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How to Design a License Plate Holder

by Carole Vansickle

  • Overview

    Designing a license plate holder sounds simple, but there are some important factors to consider before you purchase a custom design license-plate holder. Legal issues are at stake when you mount your license plate holder, so it is vital to cover all your bases before you bring your design to life. Custom-designed license-plate holders can express your individuality, and let everyone who sees your car know just how you feel about your car and life.
 

  • Step 1

    Measure your car's license plate mount to be sure that you design a holder that will fit in the space. Some mounts are flat and can hold highly customized license-plate holders, while others cannot accommodate a holder that extends past the edge of the license plate itself.

  • Step 2

    Transfer your measurements to the piece of paper. Use the ruler to make a guide that indicates the largest dimensions possible for your license plate.

  • Step 3

    Check out state and local guidelines on what can and cannot be obscured by a license plate holder. In most areas, you cannot obscure the license plate number, state or expiration date. Some states also require that you keep the county name exposed (many common designs partially or completely cover this), and if you have any type of special tag, such as a handicapped tag, you must ensure that this symbol is fully exposed.

  • Step 4

    Use the guidelines about exposure and your license plate to mark on your license plate template where you can design and where you must leave exposed. Since your license plate template is drawn to scale, you can mark on the plate--to scale--where the exposed items are located.

  • Step 5

    Select a design shape and scheme. Most license plate holders are fairly straightforward and use a plain rectangular pattern that is decorated in some way. However, you may have the option of picking out silhouettes for the license plate holder, such as trucker girls, bunny ears or paw prints, in addition to the color you want. The color and silhouette will also determine whether you get a plastic, metallic or metal license-plate holder. Colors usually require plastic, while serious silhouette work needs metal.

  • Step 6

    Decide on wording. Many people like to write on their license plate holders. You can customize them with a name or nickname, a school slogan or a favorite saying. If you are giving the license plate holder as a present, you might want to write something meaningful on it that will have special significance to the recipient, such as "Love You Forever" or "This is only the beginning..."

  • Step 7

    Look at license-plate holder options online that fit the basics of your custom design. This will help you determine if you will like your custom design once it is implemented. You may notice things that you like or do not like that will lead you to change your design.
  • 1
  • Ruler Pencil Paper License plate from your state
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Paper
  • License plate from your state
  • Many websites will let you design and order custom license plates. If you do not want to do this, you may need to contact a specialty shop that will implement your license-plate holder design for you while you wait.
  • Many websites will let you design and order custom license plates. If you do not want to do this, you may need to contact a specialty shop that will implement your license-plate holder design for you while you wait.

References & Resources

     
     
 
 

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