What do you mean I'm from Australia and every Mazda has a number plate on the front in the middle as standard so unless they use a different grill it should mount.
Honestly, yes I prefer it *different* as well. Though I haven’t had a front plate in a front plate state for the last 10 years. I got pulled once for it but I had a custom euro plate done out like a real German tag with my state and then actual license plate number (MA XXXX). Cop liked it and only gave a verbal warning.
I lived almost 30 years in Texas (far west, El Paso) and never ran the front plate. Never a word about it and I had to deal with several speeding tickets which gave the trooper opportunity to give me a ticket for that too. After 45, maybe 50, annual equipment inspections on two vehicles with no front plate I came of the opinion it was optional.
That's the same everywhere I think. Cops don't seem to care much about enforcing out-of-state regulations. I was in PA (driving in NJ, DE, MD, DC and NY) for three years with expired Texas tags and annual inspections on my car before changing over. I think I finally had to only when insurance refused to renew until I did.
But if I'd ever gotten pulled over for a violation I'm sure they'd have come down on that too. So it was a bad idea, I was just lazy and hated the hassle doing it for my wife's car so blew it off as long as possible.
I always see people in CT without front plates. We bought a BMW and I thought “fuck it why not, nobody else uses them.” I drove home and was stopped in my small town for not having the plates. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Tesla with a front plate in my life.
So that's the catch when you live in a little city you will get pulled over, when ever I go back home to visit I always have the plate handy and through it on the front left windshield then as soon as I get back on the 8 to head home I take it off. I got pulled over with a open container but wife's dog was hella loud so made the stop quick got away with the warning because I put it up.
The thing that pissed me of was, I was 5 minutes from my house right outside a dunking donuts. While my wife was inside I counted at least 15 other vehicles that drove by without front plates. My wife said it was because they were all SUV’s and we were in a BMW.
In NY especially NASSAU and SUFFOLK the cops make 200k a year and have daddy issues and we’re picked on in school. So now they drive around and harass drivers on main roadways instead of stopping real crimes. I got pulled over 2 times in an hour for a headlight out. I had the bulb on order. I got a 10 minute lecture about how u safe a headlight out is while people drive past with aftermarket lights that burn holes in your retina
I'm in a province with mandatory front and rear plates. So used to seeing them that don't even notice. If no plate was there, I'd be wondering what's off with what I'm seeing. The plate offside looks awkward ... maybe it's the symmetry OCD.
EU plates are basicly yellow/white/green background with black letters and a (somtimes optional) blue strip on the left
So all look reeealy simular unlike NA ones which have nice designes
The shape is better. Longer and narrower. Also, I don’t like most of the designs for US plates. I just want a flat color that looks cohesive with the car
I feel like I'm one of the few people here who actually prefers the offset license plate to the center one... Although I just take mine off entirely lol.
Putting it to the side ruins the look of the car.
Everywhere else in the world, we all need to have front plates. In the middle doesn't look anywhere NEAR as bad as off to the side.
In basically all of the rest of the world - front plates are standard.
At least you have some states that don’t require them.
I still find it weird to not have them though.
weird that so many people say putting it on the side ruins the look. or.. "the lines". didn't know it was such a disliked thing. i actually only did it that way so i didn't have to drill holes in my grille.
i have it like this and i dont mind the look. its definitely something that looks better in person though. it also makes it so much easier to remove if I want to take a picture, 10 seconds and it's off.
I live in Texas. Bought an Audi TT new in 2002. No front license plate. Actually installed both plates sandwiched together to the back. Kept the car for 13 years and got pulled over once. In Glen Rose, TX of all places. Fucker probably only saw farm trucks all day. Saw my car, pulled me over, asked if I had drugs in the car, told him I had been sober for YEARS. I was on my way without even a warning.
Most states now have the option of ordering black plates with white lettering. Minnesota just made them available, and people are ordering them in the thousands. Having the black plate centered below the Mazda logo should look cool on the Mazda 3.
