A license plate bracket keeps your license plate from dangling off your bumper and prevents unnecessary paint damage to your beloved vehicle from direct contact with the license plate itself, working as a perfect solution to safely, securely, and attractively mount your license plate to the front of your vehicle. They come in different shapes, materials, and sizes to suit any technical or personal requirements. Choosing one isn’t exactly a daunting task, but because there’s a large number available, insight is helpful. Whatever your reason for needing a license plate bracket, our top product recommendations and handy buying guide will help you sift through the numerous options to find the perfect one.
Best License Plate Brackets Reviews and Recommendations
Best Overall
Rightcar Solutions Flawless Silicone License Plate Frame
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Best Value
Cruiser Accessories Universal License Plate Mounting Plate
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Best For Trailers
Online LED Store License Plate Light Bracket Mount
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Best for Off-Road Lighting
Nilight LED Light Bar Front License Plate Frame Bracket
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Most Versatile
Trunknets Inc Universal Front Bumper License Plate Bracket
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How We Selected The Products
As you can probably imagine, there are hundreds of license plate bracket options on the market. We narrowed down the viable options for you by combing through thousands of user testimonials and only selecting the top-rated products. Our goal was to provide a versatile list that would suit a variety of different needs, so we selected license plate brackets for use on different types of vehicles, RVs, trailers, and more. When it came down to pricing, we chose brackets that were affordable, but still got high marks for durability. Each bracket on our list is between $10 and $30.
Our product selections, rankings, and awards for this story are based on research. While we haven’t conducted real-world testing on all of these products yet, we’ve looked at consumer testimonials and data, tutorials, and general discussions on social media and in forums. We also consider price and specification in the context of the segment. And, of course, we rely on our institutional knowledge of the automotive landscape to weed out weak products.
Buying Guide/What to Look For
Key Features To Look For
- Durable Construction: Look for license plate brackets that are constructed from rugged and long-lasting materials like ABS plastic, composite, or rubber compounds. You want something that will be thick enough to securely hold the plate, screws, and mounting hardware without cracking or breaking.
- Mounting Hardware: Most great license plate kits will come with extra mounting hardware included in your purchase. This saves you from having to use your old, corroded hardware from another license plate bracket, or from having to take time to head to the hardware store to search out the appropriate screws and nuts.
- Universal Fit: Getting a license plate bracket that’s a universal fit won’t ensure that it suits every vehicle need without modification, but it’s definitely your best bet. While manufacturers try hard to create a bracket that can go with any vehicle, it can be tough if you have a vehicle with a bumper setup that’s slightly different from the rest. Buying a universal fit bracket will give you the best chance at getting something that installs easily and quickly.
Tips
- Decide how you want to mount your bracket. Most come with screw mounting hardware, but some brackets are adhesive-mounted, eliminating the painful process of having to drill holes into your precious bumper. Some license plate brackets are able to be installed on your tow hook, also eliminating the need for holes in your front bumper.
- If you don’t have predrilled holes already in your bumper, determine if you have a fiberglass or metal bumper. Drilling into chrome is a little more complicated than drilling into fiberglass. You may want to consider a mounting method that doesn’t use screws.
- Measure twice, drill once. If you must drill into your bumper, take the time to make sure that you’re lining up the bracket exactly in the center of your car. No one wants to drive around with a crooked license plate.
FAQs
Q: What’s the point of a license plate bracket?
A bracket is a barrier between your license plate and the precious paint job on your vehicle. It will prevent the plate from scratching and damaging your paint. It will also prevent the plate from rusting on the back and causing further damage over time.
Q: How do brackets attach to license plates?
A bracket will attach to your license plate via four short screws. A few quick clockwise turns on each one and you should be good to go.
Q: What size screws do I need for a license plate?
Most standard license plate screws are 1/4-inch diameter x 3/4-inch long self-tapping screws. That said, double check whatever license plate bracket you buy to see what it’s particular requirements are.
Q: Do cars need plate frames?
License plate frames aren’t required equipment on a car, but they are a fun and frequent accessory. They can ensure extra stability and protection for your license plate, as well as give you the opportunity to express your own personal individual style if you choose a themed license plate frame. Just be sure it’s street legal and you won’t end up getting a ticket.
Why Trust Us
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Founded as the /DRIVE YouTube channel before growing into a full-fledged online publication in 2015, The Drive brings you the best of what’s new in the world of speed, from gear reviews to the latest industry coverage—all from a veteran team of writers and editors with many decades of combined hands-on experience. Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.