Front liscense plate - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

upflying · 04-22-2013, 09:57 AM

Because the camaro is an enthusiast car, most dealers toss the bracket in the trunk and let the owner decide if they want to drill holes in their bumper.

Rocky1974 · 04-22-2013, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faSSteddie

I ordered a new SS Camaro a few weeks ago and live in Texas. I really, really do not want to have the dealer drill holes in my bumper for my front liscense plate, once it gets here. I am under the understanding that the dealer won't let me drive off the lot with out liscense plate/bracket. ( at least that was the case on my last car 6 years ago) Can/will they NOT drill holes in my bumper...what options do I have? ( What if I bring something to attach it with me when I go to pick up my car?) Any help would be greatly appreciated.

faSSteddie

I live in Kentucky, on the Ohio border. Kentucky doesn't have front plates, Ohio does. The dealers in this area all order the license plate bracket, but they don't install them, because their never sure which state the vehicle will end up registered in. I have a buddy who bought a new 2012 2SS last fall. He couldn't find what he wanted locally, so one of one of the local dealers dealer traded for one out of Missouri. He asked me for advice and told him to be sure and tell them not to install the front license plate bracket. He told them, but when the car showed up it was already mounted. He went ahead and took the car because the 2012's were getting scarce and he didn't want a 2013, but that bracket still bothers him. I'd tell the dealer not to install it and I'd tell them that if it gets put on there, you're not taking the car. If they don't agree, I'd find another dealer that does. If it's some sort of Texas law, and I doubt it is, I'd go out of state and buy it.

2011*Camaro*SS · 04-22-2013, 10:19 AM

it is TX law to have a front LP, I told my dealer not to put mine on but they wouldn't release the car off the lot without it...So now i have an ugly LP on the front...

H0peful1 · 04-22-2013, 10:38 AM

I got my front license bracket and a painted frame to match my car from Top Flight Reproductions. Many recommendations for them on the forum. Works with ground fx. Easy shipping, well made product. Hubby's being considered for a FL job, so I haven't installed it yet, but it looks simple enough. I like that it bends the plate to match the lines of the car, and the painted frame makes the plate less of an eyesore, IMO. Pix available on their website. Tell the dealer do not drill, that you're obtaining a bracket, get it in writing, take the bracket in with you when you pick the car up.

http://www.topflightrepro.com/camaro-products.shtml

slowandold · 04-22-2013, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011*Camaro*SS

it is TX law to have a front LP, I told my dealer not to put mine on but they wouldn't release the car off the lot without it...So now i have an ugly LP on the front...

Thats weird, must be your dealership, took delivery on my S4, 5.0 and SS and none of them have been drilled??

Bobaloo · 04-22-2013, 10:47 AM

Here in Colorado my dealer asked if I wanted him to put the plate (kit) holder in the trunk - which he did. I later mounted the front plate so I wouldn't get stopped. Took some geting used to.

jd10013 · 04-22-2013, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroGuyDave

, and I have not been pulled over for no front plate yet. Knock on wood.

usually they wont, takes a real dick cop to do that. they will however, often add that ticket on if you get pulled over for something else.

Palutz59 · 04-22-2013, 11:06 AM

That JacFab is a security blanket so the dealership won't use the one GM provides. I'm in Cali and we are required to have them on but 2 years later and no front plate and still no problems here

Btw the FP rule is really stupid. Mainly used for intersection cameras.

two_wheel_mayhem · 04-22-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011*Camaro*SS

it is TX law to have a front LP, I told my dealer not to put mine on but they wouldn't release the car off the lot without it...So now i have an ugly LP on the front...

The way I always figure it is, there are other dealerships if they want to play that game. I'd love to have heard their excuses for this.

There are laws, and then there are things certain people think are laws, and there are always plenty of jackasses that just want to control everyone.

Your salesman is probably that guy that drives the speed limit while stuck to the left lane of the highway.

v6sonoma · 04-22-2013, 11:45 AM

My dealer asked me if I wanted it installed or not (RI) when I ordered it.

They had no issue with it but they would not inspect the car without one being on it on the front somewhere. So I bought one that slides out from underneath.

TXGoddess · 04-22-2013, 12:07 PM

I live near Houston and when I bought my SS in October they didn't even ask me. They just threw it in the trunk and told me to come back if I wanted it installed.

That said, unless the 2013 Texas Legislature has fixed the issue, there is no penalty for no front license plate. In 2011 they moved the front license plate regulation to a new chapter and forgot to include a fine. Basically, it's illegal, but there is no punishment. HB 657 was introduced in the 2013 session to only require one plate, but it never made it out of committee, AFAIK.

jph2275 · 04-22-2013, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011*Camaro*SS

it is TX law to have a front LP, I told my dealer not to put mine on but they wouldn't release the car off the lot without it...So now i have an ugly LP on the front...

