Rear Number Plate Holder

[Ron240]

My car has the rear number plate inside a holder which is standard fit to all new cars sold by my dealer.
I am thinking of changing my plates in the near future but I cannot figure out how to remove the plate from the holder, and there is no visible joins anywhere round the edges.
Does anybody know what to do because I dont want to just randomly pull it?

 

[EmilysDad]

My guess would be double sided sticky tape

 

[Ron240]

My guess would be double sided sticky tape

But surely the plate should be removable from the holder without having to tear the whole thing off?
That to me defeats the purpose of a holder.
I really hope this is not the case.

 

[SmartAmg]

My guess would be double sided sticky tape

I agree, what else can it be, no visible screws, no visible gaps in the holder, must be tape.

 

[Blobcat]

I’d take a guess that the black trim you can see is press fit to the back of the holder.

I‘d try a trim tool in the bottom corner where the plate meets the holder and gently turn the tool and see if the holder opens up

 

[Slartibardfast1]

My car has the rear number plate inside a holder which is standard fit to all new cars sold by my dealer.
I am thinking of changing my plates in the near future but I cannot figure out how to remove the plate from the holder, and there is no visible joins anywhere round the edges.
Does anybody know what to do because I dont want to just randomly pull it?

As previously mentioned, it's stuck to the holder with double sided tape. Use dental floss or fishing line to cut the adhesive.

 

[MissyD]

Is it one of these holders?

 

[Ron240]

I’d take a guess that the black trim you can see is press fit to the back of the holder.

I‘d try a trim tool in the bottom corner where the plate meets the holder and gently turn the tool and see if the holder opens up

This was my initial thought and really the only thing that would make sense.
I do have a trim tool so will try what you suggest and see what happens.

 

[Ron240]

Is it one of these holders?

View attachment 81766

It certainly could be....it looks like it.

 

[mioba]

The front frame folds up or down and clips into the back.
The seam is very small and you can easily think its a plastic weld.
Try a little tug at the front frame or use trim tools. They are very resilient to not make it easy for tea leaves nicking your number plate. Usually getting the first part to unclip is the key, the rest usually follow fairly easily.

 

[mioba]

Will you change your username if you change your plates....

 

[Ron240]

Will you change your username if you change your plates....

No because even if I do go ahead with this I will definitely be retaining the number.
I have had it for almost 25 years and have no intentions of ever parting with it.

 

[s5tuart]

Is it one of these holders?

View attachment 81766

Probably! Good spot

 

[Rotorhead500]

As per Missy D, my current, and last two, holders are hinged at the top.

You need to get your fingers under and behind bottom edge, and almost unpeel to unclip.

 

[Manc Rick]

Just changed my plates, same holder as supplied by dealer, but mine has no hinge, just a frame that clips on. Large clip on right hand side which snapped in the cold as soon as I removed it!

 

[Ron240]

I gave this a try today in preparation for when I change my plates...
I noticed a small hole half way down the right hand side so i poked a pin in it to see if it done anything, but it didnt.
Then I tried as suggested and pulled on the bottom right corner which did release the clips and I could tell the rest should easily come away, but I didnt want to do that at the moment so tried to clip it back in again.
Initially I couldnt get it to clip in and I saw a small foldable part in the same area of the hole I noticed earlier.
After A bit of talking to myself and swearing I managed to clip in the bottom but the foldable part on the right had broken off (still dont know what its purpose is) with the result that the botom right of the holder is not sitting flush with the plate.
I am planning to contact my dealer to see if I can buy the front part of the surround from them, and if they are feeling generous they might give me one for free.

 

[Manc Rick]

if they are feeling generous they might give me one for free.

Haha, good one

 

[JBell]

Can't stand these bulky plate holders, utterly pointless, just stick the plates on (Unless you have the mounting posts)

 

[Ron240]

Can't stand these bulky plate holders, utterly pointless, just stick the plates on (Unless you have the mounting posts)

My holder is not bulky at all, it is actually quite neat and little bigger than the plate itself. IMO my plate in the holder looks better than a bare plate on its own.
Generally speaking I think holders are a good idea because it means plates do not need to be drilled and you dont need to faff about with single use tape and the need to get the plate sitting just right first time.
The only downside is when the holders are not so easy to access as in this case.

 

[Ron240]

I tackled the job of changing my plates this afternoon, and it was not without its incidents of swearing and cut fingers.
First of all the rear plate holder turned out to be a full surround that comes off leaving the plate inside the holder, but my dealer went above and beyond by also sticking the plate inside.
I placed the new plate inside the holder but then couldnt initially figure out how the surround located back on. I expected it to just clip on the way I pulled it off but this wasnt working, then i figured out it required a sliding motion to lock it in place. Honestly I still dont know the precise method but it seems secure around 90% so I will leave it at that.

My front plate was in an open holder with 2 screws so seemed simple enough, but I soon discovered after removing the screws that the plate was still solidly fixed...yes it was stuck inside but with many more adhesive strips. I have attached a photo of my original front plate.
I would never normally have discovered all of this but it reveals an attention to detail by my dealer that should be commended.

My car does not look like my car without my number plate, and I need to go back to 2012 before I seen any car I have owned without displaying (however briefly) my number.