Front license plate holder on tow hook install / review

On my last drive to Dallas I got a warning for not having my front license plate, so I decided to avoid further problem by putting it up. The Porsche dealer recommended me to find a system that uses the tow hook, they said it was reliable. I went online and got myself one and even though a bit expensive ($80) it is very high quality and I took some pics for those interested. It can be purchased here , no affiliation just a happy customer. First I want to say that the install was a breeze, all tool are provided except a big wrench for the 23mm worked for me. The rod that screw on the tow hook is one aluminum piece, very light and beautifully done. The plate holder is also made of one piece aluminum. It is important to note that all piece are smooth on the edges and not a rough cut. The plate holder is nice and thick and got 4 threaded holes to mount the plate with 4 screw provided in the package. Again a very high en product. Pros: you can remove the whole assemble easily without having to remove the plate by simply unscrewing the rod. Cons: It is easy to steal the assembly as well here are the pics: tight but no rub Plate holder in place Nice threaded hole to attach the place Good clearance with the plate and screws on And the final result...

looks good.... love mine, but barely use it.

Nice concept but wouldn't work in Chitown with these crazy(and wreckless) parallel parkers around here. I don't even have a front plate on mine and risk getting a ticket since front plate is mandatory here. But I figure I'd rather pony up $75 vs $200+ if some knucklehead pushed the license plate and gouged my front bumper instead.

Very good point, I did not thing of it, but indeed if someone backup in that plate, I will have some pretty nasty scuffs Lucky for me I don't do any parallel parking in Lubbock ! At least with this assembly you can mount it on demand in case you get pulled over, or before you plan a 'risky' trip where the highway patrol pain in the back are lurking...

I keep mine in my car. Should I get pulled over, my plan would be to say that I just had 3M Clear Shield installed and I forgot to put back. If necessary, I could even put it on while the officer watches. I have an allen wrench with me and a hole drilled through my license plate, so put on is a snap!

I plan on installing a RO euro plate in the front with the long Porsche frame which fits just for kicks. It's mandatory to have a front plate where i'm from also, but oh well. I plan on keeping my needed plate in the car and my excuse would be that the car came like that and I am waiting for the new frame to come in to install my normal plate.

nice - I dont think $80 is much.... when people think that something nicely machined is expensive I usually hold it up (as if to hand it to them) and say...."OK, you try and make one" the $80 seems like a deal then Looks great IMO!

I have them on the 993 and 996, they're great to switch over to tow hooks when we get to the track. Great product.

So what is the advantage of this over the stock center location? Are you just trying to avoid holes in the bumper? My 2000 came with the stock mount and drilled bumper, and even the areo bumper I replaced it with had the hole drilled. I did run without a front plate for 4-5 years, even bought plugs for the holes, but never installed them as I wanted to be able to tell a officer that the plate (in my trunk) had fallen off and with plugs that would have been kind of an obvious lie. Finally this winter my car was parallel parked on the street in Chicago. I came out just as an officer was writing me a ticket for not having a front plate. Told him it had fallen off and he said tell it to the court. Put the plate back on and sent in a picture of the car with the plate on saying it had been knocked off that day in a parking lot and they dismissed the ticket. Don't like the way it looks with the plate but have not removed it again.

I currently don't have a front plate on mine either. Indiana didn't have front plates - so I really got used to the look of the car without it. I keep toying with the idea of putting it on, because I'm afraid I'm going to get a ticket here in Colorado sice they require a plate. I like the center location better than the offset location, so I'll probably go with the stock holes, or perhaps do something that sits lower in the center grille. I hate front plates...

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+10000!!

+ 10,000 "The only cultural advantage of California is that you can make a right on a red." -Woody Allen, in Annie Hall "The only cultural advantage of North Carolina is that you don't need a front license plate." -Ralph, just now I'll tell you what really gets me... Yankees who move to a Southern state with no front license plate requirement and then leave their NY plate on the front. "Representin!" Idiots.

I believe this is a great one to have, especially if you dont' want to put it up for most trips. For example in my local town, I never had any problem and will probably put it back in the trunk but with this I know I can put it back up in a few seconds if I plan to go somewhere a little farther. Beautiful product! It is such a rare thing nowadays to find things done the right way. About someone backing up into it, I went in my garage and try to push on the plate and it is amazingly strong, I assume a car can still push it, but it would have to be a pretty good bump.

I had to get the cheaper one by surrwinn products. We get tickets on the street or at unexpired meters for no front plate.

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That's pretty harsh... they should might as well give tickets for tints, clear lights etc... Jeez. I hate the bylaw city ticket enforcement systems!! I would refuse employement for such a position!

