How do you drive DeLoreans in Texas?

[TechionDigit]

I live in Texas and I can't drive my DeLorean due to the fact that there's no front license plate (yes it is mandatory for rear and front license plates) on my DeLorean. How am I suppose to drive it without getting that weird bracket piece because I keep getting pulled over for 'not having one' but when they walk up to me I have to manually point at it since my DeLorean is low to the ground.

Can I screw into my front bumper and place a holder with my license plate or is there another aftermarket bumper made for this issue?

[dn010]

I live in Texas and I can't drive my DeLorean due to the fact that there's no front license plate (yes it is mandatory for rear and front license plates) on my DeLorean. How am I suppose to drive it without getting that weird bracket piece because I keep getting pulled over for 'not having one' but when they walk up to me I have to manually point at it since my DeLorean is low to the ground.

Can I screw into my front bumper and place a holder with my license plate or is there another aftermarket bumper made for this issue?

https://store.delorean.com/p-9721-front-license-plate-bracket.aspx

Old photo of my D with this bracket installed in NY:
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=59141&d=1548867067

This bracket installs where the screws are for the rock screen. There is no drilling, no screws, no altering any part of the car. You can place screws wherever you'd like in the bumper, but realize you're putting holes in a piece that costs $100s and when it comes time to sell the holes will be an eyesore.

[Maritime-elf]

I had my Delorean in Texas for 13 years. I was pulled over several times, and the cops never gave me a ticket for not having a front license plate. (I did find out by getting a ticket my car is 20% fast in the drivetrain)

I never would have modified my Delorean to add the license plate as its not per original design. Most cops don't know there are aftermarket options.

If you don't want to add the stupid bracket thing in the front, keep the license plate in the front with you and place it on the dashboard if you get pulled over. Explain design of the car prevents it from being mounted.

If they still give you a ticket....Ticket clinic.

[DavidProehl]

Here in MN I am also required to have a front plate, but I don't. My car had one screwed into the front bumper and I removed it. I still have the holes in my bumper.

I have never been pulled over due to a lack of a front plate, but I only do about 2,000 miles a year. Still, even if I did get pulled over I'd just pay the ticket if it was an issue.

After 11 years of ownership without a front plate, I'm not too worried. If I were you I wouldn't have a front plate.

[dn010]

I'm not sure what everyone has against the new design bracket or the fact that it even exists, but it was simply unfasten 3 nuts, insert the bracket, fasten the 3 nuts and put the plate on. There is nothing about this bracket that prevents you from installing it due to the design of the car. I already had a hell of a time in NY getting pulled over for every little nonsensical thing, I couldn't imagine driving with no front plate there. For $50, you can save yourself the wasted time of being pulled over, the ticket cost and the embarrassment of sitting on the side of the road, door open, with a cruiser behind you.

[Mark D]

Yeah, but front licence plates just look terrible and spoil the look of the car. I've owned my DeLorean for 10+ years now and have never had a front plate. No issues with the police. I haven't had a front plate on my Jeep since 2014 and no issues there either.

I'm sure if I got pulled over for speeding or something the cop might tack that on, but at worst that would be a fix-it-ticket. IE: Install license plate temporarily to not have to pay a fine, then just remove it again later. I've got one of those aftermarket brackets that bolts onto the rock screen if I would need it. The PO bought it and it came with the car.

[dn010]

I apologize, I was responding to the question in regards to the legal aspect of it, not the appearance or preference aspect. Seems the OP doesn't want to get pulled over all the time and it is an issue for him - I guess I can relate there. Glad I live in Florida now with only one plate - I agree I didn't like the look of the front plate either, but...

[DavidProehl]

Yeah, but front licence plates just look terrible and spoil the look of the car.

Ditto. If you own a DeLorean, $50 isn't going to break you, but odds are the reason you own a DeLorean is because you love the look of the car. For me placing a plate on the front detracts from why I own it in the first place.

[SS Spoiler]

I made a bracket with a hinge on it that allows
the wind to push it horizontal and not block the
radiator. At car shows I just pin it back.

[leroylem]

I made a bracket with a hinge on it that allows
the wind to push it horizontal and not block the
radiator. At car shows I just pin it back.

In Texas, if you register your Delorean as an antique vehicle, you do not need , nor are you given a front liscense plate---also you are not required to have an annual vehicle inspection---antique liscense is good for 5 year period, Cost me about $65 for 5 year period. All my collector/classic cars are registered as antique.