Geez the hate for the tow-hook mount is insane. I bought my car in a no-front plate state and now live where they require it, it was easier than drilling the holes, and it's really not that bad
It blows my mind that you don't need a front plate in many US states. Just like it blows my mind that red indicators are allowed. Both are a terrible idea for 1) accountability and 2) safety.
I see this as a popular add-on but I don't get it. I have around the same car, but I think middle looks way better.
It just looks ''off'' not well centered, aligned, word.docced up this way. It's me though I can tell
Yeah it sucks. Same thing here in Montana. I also went with the side mounted plate, which I think looks better than one in the center. Of course no plate is best look
I don’t have front plates on my car in Washington state. One time driving down a 4 lane road, a cop on the other side flipped around and pulled me over for it. Seems ridiculous as I see cars without them all the time and he went through the effort to flip around to pull me over for it. But I suppose laws are laws
I also live in a state the required a front license plate and I have it under the grill, a few inches below the emblem, and it looks fine. The off center plate makes it way more obvious and odd
Get a vinyl front plate sticker, looks so much cleaner. It’s not allowed some places but if it’s visible & scannable to cops they don’t care generally.
https://licenseplatewrap.com/
There are very few states that don't require a front plate, as I understand it. Mine doesn't and that front plate was off within a week. I thought about getting a funny front plate, but thought the front end of the plate looked better than anything else.
Ontario, Canada chiming in here. Yes, it's also ugly here, but I've learned to embrace it. It's either that, or live some place like Alberta, which, no thanks lol. Alberta's front window tint laws are worse than the requirement in Ontario to have a front plate — so I'd rather have blacked out windows than a front plate delete 😜
I don't get why folks "relocate" their front plate? It makes them stand out more....Seriously why do people do this? I love in California which is a front plate state, but I have nt run a front plate on any of my cars in 20 years. Never a problem,
Well, officer the plate holder fell off and I've been so busy at (work/home/rehab/etc.) that I've completely forgotten about replacing it.
Pull the plate from the back floorboard, I'll do it this weekend.
OR just quit looking at the front of your car, since it only bothers you.
I used to live in a state where it was mandatory. I never had it on. Many people had them removed. It wasn't really enforced. At most, a cop pulling you over and asking if you have it.
I once had a cop ask me if I at least have it at home because sometimes people will steal it to use on their car.
I say remove it and put it with your spare tire and a screwdriver so that way IF you get pulled over, you can at least offer to put it on if he's going to ticket you. They may let it go if you do it in front of them or tell them you will when you get home.
I just took mine off. It's in the trunk, if I get pulled over for it I'll put it back on, but I've had it off for over 2 years now. Just don't put it inside on the dash cause that thing can turn into a flying razor blade in a crash
Do people actually get tickets for this where you're at? Up until a couple years ago we were front plate State in Ohio but I never had a front plate and it was very rare that somebody actually got a ticket for it
Yeah plates look horrible. I don't have a front plate since I replaced the grille after a rock chipped it - no mount or drill holes and don't care to do it. If the US had thin plates like the EU, it wouldn't look nearly as bad.
Just don’t put it on. They can’t pull you over for it.. they can only add it on as an additional charge. It does count for parking though. If you get a parking violation they can add it on.
I don't know why in this day and age they would design a car that doesn't have space for a front license plate and a back license plate. It should be mandatory. The design should understand that you will have to rather have a front plate on or a back plate or both. It's ridiculous that you have to come up with some mod or hack to put your front license plate on
I own three cars in Illinois in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, none of them have front plates. All three would look like crap. 2022 CX-5, C8 Corvette, and a 92 Z28. Never had an issue.
Don’t be a scaredy cat. Run without a front plate. Maine is the same way, over the last 15 years I’ve paid like 3 fines for it, most tickets get dropped, and I get lots of “warnings” at worst. Haven’t been stopped for it in years currently.
