wide bottom trim that’s 12 inches long. It is a bold frame that properly highlights your license plate, but it may cover the registration tags at the bottom of your license plate, making it illegal in some states.

Size

License plates come in different dimensions, and so do their frames. Before paying for a license plate frame, ensure that you check its size and width while also considering its thickness. License plates and their frames are supposed to complement each other to work, and wrong sizing can make that impossible.

Mounting style

Good license plate frames feature two or four mounting holes. Two-hole license plates are great, but if you want that extra security, you should definitely go with four-hole models. In addition, you should also ensure that the frame’s number of holes corresponds with that of your vehicle for smooth installation.

Number of frames

If you’re planning to install frames on both license plates of your vehicle, you should buy them in sets instead of separately. Confirm with the manufacturer or salesperson if you’re not sure of the number of frames in your order.

Installation kit

Some manufacturers include some of the tools and items required to complete license plate frame installation, such as screwdrivers, caps, screws, and whatnot. If you can afford it, you should opt for such products because they eliminate the need to search for compatible tools, which can be quite stressful.

Finishing

A frame’s finish determines how attractive and durable it will be in the long run. In this case, there are five major frame finishes to choose from, and they include polished mirror-bright, black powder, black pearl, maintenance-free brushed, and carbon fiber. We recommend going for carbon fiber and black powder coats for great results.

Durability

The base material mostly determines a license plate frame’s durability, and for the highest-quality models, it’s usually metal. You can, however, explore other valid options such as aluminum, stainless steel, zinc, silicon, and carbon fiber. Just avoid cheaper options like plastic and chrome-plated materials because they won’t last long once they’re exposed to the elements.

Top Picks

Best Overall: Aujen License Plate Frames
Most Affordable: Leadstar License Plate Frame
Most Durable: Ohuhu License Plate Frame
Most Secure: Dfdm License Plate Frames

Reviews

Best Overall

Aujen License Plate Frames

Pros	Cons
Won’t cover any vital license plate information Highly durable silicone construction They are easy to install	May not fit some car models

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Most Affordable

Leadstar License Plate Frame

Pros	Cons
Designed not to rattle once installed Can handle temperatures between -60 - 250 degrees Scratch-resistant polyurethane construction	The thickness may cause installation problems

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Most Durable

Ohuhu License Plate Frame

Pros	Cons
They are reasonably priced Lightweight yet sturdy aluminum construction Subtly beautiful when installed	May not be suitable for Texas plates

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Most Secure

Dfdm License Plate Frames

Pros	Cons
These frames are corrosion-resistant Multiple color options are good for aesthetics Sturdy stainless steel construction	Included screws may be too short

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FAQs

Are license plate frames legal?

It depends on the type of license plate frame and state laws. Slim license plate frames, for example, are legal pretty much anywhere, while in contrast, wide and semi-wide bottom frames are illegal in some regions because they significantly cover vital license plate information. So to avoid any issues with the authorities, it is best to find out license plate frame rules in your region before installing any.

Do license plate frames prevent plate theft?

Yes. Semi-permanent and permanent license plates make it difficult to remove license plates, making them an effective anti-theft accessory.

How do I stop my license plate frame from rattling?

If your license plate frame rattles when you’re on the move, then it’s probably an installation problem, in which case you could tighten the screws or apply more adhesive to keep it firmly in place. If that doesn’t work, you could try inserting a thin piece of rubber or foam between the plate and the plate frame.

What is a good material for a license plate frame?

Aluminum, carbon fiber, stainless steel, and silicone are all good license plate frame materials.

How much do license plate frames cost?

Depending on the brand, size, type, and the number of pieces, license plate frames may cost between $10 and $35.