My son will be taking his driver's test in 2 weeks, which means I have to have a front license plate on the car. I took it off of my 1998 GS300 in 1999.

Now, while I still have the plate itself (but no other brackets, bolts, etc.), I can't figure how it was ever attached in the first place. (About 10% of the cars in CA don't have front plates on, although it is the law that they are supposed to, hence the requirement in order to take the driver's test.)

Can some enlighten me? Thanks. (Please don't suggest he take the exam in another car. He has trained only on my GS and will be getting it for college when I get a GS350.)

 

You can buy the OE front license plate bracket at the dealer if it didn't come with your car. If you dont want to spend so much, you can just go to any auto parts store and buy a generic front bracket and screw it into your front bumper.

Look for the two grooves on the front bumper; thats where the screws go.

 

I looked just now, and there are 2 small indentations but no holes. I think my memory must have been faulty. I guess I never even put the plate on when I got it. It sure does look pristine. I guess I'll have to drill the holes in order to make the DMV happy for 30 minutes.

Hmm, on the other hand, if you mount the plate with a bracket, is there a secure way to attach the bracket to the grill without making any holes in the grill? Does anyone know?

 

When I bought my car, it didn't have a front plate. I found the bracket in the trunk, still in the OEM package. Apparently, this car has never had a front plate. Interesting because Washington State has a front plate law. I lost the front plate on another car and was stopped almost immedately. I see the indents in the bumper cover for the bracket, but until I get stopped, my car isn't going to get one. The car has been registered in Washington for the past 5 years.

 

Don't drill it, you'll regret it. You can probably fabricate some bracket using the lower grill for a temporary front plate.

 

i got my car with the front plates. also my buddy who has a gs as well has his front license plates on cuz he doesnt wanna get pulled over after a night of drinking.

 

just go to the hardware store and get "L" brackets and drill under those indent where the slits on the bumper are. After your son gets finished with the road test take them off and you wont see the holes.

 

dude, that's not good.

oh, & pertaining to the front license plate. i think you should go with spyder78's idea.

 

Deffinetly go with spyder's idea. I'm in FL and we don't have front plates. My car is from NY, and someone drilled the front bumper so I now have a nasty plate bracket on there or two nastier holes.