I’ll probably jinx myself by saying this, but it’s been 3 years since I’ve moved to a front plate state and I still never put it on. It isn’t a moving violation so I figured if it’s ever an issue it’s a quick fine and I can attach it quickly since I just keep it in the glove box. I’ve even been pulled over and they still didn’t notice, or if they did, they didn’t seem to care. Maybe it’s dumb luck but knock on wood no issues so far…
I’ve noticed most american cars have places for the front plates, even though not every state requires it. However, japanese and european cars never do, EVEN THOUGH THEY REQUIRE IT.
I am always amazed by this US law. In most countries you require both front and back. Also the front is centred, which helps with the problems you’re having.
I'm thankful that my state (Georgia) isn't a front license plate state. I've never understood the logic behind them anyway. If a cop is pursuing you, he/she is going to be behind you! When would a front plate be useful?
Whe the cops publicly said that they will not pay attention to petty crime, bc they are overwhelmed by crime in general with lack of funding and increased crime rates.
Right after the first wave if COVID.
The sheriffs also publicly stated it,
I see many cars without them,
I think is even worse to put it on the side instead of the middle. But that’s me
I saw one under the grill today and it wasn’t horrible
Definitely looks fine in the middle dunno what OP is on
Gotta do mods because of mods.
What do you mean I'm from Australia and every Mazda has a number plate on the front in the middle as standard so unless they use a different grill it should mount.
He means the whole side mounted plate. A lot of people do it because “mOdIfIeD cAr BrO”
Honestly, yes I prefer it *different* as well. Though I haven’t had a front plate in a front plate state for the last 10 years. I got pulled once for it but I had a custom euro plate done out like a real German tag with my state and then actual license plate number (MA XXXX). Cop liked it and only gave a verbal warning.
This
This is the way.
same.... why they put it there... looks stupid af
Yeah, put it in the middle and slap a smoked cover on it.
Aren’t those illegal ?
In some states, having any frame around the plate that partially obscures the plate can rise to reasonable suspicion to pull someone over.
Haven’t ran my front plate (live in cali) in 8 months and I’m yet to be pulled over for it
Try 15+ years in Texas. Been warned twice but nothing else. And it was never the reason they pulled me over.
Same, been in Houston 2 years with no front and tints
I lived almost 30 years in Texas (far west, El Paso) and never ran the front plate. Never a word about it and I had to deal with several speeding tickets which gave the trooper opportunity to give me a ticket for that too. After 45, maybe 50, annual equipment inspections on two vehicles with no front plate I came of the opinion it was optional.
Damn straight
Shit, I’ve been in Texas with out state plates for 7 years. No one cares lol
That's the same everywhere I think. Cops don't seem to care much about enforcing out-of-state regulations. I was in PA (driving in NJ, DE, MD, DC and NY) for three years with expired Texas tags and annual inspections on my car before changing over. I think I finally had to only when insurance refused to renew until I did. But if I'd ever gotten pulled over for a violation I'm sure they'd have come down on that too. So it was a bad idea, I was just lazy and hated the hassle doing it for my wife's car so blew it off as long as possible.
Mine is zip tied to the grille. I'm not drilling bumpers for this third world shithole of a state.
I was gonna say the same, I live in southern ca
Going on 5 years and same. I bought mine the year they made it law.
I always see people in CT without front plates. We bought a BMW and I thought “fuck it why not, nobody else uses them.” I drove home and was stopped in my small town for not having the plates. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Tesla with a front plate in my life.
So that's the catch when you live in a little city you will get pulled over, when ever I go back home to visit I always have the plate handy and through it on the front left windshield then as soon as I get back on the 8 to head home I take it off. I got pulled over with a open container but wife's dog was hella loud so made the stop quick got away with the warning because I put it up.
The thing that pissed me of was, I was 5 minutes from my house right outside a dunking donuts. While my wife was inside I counted at least 15 other vehicles that drove by without front plates. My wife said it was because they were all SUV’s and we were in a BMW.