I was on a recent motorcycle trip and went through PA. I noticed that they don't have front plates there and was jealous. So I have a new budget/savings idea for all the states that require them (I live in IL which requires them and had a major budget problem). Eliminate front plates. It would cut the cost or producing new plates by 1/2. While it may not make a major impact every little pit helps. And what effect could it have on "Public Safety?" What do the cops pull ahead of you to get your license number before they pull you over. I have never heard a reasonable explanation of why they are required. It seems only a common sense cost reduction to eliminate them. Maybe I should start a poll.

I think it looks worse--having it offset like that. Just mount it. Lower if you like (like I did).

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How?

ticketing parked cars for no front plate.... what ever group of idiots voted in the jacka$$ that came up with that law should all be strung up !!! oh.. was that my outside voice?

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If someone backed into mine, I think the plate would bend back until the offender's bumper struck the aluminum bolt that goes into the tow hook hole. That's keeping in mind that the front bumper of my car is shaped the opposite way of the rear bumper of the car striking it. I don't see how the damage would be any worse than not having a plate on at all--all the tow hook bracket really does is make the car a few inches longer. There's a Canadian guy named Rolf that posts here sometimes that sells pretty much the same thing for less than forty bucks shipped to the US. I have his contact info somewhere...if anyone wants his info just PM me. The version I have doesn't have the aluminum backer (it's plastic), but I don't know any reason why it would need to be aluminum, either.

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That's only half of it. I got ticketed while my car was parked in my PRIVATE DRIVEWAY for no city sticker. I also got ticketed for no front plates, window tint, and also no rear bumper(bumper was tucked) while parallel parked on the Chicago streets. Blago scandal is only a small part of what's wrong with Chicago. First off what was your car doing out in the Chicago winter? Secondly I hope you didn't parallel park your car on Chicago streets over night? I shiver everytime I see snow plows that push up snow on the sides of the parked cars. Only story I heard was the excuse by Law enforcement that they use your front plate to measure your speed via Laser since they need something highly reflective to bounce the laser off of. If you live in Chicago and parallel park, you will understand. Hard to describe it and it is something only Chitown folks will understand. They find various ways and back into your car at various angles.

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that the most screwed up thing Ive ever heard..... dont you need a warrant for that?

un-real !

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Probably not considering you see cops smoking cigars in their squad cars while on duty. Nothing surprises me in this city anymore. I got tons of stories I can tell but I should just write a book one of these days. Chicago has to be one of the cities with the most waste and inefficiency and unfortunately, I think this city is one of the worse for voter turnout or involvement since some of these clowns are still in office. Just the other day, I saw 4 city workers changing out a light bulb on one of thhe CTA train stations. 1 to hold the ladder to lessen the chance of workman's comp or liability lawsuit, 1 to make sure no trains are coming(even though the light was 10ft away from the tracks and clearly you can hear the train coming way in advance), 1 to climb the ladder and change the bulb, 1 to hold the bulb and get any other parts that might be needed. Incredible.... With that said, it is still a great city but I will probably move out to the burbs soon as it's somewhere nice to visit but not necessarily live in for everyone. Ok, Chitown politics rant off...

The one time I was happy to have the front plate on my car. Pick-up drover said he did not hit my car. No damage to the car. Just losened the frame bracket. Bad day in all with pick up and bird crapping on my car!

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Originally Posted by Edgy01 I think it looks worse--having it offset like that. Just mount it. Lower if you like (like I did). You can latch onto something in the center panel area to secure your plate. On the 997s the height of the opening is just right for a US plate. Not sure about that dimension for a 996. If you don't have a center radiator (which would be blocked by my design) you would be fine. I ultimately removed the center black plastic piece, installed 4 stainless steel bolts with large fender washers on the backside and left the 4 studs pointing downward to give me something to hook onto. I then took two hinges and bolted a part of it onto the studs, leaving the other part to secure the plate bracket. Voila! See:

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I'm not disputing that people run into cars, just the idea that the damage is somehow worse if you have a front plate installed.

Denver sux donkey *****. They will ticket you at a street meeter or even at the airport for a front plate issue. I rigged mine with a set of LONG zip ties and the front trunk lid. Revenue generators is all. And the Mayor is now running for Governor!

bought the holder shown at top of thread...because of this thread. great product...very finished...super easy install...great for easy track day removal. leave the bumper wholes plugged...this is a 1st class solution

I've been using it for a while now too because of the Denver issue mentioned above. My only issue with it is that the plate is larger than the mounting plate, so the edges catch on a pant leg and get bent sometimes when walking in front of the vehicle. I frequently find myself bending back the plate corners.

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I like mine also, and although I've done the assembly, I haven't actually used it

Two warnings, by the same cop no less, hated to do it, but my luck was running out.

