You’ve probably seen this trend before, some tool-bag driving around in a slammed E36 M3 with a European plate, that probably isn’t even from Germany, that says “D33z Nüt5” or something equally idiotic. It’s a big scene in America, to buy a European car, make it worse by putting it on cheap lowered suspension bought on eBay, slapping “Illest” stickers on it and throwing a European license plate on it so that people know its European. As if people didn’t already know that BMW, Volkswagen and Audi were from Europe.
Doug Demuro, the guy on Jalopnik with the crazy cars, recently brought this up and I’ve always agreed with him. I honestly never understood this obsession with European license plates and I’m a pretty tolerant guy. I get all of the strange obsession that car people have, like needing to have a perfectly well kept tool kit from an old BMW or having all of the safety gear from an Audi A4 in the trunk. These are things that came with the car when new and die-hard fans want that stuff as collectors items. I get weird little car-fan quirks like that. I don’t understand the European plate thing, though, for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it doesn’t matter if it has a European plate on it, it still needs American plates as well, so having to different plates on it makes it look dumb. Plus, in certain states, like my much beloved (sarcasm) New Jersey, there absolutely must be a NJ plate in the proper place on the front of the car. If you remove the front plate, or even place it lower on the bumper, you will get a hefty ticket. So, in NJ, Euro plate fans typically put their personalized Latvian license plates (thinking they’re German ones) lower on the bumper and it looks ridiculous. It just makes the nice European car look sloppy and cheap.
Secondly, there’s no reason for the European plate, it doesn’t do anything aside from letting people know that these Euro plate fans so desperately want others to know their car is from Europe. It’s like a sad cry for attention. “Look at my cool European car! I even know what umlauts are!”
Now, if someone went and took European delivery of their car, which is a program offered by BMW, Audi and others, they’re going to get a European plate for their car because they have to drive it around in Europe for a bit. So they’ll have a genuine plate and might want to keep it on as a memento for the experience for awhile. This makes sense, but after a few days, take the German plate off and hang it on your wall as a keepsake. I’m all for mementos like that, but it looks ridiculous after awhile, like when people come back from a vacation to London and all of sudden have an English accent. Just stop.
Don’t get me wrong, I love European cars, love their heritage and history and have a strong desire to visit nearly every country in Europe. But I just think their plates should stay there. Oh, and if you must have a Euro plate, please just let it look like a real license plate and quit it with the fake umlauts on English words, it’s not clever.
[Source: Jalopnik]
Worse is when people put their license plate off to the side of the front of the car.
VW fanboys
The reason the license plate is to the side is to not drill into the bumper. Typically, its a plate holder that screws into where your tow hook goes. Its certainly not for aesthetics.
So these cars don’t have the proper attachment for a license plate??
Its by choice. Those that don’t want holes in their bumpers tell the dealer under no circumstances should they drill any plate holder into them.
What’s wrong with holes in the bumper? 99% of cars have them.
Because people don’t want holes in the bumper. I have an xpel wrap over my car. I don’t want holes in that. I like to show my car without a plate on it. And it would be unsightly with a plate frame. What’s important for my car, may not be important for yours. It’s a car guy (or girl) thing. So drill away and be happy.
Lol why would you want holes in the front bumper of your expensive car? I took my front plate off and will eat the tickets because I like the clean look of no front plate, hense I don’t want holes in it. But if need be I can screw a license plate system in my front tow hook which is off to the side.
How else are you going to say to everyone on the road, “I’ve been to Europe!!!”
Let’s be honest here, slick European plates look better than the big fat US plates.
True. America has some truly hideous license plates.
most definitely. those cars were designed by the europeans with their plates in mind. The longer plate is sleek and doesn’t obstruct the lines on the fascia of the cars. I’ve been considering ordering a custom european styled plate with the exact information of the american plate just so the front of the car doesn’t look like it’s been scarred by obesity.
The BIG, FAT, UGLY Canadian and US Plates block air from getting through the radiator.
In Western Australia, we can get European shaped plates instead of our fat normal ones or a few extra dollars. They then fit properly on the car.
The truth is, European plates look so much better than North American plates.
What a dick. You are not clever with the pseudo rage about something so innocuous. Click bait crap. I hope this blog doesn’t continue down this path.
You’re taking this a bit too personal.
I would say that to Nico DeMattia.
A lot of car fanatics are insecure.
