So i live in Los Angeles County

I've seen many Rx-8 fellow drivers.

And what I have noticed is that many 8s don't really have any front license plate.

I'm not much of a car guy, but I know that cars that have front inter cooler for their turbo need air circulation through their front cooler.

I tried to take my front license plate off while ago, but I got this black plastic mount that supports my license plate, which i couldn't get it off. It looked ugly to leave the black plastic thing just like that, so i had to put my plate back on.

I know it's illegal not to have front license plate too, but does it really make a
different as in performance wise??
Or do they just not put the front plate on for looks??

Thanks for helping me out

 

I believe that they just don't put the front plate on for looks. Also, I think that some states don't require a front plate, but that's just a guess.

 

In LA they do require front license plates. I had mine off for 6 months, but the police here in Glendale are hard core about it, so I put it back on. It does block the air flow into the radiator a bit, but unless you are on the track the temperature difference is not that noticeable. The black plastic license plate holder is very easy to remove. Requires you to take off the bamper, but that is really easy, then it is just two screws behind the grill.

 

I took mine off for looks since the RX-8 looks like Bugs Bunny with it on. It's illegal where I am, but I think the cops are pretty laid back here in Hawaii. Drive right by cops all the time with no plate and blue/white LED lights and not a peep yet. They'd probably only bother with it if they walked right up to the car. Don't think the front plate makes much of a difference in cooling, as most of the cooling isn't happening at that grill...it's happening in the open air dam right below the grill.

That's strange that you would have to remove the bumper...it was a breeze to get mine off, there was 3 predrilled holes behind my grill where screws go through the plate holder from the front. Just had to remove those screws. But apparently dealerships install the front plate holder in their own little way, and they have to drill those holes themselves I think. That's messed up if you need to remove your bumper to get at the plate.

 

The front license plate probably won't have any effect on the performance of RX-8s that have the stock bumper. If you look carefully at the upper portion your front grille (where the license plate is meant to be mounted) - it's really a flat piece of plastic with a cross-hatch mesh extrusion. Therefore, no air actually passes through that part of the grille regardless of whether or not the license plate is there. Intake air and radiator cooling passages are found at the lowest few inches of the grille.

 

i got two no front license plate tickets and thus i will have it on from now on

 

It's not a performance issue. I live in state that requires license plates front and rear. I have been running without a front plate since last July when I bought the car. I haven't been stopped yet, but will gladly pay the fine if I am. The front plate looks like hell in the small grille so for me it's worth it.

 

Would a license plate ticket be something major that would go on your driving record, affect your insurance rates, and all that? Or is it something you just pay and get over with? I don't mind paying a fine if that's it, but I would think twice about keeping mine off if it can screw up my driving record, which is spic and span right now.

 

i dont put mine on either...its required in jersey and i got stopped just yesterday because of it....but i had the bracket in the trunk with the plate and told the cops that the bracket was missing hardware for the install (which it is)....no ticket yet...but even if you do get a ticket its an equipment violation in most states (if not all) and all you have to do is pay a fine and show them its re-installed

 

I talked to an officer just the other day about the requirments here and he said that it is required to have it on the front but if I have it off to at least have it showing in the windshield but what I do is keep it between the seats so that if I do get stopped I tell them that I have a hardware issue and it will be put on very soon...I think it may at least keep me from getting a ticket (hopefully)...............

Anyways, keep it revved up!!

 

What is the fine?

 

usually it's just a fix-it ticket i believe.

for those of you in Los Angeles, make sure you put your license plate on if you go to LAX. you'll get a ticket there for sure. i know a lot of people who got caught there. other than that, it's just up to your luck. a lot of people get away with it. cops will pull you over and ticket you for it (and for tints) if the fancy strikes them.

the license plate in the windshield is not a good idea though since it won't stop you from getting a ticket and it's dangerous. you don't want that thing flying at your face when someone rear ends you.

 

I live and work in los angeles too. I have never been pulled over for not having a front plate, but I have gotton tickets from meter maids for no front plate. It only happens at work when I park on the street, so now I just put on my car cover and that deters them from seeing my missing plates. I also have rigged up a magnet hidden inside the front grill so I can quickly stick on the plate if I don't use the car cover. But the no front plate has only been an issue when I park at work, so far everywhere else I go has been alright.

 

Arizona does not require a front plate, when I got my initial plate before the personalized one they only give one plate in AZ, but when you get personalized plates they do give you two. I'm curious if I'll have any problems when I go out of state this summer for vacation

 

Check the laws in your state. In Virginia, it is a 3-point offense. Plus an $81 fine.

 

It doesn't go on your record in California, as it's only a "fix-it ticket". If you don't pay the fine, it will go on your record eventually (like parking tickets). I got a ticket for no front plate a couple of months ago, and the fine here in San Diego was $10 along with another $10 for the local Sheriff's department to "process it". I was told by a friend that if you take it to a CHP, they can sign it off and won't charge you the processing fee, but I haven't verified that.

 

No, I'm not trying to be silly.

I don't like that big lump sitting out in front. I don't think it looks all that good. I'd like to come up with something that counts as a license plate but sticks to the front bumper.

Have any of you ever seen pictures of vintage sports cars where they actually have the front plate on the front part of the car? Probably because there was no bumper to speak of.

So (putting flame suit on now), my thought was to make a duplicate of my front plate in vinyl and have it stuck on the front as a decal. And, if that would fly, I'd try to make it just a bit smaller.

Aesthetics aside, anybody have any idea if this would fly? At the Starbucks I go to there's often a friendly cop there (go figure), but since I came up with this hair brained scheme I haven't been able to ask him about it. Oh, you're supposed to have a front plate in Illinois as well. I've had a German export plate on the front of my Saab for 4 years and nobody has said boo. The only cop to mention it was the guy at Starbucks, and his only comment was "so, what country is that plate from?"

Hunter

 

In WA you're supposed to have a front but I'll hold off until some stater pulls me over. It looks so much better w/o it!

 

Does anybody know if it is illegal not to have it in Illinios?

 

Well, I been thinking about it and decided that if all else fails I'll hinge it inside my Ings mouth scoop and motorize it to come down when needed. That way when I get pulled over , It will be there......007 style

 

I have a question. Has anybody been ticketd for no plate up front in florida. I dont have an 8 yet (hopefully in october) but my mustang doesnt have front plates and ive lived here for about 6 months. Its so hard to learn each states dumbass rules being in the military and all...lived in 5 states in the past year...

 

85 bucks. Its not a moving violation in NJ so no points.

 

I was thinking of something like this myself. Someone write up a DIY.
:D

 

Luke, boy, do you live close to me. You weren't driving south bound on Hicks on late Sunday afternoon, were you?

At any rate, it's my understanding that you're supposed to have front plates on, but it's up to the local law agencies to enforce it. I've gotten 2 tickets about front plates, 1 from the City of Chicago parked at O'Hare and one somewhere else. Sorry. I've never heard of a Sheriff or State Trooper writing anybody up for one.

And, when I worked in Des Plaines, I temporarily put the front plate on the Miata because the local cops would cruise office parking lots looking for only one thing -- missing front plates!

Hunter