How do you guys mount your US license plate on an imported European Classic Mini? Is there a place that sells the adapter for the front/rear mount? Can you put your US license plate inside the rear window and mount a Euro-style license plate (customized with the same letter/number as your US license plate) instead?

TIA,
=-Tjeng-Bo->

 

1. Check the details of your state laws. Do you need a front plate? Altho my state requires 2 normally, if registered as an antique you can run only the back. (altho I carry a copy of the code section in the car having been stopped for missing front plate). Not needing a US plate I run a fake brit plate up there.

2. In the back I have a MK-I boot and appropriate UK plate mount. A drilled two holes in the UK mount to accept screws for the bottom of a standard US plate and attach it that way immediately above the upward pointing light. The higher plate does interfere with the 'hang' feature of the MK I mount so I am considering relocating the US plate to the rear window and running a UK plate for show....

 

In illinois, IF you are registered as an ANTIQUE and carry the "real" plates in the car, you can run the "historic" plate on the car.

I have regular plates on my Mini. I just notched the bottom of the plate to fit around the light, and the swing out bracket works fine.

I was able to notch the plate, because there is nothing written there that I was interfering with. Just in case, I folded the notch back and did not cut the tab off, that way if I do get any grief from the police, I can always fold the tab back and just mount the plate a bit differently.

John

 

If an officer wants to stop you, I believe he can. When I lived in Ill a friend decided an oval lic' plate would be cool. He snipped away, never touching any printing. Got him a ticket quick cuz they have (had?) a law that said you can not deface or modify the plate.... Also why those grey covers some put on their plates are marked as not street legal. You are 'defacing' the plate.

Unfort' I could not notch a VA antique plate in that way cuz that's where it says 'antique'. I could loosen the light and drop the plate down but then the light would cover the word and 'gotcha'. I know some enforcers look cuz like I said I've resorted to carrying a copy of the section of the code that gives the front plate exemption. As one officer (new) told me, "in class they told us everyone had to have a front plate." He looked it up in his book to verify mine wasn't a fake then apologized for pulling me over.

 

Oh I agree, they can still get me for a "defaced" plate, but since it is obviously a "good" plate I am not too worried.

It actually looks like it runs behind the light, maybe that is what saved me.

The alternative, is to fix the "flap" in place so it can't move, then just put the plate on it. Afterall, how often do you plan to pile luggage on the boot lid and drive with it open?

The only other car I ever saw with that feature was my Dad's 1956 Ford Station wagon.

John

 

Mini Mania sells an extension for relocating the plate light that will let you install the US tags and still allow the mounting plate hinge to work.

 

Here's the way it works with the factory extension for the light -- works well

 

Well, I live in Texas, where it IS required to have a front and rear license plate.

Funny thing is, according to this Texas Administrative Code, "State law only requires that the plates be displayed to the front and rear; there is no requirement for the plates to be attached."

So I guess I can put the rear license plate inside the window and proceed with my plan of ordering a Euro-style license plate to put on the boot.

=-Tjeng-Bo->

P.S. I may have to carry a copy of that code just like OKeefe suggested...

 

here in missouri, i'm required to have a front plate but don't have one. as for the rear, i have a british plate and have used plastic zip ties to tie the plate over the euro plate.

 

Well it is funny you brought this post up. We are Amreicans living here in England and we had a 2002 Chevy Avalanche, now it is sold. When we got here we couldn't figure out how we were gonna put on a long UK licence plate on the truck. Then someone told us out in town they make US Style licence plates with the UK registration on them. I wonder if there is a company in the States that does the opposite?

 

I just took off my British rear plate and drilled two holes in the trunk for the American plate. Technically, I could use only the British plate but I don't feel like dealing with the hassle.

 

Tjeng-Bo,

I've lived in Texas (DFW area) for 35 years and I've never displayed a front tag and never been stopped for it either. It is a requirement that not's really enforced unless you're acting a fool in which case the cops will use any excuse they can to stop you and do a search of your vehicle.

By the way the DFW chapter of the Mini Owners of Texas are getting together this Sunday at the Ginger Man Pub in Dallas.

www.gingermanpub.com located at 2718 Boll St. Dallas, TX. 75204

Bring your Mini and join us lunch and spirits. Opens at 1:00 pm.

www.miniownersoftexas.com

 

for both front and rear I pre drilled a couple of holes, and then secured the plates with a few self-tapping hex screws. passed inspection, so I'm happy

 

I mounted my rear plate in the window, and left off the front plate. I know that it is illegal and I could get a ticket, but the rear plate is very visible and I wanted Euro plates. It would take a pretty cranky cop to ticket me in a car like this. I think that most cops don't car as long as they can read the plate when they pull up behind you.

 

i suspend mine from suction cup hooks in the rear window

 

My Mini is a New Zealand import. The NZ registration plates have about 8 holes in them. Lined one hole up with my Alabama plate and drilled another hole in the plate to match up to one on the NZ plate. Worked pretty well and I didn't screw up the NZ plate.

 

Our Cabrio Mini still has the European plates on the car, ordered personalized tags matching the Euro plate numbers and put the personalized state plate under the floor mat. Been driving it that way for 2.5 years and not been stopped yet. Even going to out of state Mini events haven't had any problems.

 

Madoc, did you research what the AL law is regarding US vs. Euro plates? I just bought a classic that has GB plates on it. Before I spend an hour at the local license office trying to get an answer, I wondered if you already knew what the requirmeents are.

 

Shorn:
To the best of my knowledge, you'll need to run an Alabama plate. The state does make allowances for foreign vehicles owned by foreign nationals, but I believe that is only a year. You can try keeping your Alabama plate in your car and hope the nice officer that stops you is a Mini fan...

Madoc

 

Shorn:
Try this web site to see if you can find your answers - or maybe new questions.

http://www.ador.state.al.us/motorveh...ation_faq.html

 

It seems in Oklahoma, in order to display a plate on the rear of your car, it must be issued by the Oklahoma Tax Commisson. However, that does appear to be the only requirement. I am thinking if I pester the OTC enough, they'll eventually find some way to "issue" me a 110mm by 520mm license plate. The question would be will e-mails be enough, or will I have to start writing on paper and finding out phone numbers?

 

you can see in this pic how it looks when hanging it with suction cups......more than enough visibility for anyone behind you to see

 

Adding to this, what about CA?