Or maybe the obvious. A front plate is required and a European plate looks a whole lot better on some of these front ends.
Where is a front plate required?
31 states and Washington, D.C.
https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/97/13573899-1426104484897.jpg
One thing that bothers me about Chicago. Front plates
Let people live and do as they want to. What does it cost you? What’s it to you anyway? Examine your conscience. I have made the choice to hang my real Euro plates in my garage. But that’s MY choice.
You almost certainly don’t want Romanian Euro plates (as above) on your BMW, outside of Romania, or you’ll likely be mistaken for a male prostitute.
Haha
…. or a gypsy, even if you’re not. Yeah, I am thinking hard why would you ever want the Latvian ones as well, as they look completely different from the German, so you won’t really mistake them. Maybe for that LV abbreviation that might add an extra blink in eyes of many, seeing Louis Vouitton under that rather than Latvia :-).
But sure, God I’m glad for european number plates, they really look a tiny bit better than the fat American. Everything has to be fat in America apparently :-)
Except they’re not fatter. They’re taller and narrower.
Hahahaha!
Those are also the German style
Not with that “RO” on them!
American plates are ugly and ruin the look of the car. Why do you take this so personal. 99% of people who put euro plates meant nothing except like the shape and look of them. If you can’t understand this, then just mind your own business.
I don’t like giant spoilers that people put on their cars. But I don’t begrudge the people that like it. If it’s their car, and it’s makes them happy, then they should go for it. Life is short. And mainly sucks. Do what makes you happy.
Yeah this is all amusing…. I’ve lived in Europe during my car driving years and when I wanted something different for my BMW Z3 I had a Hawaii plate made and it looked nice….lol.
So your tastes ought to be the guiding principle for the rest of the world?
Somebody had a large glass of EGO this morning!
We have California euro style plates with our real license plate numbers with tags and everything. 3 years driving around and nothing yet from cops :) I think it’s because we have the tags and everything just like the American plates. Only difference is the style/shape of the plate. We bought them because the long rectangular shape looks way better on these cars. The red mustang has the Black and Yellow California plates now :)
I’m considering doing the same thing man, hope I don’t get any trouble either!
I was considering this once before but though no what’s the point, it’s still wrong..
But you not getting any trouble is promising for sure
What part of California you live in man? I’m in NorCal on the edge of Silicon Valley and wonder how I’ll fare
Why so negative towards foreign license plates on cars in America? Did you know it’s a very popular trend in the Philippines? Even though they all know it’s impossible to import their cheap car from Europe, automotive creativity is widely accepted. I am proud of my Filipino culture/trends. But I’m also half German. I’m not from Germany, yet I freakin love my rear German plate behind the US one on my Hyundai! I think it looks cool because American plates are boring and we all know how uniqueness gets ridiculed here. It’s sad to hear haters like these bloggers hate in order to support their perceived communistic patriotism. But thats totally your right of opinion. I just think as Americans we should embrace and awknowledge the rest of the world instead of criticizing them. Besides, I always get asked about my Deutschland plate with interest & curiosity, already knowing it’s on a dented up 8 year old Elantra. It may be ugly to some but It’s my car and I’m at least brave enough to ignore haters. But Hey! to each their own right? Cheers!
Europe has the best style in cars,fashion, definitely looks better on a European car right? It’s from Europe anyway ‼️
I paid alot of money for this car. Why on earth would I want to look at tons of holes in the front bumper much less pay to have them fixed when I can just throw on a bumper. This blog is dumb.
I have always liked European and UK plates. They are smart looking. Even Cuba has gone to a Euro Style Plate. Our 6 x12’s are UGLY ! I am getting one for my BMW Z3
Why do you wear rings and necklaces? Why do you wear a neck tie? Is it a sad cry for attention? No, it’s because you like the asethetic. Don’t be a prick, some people just like the look of the European plates on their car more than the American plates, but since one can’t get away with not having them on their car at all, they put them on the car in whatever configuration or combination they can get away with. Not everything a person does to their car is for YOUR benefit, dick. Sometimes a tattoo on the ass is just for the bearer. Deal with it.
I live in a no front plate state but bought from out of state and the car has hideous holes drilled in the front bumper. I use a euro plate to cover that crap up.
The only tool-bags are the ones who think they should be listened to when they complain about something someone else does that doesn’t affect them a bit.