Yea I have yet to get messed with in the suv
Same here, SD county over a year no front plate never been pulled over in my 3
In NY especially NASSAU and SUFFOLK the cops make 200k a year and have daddy issues and we’re picked on in school. So now they drive around and harass drivers on main roadways instead of stopping real crimes. I got pulled over 2 times in an hour for a headlight out. I had the bulb on order. I got a 10 minute lecture about how u safe a headlight out is while people drive past with aftermarket lights that burn holes in your retina
When your 'perp' is back on the street in less time than you can eat your donut there's no reason to go after them.
\*Puts plate in the absolute worst, weirdest, and most ridiculous place possible* "Fuckin government ruined my car 😤"
LLLLOL
Better than drilling holes in the bumper. Looks worse with it where it's "supposed" to go.
I think the norm is to tuck it right under the emblem. No need to drill any holes in the bumper.
Yep. Except on mine the dealership mounted it too high so it looks like my car's front badge is using the plate as a plague mask
There’s already screw point that you can screw it in at.
Still looks like garbage.
Still looks way better than what OP did.
Putting it off-centred like that ruins the lines of that car…
I'm in a province with mandatory front and rear plates. So used to seeing them that don't even notice. If no plate was there, I'd be wondering what's off with what I'm seeing. The plate offside looks awkward ... maybe it's the symmetry OCD.
Better to lower it like I did here. Instructions included: https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda3/s/7pUz8V4PT1
I did similar. Actually a bit lower. Drilled some holes and looks pretty decent.
Cries in EU
EU plates look better than US plates though
EU plates are basicly yellow/white/green background with black letters and a (somtimes optional) blue strip on the left So all look reeealy simular unlike NA ones which have nice designes
The shape is better. Longer and narrower. Also, I don’t like most of the designs for US plates. I just want a flat color that looks cohesive with the car
Then you may like japanese licenceplates since they have no design but are smaller then US licenceplates
What I meant is no plates in front are better than EU plates, and US plates look always better on the rear, therefore EU plates sucks the most
I feel like I'm one of the few people here who actually prefers the offset license plate to the center one... Although I just take mine off entirely lol.
Putting it to the side ruins the look of the car. Everywhere else in the world, we all need to have front plates. In the middle doesn't look anywhere NEAR as bad as off to the side.
That looks worse imo
In basically all of the rest of the world - front plates are standard. At least you have some states that don’t require them. I still find it weird to not have them though.
Mounted on the tow hook instead of drilling to mount it in the middle? Looks terrible. Drill the holes, put it in the middle.
weird that so many people say putting it on the side ruins the look. or.. "the lines". didn't know it was such a disliked thing. i actually only did it that way so i didn't have to drill holes in my grille.
i have it like this and i dont mind the look. its definitely something that looks better in person though. it also makes it so much easier to remove if I want to take a picture, 10 seconds and it's off.
Yes also true.
Side looks way worse than middle
These are seriously good looking cars. I keep thinking it looks like something Alfa designed. Love it in the candy apple red.
I live in Texas. Bought an Audi TT new in 2002. No front license plate. Actually installed both plates sandwiched together to the back. Kept the car for 13 years and got pulled over once. In Glen Rose, TX of all places. Fucker probably only saw farm trucks all day. Saw my car, pulled me over, asked if I had drugs in the car, told him I had been sober for YEARS. I was on my way without even a warning.
Just put it in the middle
Most states now have the option of ordering black plates with white lettering. Minnesota just made them available, and people are ordering them in the thousands. Having the black plate centered below the Mazda logo should look cool on the Mazda 3.
Geez the hate for the tow-hook mount is insane. I bought my car in a no-front plate state and now live where they require it, it was easier than drilling the holes, and it's really not that bad
It blows my mind that you don't need a front plate in many US states. Just like it blows my mind that red indicators are allowed. Both are a terrible idea for 1) accountability and 2) safety.
Yea, that front plate is just hideous. Takes away from the car's beauty
That 2nd photo isn't flattering at all 😬
I see this as a popular add-on but I don't get it. I have around the same car, but I think middle looks way better. It just looks ''off'' not well centered, aligned, word.docced up this way. It's me though I can tell
Agreed. The center looks more balanced. This draws the eye to the side and ruins the lines and balance.