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Yea I am with you there. A couple weeks ago I was in line on the service road to get into cars and coffee, when a cop pulled around and said "you in the black porsche, pull over". The guy in front of me in a black 997 pulled over. I talked to him later that day and he said they gave him a ticket for no front license plate and window tint that was too dark. I hate having the plate on the front but just don't want to get hassled.

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I understand how having the front plate makes parking bumps worse.... but just don't think it only happens in Chicago. On a separate note, cops in WA are notorious for giving tickets for no front plate, even when you're parked.

I live in PA where we dont need one. However I visit my cousins in the neighboring Sate of New Jersey and I believe they do need a front plate. Looks like I may have to get a kit pretty dam soon. That light blue 997 car with the hinged plate looks really sharp. What a great looking car. I just found out from my American born wife that I do not need a front plate as I live in PA.. I dont need one if I am driving anywhere in the states. I had it wrong so that is good news.

For the Tow-Hook Options: 1) Rennline (adjustable height) 2) Mower Axle (silver solid plate) 3) US Millworks (black, with some position adjustment) 4) Skene (center mount, but no "front holes") ...which one is fastest to take off and put on. I am in the process of an Aero Kit conversion and would rather have the body shop cover the existing holes (a used Aero Kit) then leave the bumper without them. A fast "change" make for easy track-day removal and to leave the front plate off the car most of the time. I am considering keeping the plate/mount in the car ready to go when I need to park on City Streets, which is the most likely spot to get a no-front-plate ticket. Typically, I do not have to park on the street. In most cases in CO, you don't get pulled over <only> for lack of a front plate. Speed enforcement generates much more $ for the state and it is easy for them to write tickets in Denver's main speed traps... While I do not know anyone personally, I have heard rumors of people being pulled over without a front plate. Thanks!

I know several people who have gotten tickets in CO for no front plate. It definitely happens. I have the Mower Axle bracket. I like it, with one small exception. The plate bracket is smaller than the plate. As a result, the plate overhangs on both sides. It is easily bent if you happen to bump it while washing the car or just walking by and brushing against it. My plate is now creased on both sides along the edge of the bracket. It's not a huge deal, but it does bother me a little bit.

Here are a couple of photos with the tow hook and with the license plate. Very easy and convenient

First I have heard of the Skene - does it work for the 996 or only the 997?

The Skene one looks slick - just need to see if it would really lower the plate mount dramatically... going out to the parking lot on my lunch break...

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I agree with your point.....why invite the long arm of the law into your life when it's so easy to avoid the hassle by displaying the front plate (and thereby complying with the law)? Nice avatar, by the way.

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BTW - For tix in Co, any idea if they the "primary" reason for the stop or secondary to speeding, etc? Heh, I have that plate-edge problem with my bumper-mount. I keep catching my leg on it in the garage. One bonus for the Tow-Hook is that is would be very close to a Laser-Prophylactic emitter location. Upon review of the group, I noticed the Mower-Axle now allows minor adjust Left and right & no up and down, US Millwork "light" had lost of adjustment possibilities and the Rennline have up and down & no Left and right. ...any thoughts on which adjustment is best to get the best placement?

got pulled over in Austin for no front plate last weekend. Then he saw my expired inspection sticker. Then he saw my recently expired driver's license I was heading home from the track and he was asking me about all my gear in the passenger seat. I think the fact that I wasn't speeding won me some points because I only got warnings for 2 of the 3 violations. Guess it is time to pick up one of these front mounts.

Has anyone actually used the Skene?

Just installed the US Millworks. It's a pretty solid unit; provides coverage behind almost the whole plate (probably a 1/4 inch gap) all the way around. Side-to-side adjustable, and two up/down positions (they could have given more up/down flexibility by drilling another row of holes, but they didn't). I would say that it isn't a quick on / quick off process - it's probably a 15 minute job if you had it down to a science. Overall it seems like a very good product - big improvement from the OEM center mount.

I installed this JCS plate mount on my front end. Good quality, it all fit together nicely. Its cost was $39.75 for my 996 including shipping I emailed this guy for the order info, paid him and he shipped it right out. [email removed] I'm pretty happy with it. I figure someone might possibly back into it and break it and cause scratches...but it doesn't stick out any further than the stock bracket did. Ergo...its no worse than factory.

What if you "molded" the plate to the bumper? ie- bent the plate to match the shape of the bumper and screwed it or zip tied it after shaping it? I am about to pick up my 996 on Monday in Va, and Md has a front plate requirement too. Michael 1999 996 C2 Edgewater, Md

I am selling mine as I now live in florida and I don't need it anymore, PM me in interested