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Front License Plate Holder Woes

25708 Views 60 Replies 32 Participants Last post by guycampbell, 4 mo ago

ourbbycar

Discussion Starter · May 5, 2017

Hello,

Thought I'd see what others thought. My car came without the front license plate holder installed, the sales person just stuck the holder and hardware in the trunk. Now that our plates have come, I went to the dealer to see if they'd attach the holder for us.

They can't tell me until I take the car in for an appointment if they will charge me to attach this or not.

My question is, did your Bolt come from the dealer with the front license plate holder attached? Should I expect it to, or for the dealer to cover the cost to attach it? To me it seems silly that I'd have to pay for this. I'd do it myself but don't have a riveter at home.

Also, how many out there are deciding to drive without the front plate? In CA we need it by law, but it sure looks ugly on the Bolt, in my opinion. A casual look at traffic in my neighborhood reveals a surprising number of drivers without front plates, so how likely is not having a front plate to be an issue, do you think?

Thanks.

1 - 20 of 61 Posts

drdiesel1

· #2 · May 6, 2017

ourbbycar said:
Hello,

Thought I'd see what others thought. My car came without the front license plate holder installed, the sales person just stuck the holder and hardware in the trunk. Now that our plates have come, I went to the dealer to see if they'd attach the holder for us.

They can't tell me until I take the car in for an appointment if they will charge me to attach this or not.

My question is, did your Bolt come from the dealer with the front license plate holder attached? Should I expect it to, or for the dealer to cover the cost to attach it? To me it seems silly that I'd have to pay for this. I'd do it myself but don't have a riveter at home.

Also, how many out there are deciding to drive without the front plate? In CA we need it by law, but it sure looks ugly on the Bolt, in my opinion. A casual look at traffic in my neighborhood reveals a surprising number of drivers without front plates, so how likely is not having a front plate to be an issue, do you think?

Thanks.

The lic. plate holder installation is part of the PDI (pre delivery inspection) and it's installed as part
of the vehicle delivery and setup process. Don't let your dealer charge you anything to install it.
If they refuse to install it without a charge call Chevrolet Customer care @ 1 (800) 222-1020

Reactions: 5

Posatronic

· #3 · May 6, 2017

I agree with the response COMPLETELY.

Reactions: 1

DaV8or

· #4 · May 6, 2017

Like others have responded, the dealer should put it on free of charge. It's part of the set up and they have already been paid to do that job. As to the front plate in California, all I can say is I have driven my Pontiac Solstice of the last 11 1/2 years without the front plate and have never been stopped for it. As you have noted, running without the front plate is common and it's also an infraction of the law. It's up to you. At worst it's a fix it ticket I believe. I have no choice with the Bolt as I bought mine off the lot and the front plate bracket was already installed.

ourbbycar

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 6, 2017

drdiesel1 said:
The lic. plate holder installation is part of the PDI (pre delivery inspection) and it's installed as part
of the vehicle delivery and setup process. Don't let your dealer charge you anything to install it.
If they refuse to install it without a charge call Chevrolet Customer care @ 1 (800) 222-1020

Thanks to all three of you for your responses. I thought something was a little fishy in service today. Makes me wonder too, if they even did a PDI. How can I find out what's supposed to be covered for that? Looks like I need to talk to my dealership...
You guys are the best, I really appreciate it. Happy driving

pvevstv

· #6 · May 6, 2017

...and for those with the opposite problem, the bulky, un-aeordynamic plastic front plate holder in states that don't require front plates, like my own NM, and want it to go away, here's what I did with no more damage than had already been done in the installation by the dealer.

There are four rivets holding it on, all soft aluminum. Find a drill bit somewhat less in diameter than the head of the rivet and start drilling very gently until the rivet head comes off you can tell it's close to. Do that for all four. Use needle-nose pliers to tear rivet head off if not fully off. Pull plate-holder off, push remaining rivet shafts in flush with plastic.

The holes they drilled through your beautiful plastic nose will still be there, but relatively innocuous. Only people who wish they were as good-looking as you will say, nice car, but what's with those four little holes?

This is guaranteed to quintuple your range due to improved air flow.