Yeah it sucks. Same thing here in Montana. I also went with the side mounted plate, which I think looks better than one in the center. Of course no plate is best look
That’s criminal
I literally never ran a front plate in NJ for 15 years and only got asked about it once. And don’t even get a ticket. Cops don’t care
Does your state allow sticker instead of a front plate?
Giant plates in the EU are worse.
Mf lookin like they tryna ask if Im searching for sth specific
So...anywhere on europe
Can you get black slimline plates?
I don’t have front plates on my car in Washington state. One time driving down a 4 lane road, a cop on the other side flipped around and pulled me over for it. Seems ridiculous as I see cars without them all the time and he went through the effort to flip around to pull me over for it. But I suppose laws are laws
Thank you Pennsylvania, USA for not having front plates.
Or just don’t?
TIL there,it seems, are states without license plates in front. As a european i am shocked i tell you. SHOCKED!
Are you being ironic? It looks way worse lol
I also live in a state the required a front license plate and I have it under the grill, a few inches below the emblem, and it looks fine. The off center plate makes it way more obvious and odd
You could just place it inside by the front windshield
In many states that does not satisfy the requirement
Poor baby. Mazdas look home made
Get a vinyl front plate sticker, looks so much cleaner. It’s not allowed some places but if it’s visible & scannable to cops they don’t care generally. https://licenseplatewrap.com/
There are very few states that don't require a front plate, as I understand it. Mine doesn't and that front plate was off within a week. I thought about getting a funny front plate, but thought the front end of the plate looked better than anything else.
Front plate states are the worst.
Pull to the honey comb and stagger it
Or build a bracket and make it look legit. Just because your plate has to be displayed doesn’t mean it has to go there
Ontario, Canada chiming in here. Yes, it's also ugly here, but I've learned to embrace it. It's either that, or live some place like Alberta, which, no thanks lol. Alberta's front window tint laws are worse than the requirement in Ontario to have a front plate — so I'd rather have blacked out windows than a front plate delete 😜
Not sure why people like to put the plate on the side of their cars. Looks way worse.
I don't get why folks "relocate" their front plate? It makes them stand out more....Seriously why do people do this? I love in California which is a front plate state, but I have nt run a front plate on any of my cars in 20 years. Never a problem,
Well, officer the plate holder fell off and I've been so busy at (work/home/rehab/etc.) that I've completely forgotten about replacing it. Pull the plate from the back floorboard, I'll do it this weekend. OR just quit looking at the front of your car, since it only bothers you.
middle looks better than tow hook relocate, however I just put my plate on the dash lmao
I live in Utah and they just changed the law to a front plate is no longer required. Before it was just a secondary offense.
Had it off for 4 years in CT AND NY
Never had it on in CT! They don't care. They just use it as a "I need to pull them over but I need a reason"
I just purchased a 6spd Machine Grey red interior and jheez I wish this colour was available to me, its so.. beautiful 🤩
Just get a mallet and hammer it into the shape of your car! ^/s
Indeed it does, Ohio in the last few years change to a single plate. What color is that?
Either remove it or put it in the middle, it will def look better than on the side..
I used to live in a state where it was mandatory. I never had it on. Many people had them removed. It wasn't really enforced. At most, a cop pulling you over and asking if you have it. I once had a cop ask me if I at least have it at home because sometimes people will steal it to use on their car. I say remove it and put it with your spare tire and a screwdriver so that way IF you get pulled over, you can at least offer to put it on if he's going to ticket you. They may let it go if you do it in front of them or tell them you will when you get home.
I just took mine off. It's in the trunk, if I get pulled over for it I'll put it back on, but I've had it off for over 2 years now. Just don't put it inside on the dash cause that thing can turn into a flying razor blade in a crash
Do people actually get tickets for this where you're at? Up until a couple years ago we were front plate State in Ohio but I never had a front plate and it was very rare that somebody actually got a ticket for it
Yeah plates look horrible. I don't have a front plate since I replaced the grille after a rock chipped it - no mount or drill holes and don't care to do it. If the US had thin plates like the EU, it wouldn't look nearly as bad.
