Rusty No More: How to upgrade your license plate screws.

[Angus]

Friends, as hard as we work to keep our vehicles shine and clean, often our OEM license plate screws go overlooked and rust into painful little eye sores. I’m certainly guilty of letting this happen.

But enough is enough – today I decided to replace the rusting little menaces on my wife’s 2012 Subaru Impreza while at the same time adding a nice little anti-theft layer.

The oxidized culprits:





Corroded offenders removed:


License plate and mounting area cleaned:


New Stainless Steel Security Screws from Lowes (~$5):


I went with slightly longer screws then the OEM ones because I used spacer to keep the new license plate frame from touching the paint.

What makes these screws secure is without this hollow point star drive bit they can’t be removed:

(~$2.50, also from Lowes)

See the little hole in the middle:


Since I was going to trouble, simply replacing the screws wasn’t an option. The cheap-o license plate frame was starting to rust and needed to go as well:


With a brandnew stainless steel frame in hand, a quick layer of BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond Metal Acrylic Sealant is added, and the screws are secured & guaranteed not to rust out anytime soon:


Done!


Hope this little DIY helps free you from Rusty License Plate Syndrome too.

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Nicely done Ian. Shows attention to detail. Much better looking than rusted bolts.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mask]

Nice number plate & DIY ^^

 

[SameGuy]

Nice tip! Of course, if you can get a Security Torx bit at Lowes, so can anybody else! OTOH, a Security Torx Plus (five lobed) bit? Somewhat harder to get... But because it's the same type of fastener used for airbags, successful thieves always carry them around as well.

I've mentioned before that I try to keep an assortment of stainless screws and bolts on hand to replace rusty ones on any of the cars I do.

 

[oldmodman]

Here in California all that get's stolen is the sticker with the year on it.

 

[Goin Rogue]

Here in California all that get's stolen is the sticker with the year on it.

I slice mine with a knife/razor blade

 

[Don M]

I slice mine with a knife/razor blade

In Ohio, they are made to tear if you try to peel them off.

 

[c8n]

I simply painted the screws black

 

[DetailKitty]

Well done, that would drive me nuts too.

 

[99monguse]

Or do what I did. gpo to AutoZo** and get a pack of 4 stainless screws

 

[wdmaccord]

Great suggestion and thanks for sharing!! How about if you want black? Is it best to get stainless and paint them, or are there some good powder coated options out there? I know some of the solid black ones you can get will still rust (molded black metal, not painted)

 

[Kyle_Elantra]

I love the idea, but you covered them up!

 

[Angus]

Nicely done Ian. Shows attention to detail. Much better looking than rusted bolts.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Mike. Appreciate the kind words :xyxthumbs:

Nice number plate & DIY ^^

Thanks! I hope you found it helpful.

Nice tip! Of course, if you can get a Security Torx bit at Lowes, so can anybody else! OTOH, a Security Torx Plus (five lobed) bit? Somewhat harder to get... But because it's the same type of fastener used for airbags, successful thieves always carry them around as well.

I've mentioned before that I try to keep an assortment of stainless screws and bolts on hand to replace rusty ones on any of the cars I do.

Very nice touch to replace customers rusty screws with nice new ones. It really is the little things that add up to a nice big picture

Here in California all that get's stolen is the sticker with the year on it.

PA's registration stickers are impossible to remove without cutting them off of the plate. They just tear apart.

I slice mine with a knife/razor blade

:dblthumb2:

In Ohio, they are made to tear if you try to peel them off.

:dblthumb2:

I simply painted the screws black

That works!

Well done, that would drive me nuts too.

Thanks, Monica!

Or do what I did. gpo to AutoZo** and get a pack of 4 stainless screws

:dblthumb2:

 

[Angus]

Great suggestion and thanks for sharing!! How about if you want black? Is it best to get stainless and paint them, or are there some good powder coated options out there? I know some of the solid black ones you can get will still rust (molded black metal, not painted)

Thanks! I'm glad you liked my diy.

I'm sure if you looked hard enough you could find some nice powered coated stainless steel options. If it was me, I'd just grab a can of black spray paint.

I love the idea, but you covered them up!

Thanks! Haha, I know...

Had the new license plate frame not come with those little caps I would have been happy without them. But since it did, I used them. :dblthumb2:

 

[SameGuy]

BTW, you take great pictures!

 

[Angus]

BTW, you take great pictures!

Thanks, Francesco! My iPhone 6 camera is pretty good huh!?!

 

[4u2nvinmtl]

Changed mine out yesterday. Thanks to the OP of this post!

 

[Angus]

Awesome! I'm happy to hear my post inspired you!!

 

[ZimRandy]

I replaced the bolts on my Impala for the same reasons. They were getting nasty and I wanted more security for my plate. I don't want to lose my HAULNSS plate! :dblthumb2:

Randy

 

[Calendyr]

Been trying to find good screws locally and I think I will just order them online because they seem impossible to find at local stores.

What I want is a 1/4 X 3/4 inox screw with a torx head if possible. Can't find that size anywhere, I read several time this was the standard screw size for license plates although many of the texts I read mention that each car company may use different size.

I wanted to purchase about 50 screws so I can swap out rusted ones on Customer cars, I think it's a great service and it only costs a few cents.

Found a place online so I will very likelly order there this week.

What do you guys think about going with Torx heads instead of Philipps, Robinson or flat?