Leroy 2126

[Gfrank]

59142

I’ve got a power folding front plate on one of mine. Can’t say I fold mine much on this car, I don’t mind the plate look

[David T]

The Police are trained to aim their radar or Laser at the front plate because it is made to be very reflective and is flat so they get a good signal. It also makes them look at the plate. Also Police cars now have plate readers on them so they want that front plate for that. I can agree that the plate detracts from the look of the car but if you are required to have it then just get the bracket so at least you don't have to drill holes in the bumper. Not having that front plate also gives the Police "probable cause" to pull you over and then take you apart. Like having tinted windows or a bad taillight bulb. Sometimes they need an excuse to pull you over. They catch a lot of bad people that way.

[David T]

There was a truck driver who got caught going over the George Washiington Bridge doing that with his license plate to avoid tolls. They caught him and made a big example of him.

[dn010]

The Police are trained to aim their radar or Laser at the front plate because it is made to be very reflective and is flat so they get a good signal.


I'm sorry, but you know this how? We were never trained to point our RADAR guns at the license plate specifically, in fact, good luck aiming at anything specific on a vehicle half a mile away with a RADAR gun - you have no idea what part of the car the waves are bouncing off of. This is when we were bored and actually wanted to get out and use the gun as opposed to relaxing in the seat and use the vehicle mounted RADAR, which does just as good a job delivering the speed readings without even touching it.

[crazycro]

There was a truck driver who got caught going over the George Washiington Bridge doing that with his license plate to avoid tolls. They caught him and made a big example of him.

I remember that story well, he'd been doing it for awhile too if I remember correctly.

[Citizen]

In Texas, if you register your Delorean as an antique vehicle, you do not need , nor are you given a front liscense plate---also you are not required to have an annual vehicle inspection---antique liscense is good for 5 year period, Cost me about $65 for 5 year period. All my collector/classic cars are registered as antique.

Leroy 2126

+1

Everything Leroy said is spot on.

I live in Texas too. No front plate provided, no bracket, no holes, no inspection, single rear plate good for 5 years, cost around $65-70. This is my second 5-year run...absolutely no problem with police.

Thomas

...

[Michael]

This may be too little too late but hell, 3m double sided tape. I could fashion a bracket in an hour to stick on the underside of the bumper(above the screen) and it would not come off unless I wanted it to. If I ever wanted to sell the car, tbe tape can be released with a little elbow grease and light solvent. I used the same method on my headlight cover brackets and that was just 4 tiny pieces of double sided tape about 1/2" square. Held in place just fine and came of easy peasy when I got tired of the look.

Swing by a auto parts store and see if there is some kind of universal bracket to mount your tag to, a piece of angle bracket should work perfectly. After you cut it, grind the sharp edges, maybe paint it matt black(leaving the tape contact side unpainted), clean the bumper surface where tape will hit, mount low enough to where the bottom of the tag rests against the lower spoiler for extra support and you may have to decrease the right angle to match the the angle of the lower fascia. Done!
59143

[L3V3L1]

A little off topic, but has anyone filled the license plate holes in the front bumper. I could see it being an issue as the black part of the bumper is not painted. I would love to fill the holes and relocate my front plate.
Jason

[DMC5180]

59142

I’ve got a power folding front plate on one of mine. Can’t say I fold mine much on this car, I don’t mind the plate look

Can you post a video of it actuating?


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[DMC5180]

+1

Everything Leroy said is spot on.

I live in Texas too. No front plate provided, no bracket, no holes, no inspection, single rear plate good for 5 years, cost around $65-70. This is my second 5-year run...absolutely no problem with police.

Thomas

...

What are the driving limitations that go with that plate. Is it technically just for parades and car shows?


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[Gfrank]

Can you post a video of it actuating?


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I never re wired it when I put it on the Delorean. (Still retracts manual)
More had it for shows and at the drag strip before, not a great video but it’s all I have
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_9UEeFyLKc0

[Rich]

I live in Texas and I can't drive my DeLorean due to the fact that there's no front license plate (yes it is mandatory for rear and front license plates) on my DeLorean. How am I suppose to drive it without getting that weird bracket piece because I keep getting pulled over for 'not having one' but when they walk up to me I have to manually point at it since my DeLorean is low to the ground.

The same rules apply here in Calif.

I see a fair number of cars here that lack front plates. Tesla Model S and Model 3s, especially.

The solution that works for me is to keep the D plate-free in front until I get nailed. The fix-it ticket requires bringing the car back to the cops after the fix. For that inspection I mount the front plate using the under-bumper bolt-on bracket (no drilling!). Then I go get the $40 ticket cleared - it isn't a moving violation here. The bracket and plate come right back off the next day.

Averaging about 30K miles between citations so far.

Your luck may vary....

I like to imagine the cops have some kind of respect for the D and tend to leave us alone. But my front plate-free daily driver has gone 50K here without a citation, so maybe things are just different where I drive.

