[JoeReal]

or did Tesla got a waiver?

I noticed that all the TM3 that I have seen so far are only displaying the license plate number at the rear of the car. No one has installed the license plates on the front!!! AFAIK, it is illegal in California not to display the front license plate. We know it would make the TM3 ugly, so did Tesla got a waiver of exemption from displaying the front license plate?

 

[JoeReal]

Many states don't require front license plates, and police aren't surprised with it, and it is never their reason to pull you over because you don't have a front license plate. Usually cops pull you over, and they have already seen you your license plate and they don't care to check if you have a license plate in front. It is very very seldom that the cop in front of you glances at his rear view mirror, and then would slow down to let you pass so that he can pull you over. So the reason for pulling you over isn't because of the missing front license plate. IOW, the Tesla owners get away with this unless they park in San Francisco or other cities whose budget relies on parking fees. You'll get a citation or a notice of correction from parking maids, if they noticed you didn't have a front license plate.

 

[saghost]

Pretty sure there's no waiver. A lot of 3s are probably still on temporary registrations.

For the ready, they are probably all courting a ticket because they hate the look, like a lot of people.

 

[flyingsherpa]

I bought my old car in a state that didn't require front plates, then shortly thereafter moved to one that did. I never bothered to install it because there was no bracket in place and I didn't feel like drilling my own holes. Had that car 12 years and never had an issue with cops (never pulled over at all, actually, *knock on wood*). It was more laziness than a conscious choice on my part, but I think people do get away with it a lot...

 

[fishhawk]

Many states don't require front license plates, and police aren't surprised with it, and it is never their reason to pull you over because you don't have a front license plate...

Depends where you live. My son has been stopped twice for not having a front license plate here in Texas. Usually it's the rookie cops who are trying to go by the book.

 

[turboguy327]

Depends where you live. My son has been stopped twice for not having a front license plate here in Texas. Usually it's the rookie cops who are trying to go by the book.

Or he was doing something else and that was the reason.

 

[Jmaj]

Depends where you live. My son has been stopped twice for not having a front license plate here in Texas. Usually it's the rookie cops who are trying to go by the book.

Any infraction provides the cops with a legal excuse for a paperwork and sobriety check. I once got pulled over in Missouri I-44 because my right side tires crossed the solid white line on the right side. I had been driving a few miles under the speed limit to save some gas in my pickup and that's a tell for an impaired driver. Licensed, insured, and sober, I was on my way in a few minutes.

 

[Sabuu]

Depends where you live. My son has been stopped twice for not having a front license plate here in Texas. Usually it's the rookie cops who are trying to go by the book.

I know a colleague in my office who claims he was pulled over for not having a front plate mounted on his vehicle (he has his on his dash visible in his windshield like most people who don't have it mounted) and the LEO specifically told him that having it visible like that still isn't legal/within code/whatever you would like to call it. I believe it happened in Travis County which, depending on what you hear, is where motorists deal with this kind of ("ridiculous") enforcement far too often.

Unfortunately the only car I ever had that would have offered me the ability to not have a front mounted bracket (my '10 Prius), when Carmax shipped it in from out of state, the technicians missed the memo about me not wanting them drilling into the front bumper and they did so anyways when the car showed up. so I've never had to worry about this sort of "gray area"

 

[JuneBug]

Front plates aren't required here in Louisiana, but my 2015 Volt came from Texas and has the plate holder. I was going to remove it, but it appears to be RIVETED on! So, I put on The Flash plate, and have gotten a few compliments for it.

 

[Volterado]

If you ask me, the TM3 is about the only car I can think of that looks BETTER with a front plate. I can't stand that bare upturned snout.

 

[Ladogaboy]

It's not legal; however, it is rarely enforced. Basically, it is one of the traffic violations (along with window tinting) that law enforcement use for pulling people over when they have no other probable cause or reason.

 

[El Dobro]

In the smaller towns around here, they give out tickets for no front plate, tinting and license plate frames that partially or fully cover the state name. Income baby, income!

 

[rdunniii]

Tesla centers are not dealerships. Dealerships are required to do the front plate thing. Tesla delivery centers do not install the front plate mount, which uses adhesive tape, because many owners install paint protection film and removing the plate holder will likely damage the paint.

 

[timoshev]

Concur. The car needs an accent bar or T emblem like its bigger brothers. A combo like my '66 Chevy Corvair would work well.

 

[Volterado]

I'm surprised that no aftermarket companies make a stick on decal or other such device to mimic the front of the S and X. The TM3 is so frickin' ugly I can't stand looking at one!

 

[[email protected]]

We look for any excuse to pull someone over if we're bored. Here in California it is the law that both plates must be affixed onto the vehicle. And, there are some cities that will give you a ticket, while parked on a public roadway, or publicly owned parking lot (airports, etc).

 

[KenC]

Strangely, while I originally thought the front end of the 3 looked hideous; after looking at it alot, I've gotten used to its appearance, and no longer find it so hideous. Covered in bugs, yes, but without a grille, I'm okay with.

 

[jcanoe]

Currently ~19 states require only a rear license plate. California is one of the states that requires both front and rear license plates. In some counties and cities you may be pulled over, receive a warning or a citation for not properly displaying a front license plate. Drive into the city, be prepared to find a citation on your windshield if your parked vehicle does not have a front license plate.

If you live in a state that requires a front license plate Tesla will include a front license plate mount with your new Tesla vehicle. The Tesla front license plate mount is a functional plastic mount that is designed to be attached to the front bumper using 3M automotive trim double sided adhesive tape. This may be all you need. There have been reports of the Tesla front license plate coming off when the Tesla vehicle is run through a car wash.

There are at least a half dozen clever solutions to solving the front license plate dilemma when you know that a front plate is required but you don't want to permanently change the look of your the front of your Tesla vehicle. Some of the 3rd party frongt license plate mounts are designed to be easily and quickly installed and uninstalled.

Quick Bandit
SnapPlate *
That Grin
License Plate Wrap (Just like it sounds)

Also:
eBay
Etsy

* I decided to purchase the original SnapPlate for my Model Y. The SnapPlate is designed to break away in the event of a minor parking lot bump, vandalism or theft. The SnapPlate will sacrifice itself to potentially save the front grill of the vehicle from being damaged. Replacing the front grill is much more expensive than replacing broken parts of the SnapPlate. Replacement parts are inexpensive. The original SnapPlate has been redesigned to be strong enough to not break away in a car wash. The SnapPlate can be secured in place using the included security screw making it more difficult to remove with the proper tool. In over 8 months I have had no issue with the SnapPlate. Originally marketed by LivingTesla, the SnapPlate is currently marketed by EveryAmp.

 

[obermd]

Or he was doing something else and that was the reason.

I didn't get pulled over because I had just parked my car, but I was approached by a Colorado police officer about my plates one time. No ticket, just a reminder.