Reactions: 1

drdiesel1

· #7 · May 6, 2017 (Edited)

PDI sheet

Reactions: 2

eops

· #8 · May 7, 2017

Installation of these plate holders are an industry standard, no reason for them to not do this. Only reason they wouldn't is if the owner requested not to. Some people get hideaway plate systems or have their own alternative. Hopefully they don't give you any trouble.

jagger

· #9 · May 7, 2017

ourbbycar we bought our car at Quality Chevrolet of Escondido. They didn't put the front plate holder on. Same story as you. I'm with you on the looks and I decided to risk it and leave it off. I also see a large percentage of vehicles in California with no plates in the front.

Bazinga

· #10 · May 8, 2017

There's always the option of those hidden plate holders so you can hide or slide it out whenever you want. The trade off is taking an inch or so off your ground clearance.

DaV8or

· #11 · May 8, 2017

drdiesel1 said:
PDI sheet

Interesting. It doesn't mention the front plate at all. However in a state that mandates a front license plate, I don't see how a dealer can sell you a car and at least not offer to install it for you. My dealer actually had me sign a piece of paper stating that I promised to install the front plate when it arrived. That was a new one on me!

All cars look better without the front plate. That's how the designers designed them to be.

BoltFan

· #12 · May 8, 2017

My dealer installed it for free in about 15 mins. Same situation you are in. Our state requires a front plate.

ourbbycar

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 8, 2017

Thanks

drdiesel1 said:
PDI sheet

Thanks for this!

Reactions: 1

ourbbycar

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 8, 2017

DaV8or said:
Interesting. It doesn't mention the front plate at all. However in a state that mandates a front license plate, I don't see how a dealer can sell you a car and at least not offer to install it for you. My dealer actually had me sign a piece of paper stating that I promised to install the front plate when it arrived. That was a new one on me!

All cars look better without the front plate. That's how the designers designed them to be.

True enough, good point about the design. I'll follow up with my dealer. We never signed a promise of that kind - interesting!

ourbbycar

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 10, 2017

BoltFan said:
My dealer installed it for free in about 15 mins. Same situation you are in. Our state requires a front plate.

Thank you. Just an update, I called the dealer and arranged to have it done. This time, they confirmed that there shouldn't be a charge. It took about 15 mins. If anyone else runs across this, your dealer should install this for you free of charge.
Happy Motoring!

Electro

· #16 · May 11, 2017

Glad it all got sorted out and they did it free-of-charge like they should

eops

· #17 · May 11, 2017

I bet if these required more of a routine service then odds are they would be taking more of an initiative to do little things like this since that alone can win over a lifetime of service jobs. First impressions are import and dealers know it. Glad to see it got sorted out!

ourbbycar

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 11, 2017

eops said:
I bet if these required more of a routine service then odds are they would be taking more of an initiative to do little things like this since that alone can win over a lifetime of service jobs. First impressions are import and dealers know it. Glad to see it got sorted out!

Yes, thanks! I agree about first impressions. Oddly, the receptionist was way more together than the initial guy I talked to in the service department. When I went in to get the work done, though, I met a service rep who was fantastic, and now I have his card. ;-)

Forman

· #19 · May 14, 2017

When I bought my car I told 2 of the sales people not to put the front plate on and told them 3 or 4 times. I posted about this on another forum and everyone said I was supposed to have the plate on it in California and the sales people were doing me a favor and to stop complaining. Really? I spend 47k out the door for a car. The least they could do is give me the car like I requested. Had them get me a new front piece to replace it so the 4 holes aren't there. Now I gotta install it. Did not want to wait around the dealership. Some people want them others don't.

Sean Nelson

· #20 · May 14, 2017

Forman said:
When I bought my car I told 2 of the sales people not to put the front plate on and told them 3 or 4 times. ... The least they could do is give me the car like I requested. Had them get me a new front piece to replace it so the 4 holes aren't there.

The takeaway from this is that you probably need to treat the car like smart surgical teams treat their patients - by writing on them in felt maker to make sure they operate on what they're supposed to. So in the case of a car you'd put some masking tape on the bumper and write "DO NOT INSTALL FRONT LICENSE PLATE HOLDER".

Reactions: 1

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