Strange ... Don Hewlett Chevrolet in Georgetown did not insist I do that

I added the SLP splitter and License plate bracket

tdp1 · 04-22-2013, 12:50 PM

When I bought mine at Q Chevrolet in Irving, TX, they had to do a swap with another dealer in Tx to get it optioned the way I wanted. Low and behold the car came in with front bracket drilled and installed. I told them the deal was off unless they fix it. They did at their expense and I was happy. Great dealer to do business with.

I have never been stopped in TX for no front plate and have had many Corvettes and Camaros with no front plate.

tdp1 · 04-22-2013, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v6sonoma

My dealer asked me if I wanted it installed or not (RI) when I ordered it.

They had no issue with it but they would not inspect the car without one being on it on the front somewhere. So I bought one that slides out from underneath.

Wow, that's not a part of the inspection process here in TX.

04-22-2013, 10:19 AM	#17
2011CamaroSS Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Vert Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 421 View My Garage	it is TX law to have a front LP, I told my dealer not to put mine on but they wouldn't release the car off the lot without it...So now i have an ugly LP on the front... __________________

04-22-2013, 10:47 AM	#20
Bobaloo Member "O'l Farts" Drives: 2012 SS Coupe/Automatic/Sunroof Join Date: May 2012 Location: Pueblo West, Colorado Posts: 272	Here in Colorado my dealer asked if I wanted him to put the plate (kit) holder in the trunk - which he did. I later mounted the front plate so I wouldn't get stopped. Took some geting used to. __________________

04-22-2013, 11:45 AM	#24
v6sonoma Drives: 2010 SS RS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 8,108 View My Garage	My dealer asked me if I wanted it installed or not (RI) when I ordered it. They had no issue with it but they would not inspect the car without one being on it on the front somewhere. So I bought one that slides out from underneath. __________________ Mods: BBK Intake, BBK LT's and High Flow Cats, Corsa Cat-back exhaust, Hurst short throw shifter, SLP skip-shift eliminator. 7/1/09 Placed order for IOM/IO int/ SS/RS 6M 9/26/09 Took delivery!

04-22-2013, 09:57 AM	#15
upflying Drives: '86 Monte Carlo SS Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,119	Because the camaro is an enthusiast car, most dealers toss the bracket in the trunk and let the owner decide if they want to drill holes in their bumper.

04-22-2013, 10:38 AM	#18
H0peful1 Drives: -- Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: -- Posts: 169	I got my front license bracket and a painted frame to match my car from Top Flight Reproductions. Many recommendations for them on the forum. Works with ground fx. Easy shipping, well made product. Hubby's being considered for a FL job, so I haven't installed it yet, but it looks simple enough. I like that it bends the plate to match the lines of the car, and the painted frame makes the plate less of an eyesore, IMO. Pix available on their website. Tell the dealer do not drill, that you're obtaining a bracket, get it in writing, take the bracket in with you when you pick the car up. http://www.topflightrepro.com/camaro-products.shtml

04-22-2013, 11:06 AM	#22
Palutz59 Account Suspended Drives: '14 1LE soon Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: SoCal Posts: 59	That JacFab is a security blanket so the dealership won't use the one GM provides. I'm in Cali and we are required to have them on but 2 years later and no front plate and still no problems here Btw the FP rule is really stupid. Mainly used for intersection cameras.

04-22-2013, 12:07 PM	#25
TXGoddess 21g lighter than you Drives: 2011 SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: El Lago, TX Posts: 5	I live near Houston and when I bought my SS in October they didn't even ask me. They just threw it in the trunk and told me to come back if I wanted it installed. That said, unless the 2013 Texas Legislature has fixed the issue, there is no penalty for no front license plate. In 2011 they moved the front license plate regulation to a new chapter and forgot to include a fine. Basically, it's illegal, but there is no punishment. HB 657 was introduced in the 2013 session to only require one plate, but it never made it out of committee, AFAIK.

04-22-2013, 12:50 PM	#27
tdp1 Drives: 2012 SS Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 289	When I bought mine at Q Chevrolet in Irving, TX, they had to do a swap with another dealer in Tx to get it optioned the way I wanted. Low and behold the car came in with front bracket drilled and installed. I told them the deal was off unless they fix it. They did at their expense and I was happy. Great dealer to do business with. I have never been stopped in TX for no front plate and have had many Corvettes and Camaros with no front plate.