[mark w]

On my Previous Delorean here in CA, I used an inverted VW Rabbit front bracket. So that it mounts under the bumper, not into the face of it.

If you remove it, you dont see any holes until your laying in the ground looking straight at your rock screen.

[DMCVegas]

Never really had a problem driving around in a vehicle with no plates at all in Texas, let alone not having a front one. Only time I'd ever had an issue with a cop there was a corrupt Montgomery County sheriff who was trying to get me to sell him my car. Otherwise Texas cops are more likely to pull you over for cruising in the left lane on the highway than they are to bust you for the lack of a front plate. Especially with the Antique plates mentioned here. Unless of course you've done something to anger the local cops. So something doesn't sound right here with this question...

BTW, antique plates in Texas have severe restrictions on them that the vehicle cannot be used for regular transportation. It's only allowed on the street for parades, club functions/special events, and travel to and from a repair facility. Classic Car plates there do not have this same restriction.

[leroylem]

What are the driving limitations that go with that plate. Is it technically just for parades and car shows?


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technically not everyday driven---parades, car shows, etc---drive mine weekly, sometimes several times a week---never any problem

Leroy 2126

[OverlandMan]

In Texas, if you register your Delorean as an antique vehicle, you do not need , nor are you given a front liscense plate---also you are not required to have an annual vehicle inspection---antique liscense is good for 5 year period, Cost me about $65 for 5 year period. All my collector/classic cars are registered as antique.

Leroy 2126

Yep - get an antique plate. That's what I've had for years now. Thankfully they got rid of the ugly buggy image in the middle of the plate and now its just a plain plate that says Texas Antique Vehicle.

[CFI]

Two plates required here in VA. Previous owner just screwed the plate onto the front bumper, so I do the same as well. I think it looks fine.

[jamesrguk]

Black self-adhesive velcro (hook & loop) is the way to go, you can take off your plate for car shows and the black velcro is barely visible, also you can keep the plate in your car and drive without it, as sometimes you will 'accidentally' forget to re-attach it after a show.


James

[David T]

Most States require the plate to be mechanically fastened. They don't want to see plates held on with tape, velcro or wire.

[mluder]

For what it's worth I've gone both ways.

Had antique plates here in Oregon when my car wouldn't pas DEQ. With the Special Interest plates they only give you one and you are supposed to only drive for parades, club events, and car shows etc. $15 and they are good forever.
Drove it almost every day in the fair weather months and never got pulled over. Now I have regular plates but no front plate and have still not been pulled over.
That said your mileage may vary.

As I understand it (or assume) not having a license plate is not an offense that warrants a stop. Now if you're speeding or run a stop sign and get pulled over they will tack that on. The only people I know who got dinged for no plate got the ticket from a parking meter enforcement officer and they were parked downtown. Meter wasn't expired - they just were ticketed for not having a plate.

The laws in some jurisdictions, Washington State as an example (if I recall correctly), are written to include language that exempts vehicles through by their design do not have a way to mount a plate. Think some Ferraris or Lambos who's noses are so pointy it's near possible. That argument won't fly for a DeLorean. You might be able to argue that the car wasn't designed with a front license plate holder but I doubt that will work. IN fact, here in Oregon, the law actually has language that says the plate must be readily visible so that might even eliminate the front window option.

I carry my front plate behind my seat. If I'm ever questioned I will try the excuse that it was mounted but I dinged a bollard and it fell off and I just haven't gotten around to reinstalling it. Hope it never happens.

BTW - a friend had his bumper holes filled by Toby Peterson at DeLorean Service Northwest in Seattle... They even refurbed the black area (no paint) and you cannot see them. No idea what was used.

Cheers
Steve

[DMCVegas]

As I understand it (or assume) not having a license plate is not an offense that warrants a stop.

That's totally up to the local laws. Some places have rules that excluding imminent safety, the police can't pull you over unless you have more than 1 moving violation (ie a burned out light isn't enough, but a burned out light plus no seatbelt is another). But again, it's totally up to the local regulations and the officers that choose to enforce them. Which in the case of Texas, yeah, everyone there is SOL. (https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=43&pt=10&ch=217&rl=27)

[OverlandMan]

How do you drive DeLoreans in Texas?

Like a boss

[best_of_the_80s]

Whatever happened to just sticking the plate up on the dash where it can be seen through the windshield?

[DMCMW Dave]

Whatever happened to just sticking the plate up on the dash where it can be seen through the windshield?

Good way to get your license number embossed on your forehead in an accident. Or worse.

[DMC-Ron]

Good way to get your license number embossed on your forehead in an accident. Or worse.

Would it be insensitive to put it on the passenger side?