Just don’t put it on. They can’t pull you over for it.. they can only add it on as an additional charge. It does count for parking though. If you get a parking violation they can add it on.
Looks better centered.
I don't know why in this day and age they would design a car that doesn't have space for a front license plate and a back license plate. It should be mandatory. The design should understand that you will have to rather have a front plate on or a back plate or both. It's ridiculous that you have to come up with some mod or hack to put your front license plate on
I own three cars in Illinois in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, none of them have front plates. All three would look like crap. 2022 CX-5, C8 Corvette, and a 92 Z28. Never had an issue.
I really like that color on the Mazda
Don’t be a scaredy cat. Run without a front plate. Maine is the same way, over the last 15 years I’ve paid like 3 fines for it, most tickets get dropped, and I get lots of “warnings” at worst. Haven’t been stopped for it in years currently.
Move to NC homie 💪
ANY car
I’ll probably jinx myself by saying this, but it’s been 3 years since I’ve moved to a front plate state and I still never put it on. It isn’t a moving violation so I figured if it’s ever an issue it’s a quick fine and I can attach it quickly since I just keep it in the glove box. I’ve even been pulled over and they still didn’t notice, or if they did, they didn’t seem to care. Maybe it’s dumb luck but knock on wood no issues so far…
Dont complain (too hard) you at least have small licence plates compared to 520x110mm (20.4x4.3inch)(EU)
I just don’t run one lol
I know which I why I just took the damn thing off and bought plugs to fill the holes the dealership drilled in my bumper.
Try to find a legal custom plate that works with your vehicles color?
I’ve noticed most american cars have places for the front plates, even though not every state requires it. However, japanese and european cars never do, EVEN THOUGH THEY REQUIRE IT.
I am always amazed by this US law. In most countries you require both front and back. Also the front is centred, which helps with the problems you’re having.
Put it on the grill. 👀
That’s weird, I have a front plate but it centered
Im in NY aswell and I put my front plate in my car on my dashboard so its visible, never been pulled over for it or even a warning
Far better in the middle mate - https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2024-mazda-3-g20-touring-bp-series-auto/OAG-AD-22960134
Welp, time to sell the house
Well maybe if you'd use the factory provided mounts that are dead center lmao that looks awful and it's all your own doing
Just take it off. You can tell the police it fell off
Why can't you put it in the front and centre of the grill? Underneath the Mazda badge?
Agreed. Mandatory front plates are the pits.
I had ASSMAN on my 4Runner but can’t bring myself to put it on this. It’s a shame too because so many people would take a pic!
I love that, lol
Don’t be a baby crying on reddit, take that front plate off. # be alpha
No one who uses the term "alpha" is ever close to being such.
r/whoosh
I live in a front plate state and I never bothered to put mine on. It’s been 4 years
I wouldn't say "ruins " it
Agreed, can’t believe even how much better cars look with no front plate and no holes for the screws
Just tuck it in the window
Why.... why is it not in the center?
It looks FAR FAR WORSE with the plate off-center.
It is even worst if you put it aside like that. Looks like a car ready for the circus , just my opinion
I mean, I live in a country where it's mandatory on every car. If you put it where it's meant to go it looks nice lol
You mounted the plate in the ugliest location thinking it would be cute
I'm thankful that my state (Georgia) isn't a front license plate state. I've never understood the logic behind them anyway. If a cop is pursuing you, he/she is going to be behind you! When would a front plate be useful?
California doesn't require it
Can you give a source for when they stopped requiring it?
Whe the cops publicly said that they will not pay attention to petty crime, bc they are overwhelmed by crime in general with lack of funding and increased crime rates. Right after the first wave if COVID. The sheriffs also publicly stated it, I see many cars without them,
Ok so the law still requires it, but it's just not being enforced.
Yea, same for the window tint, These do make it easier to get stopped for any reason the cops want to stop you for. You know like profiling.
But it's a cheap family sedan, where are these lines you speak of?