California spent seven years testing front plate wrap concepts starting with highway patrol cars.
Are front license plates ruining cars’ looks? California is offering an alternative to metal front plates. California residents will be able to attach a sticker with their front license plate to their car’s front bumper, instead of drilling holes into your front bumper or using a bracket. California residents will no longer need to be concerned about their cars’ appearance being ruined by ugly front plates.
The rules for front license plates in the United States of America are set by each state. A front license plate is required in 31 of America’s 50 states. A front plate can negate much of the effort that auto manufacturers have put into designing and aerodynamically optimizing their cars. Sports cars have smaller front-end areas that are dominated by air intakes.
Since 2013, when California passed Senate Bill No. 806, the California front plate wrap was in development. 806, which gave the California DMV the task of exploring front License plate options. The bill’s Chapter 569 states that the department would be authorized to create a pilot program to evaluate alternative stickers, tabs and license plates. It will also report to the Legislature the results of the pilot program as required.
License Plate Wraps (LPW), a Huntington Beach company, suggested the license plate wrap. It was tested on 28 California Highway Patrol vehicles starting in 2015. California residents were offered a pilot program for the front plate wraps after passing the initial test. Recently, the pilot program was extended into 2023.
California residents can obtain a front plate wrap by going to LPW’s website. They will need to submit their license plate information. There are 8 options available for customers to choose from, including unique designs and important designations such as a handicap license plate.
Californians will be able to reduce the expense and invasive surgery associated with front plates, while still adhering to California’s traffic laws. This new project is a great idea and we hope it spreads to other states that need front plates.