The DVLA have sent back the documentation and I can now put my private plate on my car, the issue is that the front plate is mounted with screws as it is slightly curved. Halfords won't recommend mounting the plates with stickies on a curved surface, no matter how slightly it is curved.

So has any one got recommendations on drilling the front plate without cracking it? I am planning on using the old plate as a template.

Cheers

The DVLA have sent back the documentation and I can now put my private plate on my car' date=' the issue is that the front plate is mounted with screws as it is slightly curved. Halfords won't recommend mounting the plates with stickies on a curved surface, no matter how slightly it is curved.

So has any one got recommendations on drilling the front plate without cracking it? I am planning on using the old plate as a template.

Cheers[/quote']

Put some tape on the new plate wre you are going to drill. Put old plate on top and drill with a good sharp drill.Drill from the front of the plate. When mounting new plate put a sticky fixer in the middle so it won't rattle Hope this helps...... Andy

i have just used sticky pads from halfords to mount my front plate on my furby. put a few spots of no more nails on to and its worked a treat.

Isn't no more nails soluble in water?

you will find the plate will not crack on a slow drill speed with out to much downwards pressure... the thing more likly to crack it is if you over tighten the screws when you screw it on the car.... use your existsing number plate as a template...

Joel

The dealer fitted number plate remained stuck to my car for a day before it started falling off. I've since refitted it with sticky pads and it hasn't budged.

If you're going to stick it ensure that both the back of the number plate and number plate mount are clean by wiping over with white spirit.

If you've got a paint stripper hot air gun or possibly a hair dryer try gentley heating the number plate face up with the centre resting on someting solid, a brick works quite well, and the ends unsupported to give the number plate a slight bend. You might need to apply some pressure to the ends to help it along and prevent it from returning to its original shape when cool.

Isn't no more nails soluble in water?

Not the No more nails I use...

I wouldnt recommend using no more nails, you will never get the plate off without having to snap it off :thumbdwn:

Put some tape on the new plate wre you are going to drill. Put old plate on top and drill with a good sharp drill.Drill from the front of the plate. When mounting new plate put a sticky fixer in the middle so it won't rattle Hope this helps...... Andy

Also, drill in to a piece of scrap wood and make sure you hold the plate firmly down. I have (when not being careful) caused the reflective backing to start to come away from the plastic. Once this happens, it's only a matter of time before the plates start looking scruffy.

(Mind, I prefer stuck on plates - had loads of cars with them on, never had one fall off on me. Now there's tempting fate!!)

Thanks for all the advice. I taped the old plate on top of the new plate and then drilled it, using a useful bit of wood as a backing (the shed floor). They are now on the car and look the nuts.

Now they are the on the car I have noticed that they are really badly put together, all the letters are at different heights (only a few millimetres in it, but I can see it). Serves me right for putting the Halfords ones straight on the car that my parents wrapped up for me (they bought the plate). Looks like I will have to place an order with fancy plates.

i know you shoudlnt show in any way what your plates on here but give the genral jist of your personal plate is a name one, intials, VRS one maybe?

Joel

The first part is my birthday - so prefix letter is the Month and then the number is the day.

And the 3 letters are my initials.

wow that souns like a cool plate... i bet that wasnt to expensive either.

Joel

It was less than 300 quid, which is about as cheap as they get.

SWMBO wants a plate with AMY on it and the cheapest I can find is 900 quid!!! So I will be rethinking that as her birthday present!

common name AMY thats why it rockets in price i got mine from reg transfers.co.uk cost about 600 inc tranfer and it says my name almost to the letter starts J9EL then ends in my surnames itital...

Joel

I found that I didnt need to drill my plates, I just screwed the screws straight through. They did need a little persuasion.

I'm planning on using sticky pads to attach my number plate. I think the rear will be okay with 1mm pads but to those who have used sticky pads on the front - did you use 1mm or 6mm pads??

Sticky pads get my vote too

Hilti!

I used velcro, totally solid but can be removed when required.

Neil

I'm planning on using sticky pads to attach my number plate. I think the rear will be okay with 1mm pads but to those who have used sticky pads on the front - did you use 1mm or 6mm pads??

Yep, I used 1mm on the rear and 6mm on the front cos of the curvature and have had no problems.

shorty - does the front not look silly with an extra 5mm of pad thickness or did you begin trying with 1mm pads and decided against it????

jos - it looks fine to me, from the side it does protrude a little but from the front you can't tell. I chose the 6mm as they have a better chance of holding the plate on a curved surfaces - though I didn't experiment with the 1mm on the front.

Maybe you could get hold of some 3mm if you're worried about it being raised slightly?

Well I put my number plates on the octavia and have used 3 1mm pads on both the front and the rear number plates and they have held very nicely. I think on th efabias you may need to use 6mm on the front but you dont have to on the octavia as the curve is only very slight