What size are license plate screws?

Different license plates screws come in different sizes, and it would be wise to know the screws that fit your plate perfectly. While the most common license plate screw size would fit most vehicles, some car models need different screw sizes.

It would be wise to know the screws that fit your plate before undertaking plate repairing procedures. Read on to learn about the most common screws and the ones that would fix your car model.

The Most Popular License Plate Screws for Car Models in the US

The ¼ – ¾ inch license screw is standard in the US, and they could be self-tapping and fit most cars equipped with either nylon or plastic retainers. However, these license plate screws might not fit cars that are made of metallic thread holes. Moreover, the size and type of plate screws for cars would depend on the car model and brand.

The Importance of the Right Screws for the License Plate

License plates are likely to fall off or rust over time, and you should choose the right screws to fix the plates. The right screws will hold the plates tightly in place; if you go for a smaller-sized screw, you will risk having the plate fall off again. Moreover, larger screw sizes may not fit the screw holes perfectly and damage the license plate.

Common Plate Screws for Honda

Honda car models are known for the steel plate screws for their trucks and cars; the diameters of the screws that fit the Honda license plates are ¼ to ¾ inch in diameter. These sizes of screws could be great for all the Honda motorcycles, cars, and trucks.

The screws would universally fit the plates and are durable, and it could be better to choose ones made of stainless steel with a black finish which gives a never-rust guarantee. The screws would not need nylon inserts as they are easy to install and resist corrosion by themselves.

Common Plate Screws for Toyota

The Toyota license plates need about 1*0.5 *0.5 diameter inches screws; the screws RSD Never Rust OE style screws are best for all the Toyota car models. The screws are stainless steel and perfectly fit all Toyota license plates. Most Toyota’s front bumper would need drilling with bigger screws with the help of a plastic anchor for ease of fastening. However, the RDS screws are best suited for the rear license plates, and you would need two license plate fasteners that are self-tapping.

Common Plate Screws for Chevrolet

Although the Chevrolet’s standard license plate screw is about 10 mm in length, it could be better to go for longer screws about 12mm or shorter ones about 8 mm using whatever will suit your vehicle. However, it would be best to opt for high-quality stainless steel, which works well for Chevrolet vehicles. Go for plates that do not need truss heads as they fit the license plates well as they are self-tapping and free from rust.

Common Plate Screws for Nissan

If you want to fix license plates for your Nissan vehicle, you will go for the standard size regular license plate screw. You can use standard screws made of stainless steel plated with Zinc to protect it from rust effectively. The stainless steel screws would be durable, and you would opt for ones with a black finish as they last longer. The Nissan vehicle screws have slotted hex heads which are easy to fit on the license plates.

Common Plate Screws for Ford

The Ford car, truck, and motorcycle models license plates fit well with a screw size of ¼-14- 5/8 inches. These screws are best for the Ford F-150 models, and they would be well suited for almost all vehicles with plastic and nylon holders. These screw heads are slotted; thus is easy to fix with a flat head screwdriver or a 3/8’’ drive socket.

How to Fix License Plate Screws 

It can be difficult to fix license plate screws if you don’t like working on your vehicle, but here is a simple method to make the work easier for you. First, you need deep penetration oil, spray bottle, vinegar, screw steels, screwdrivers, and license plate screws. Again you start by removing the old, rusted, or broken license plate screws and fixing the new ones.

Start by lubricating the screws with oil, as penetration oil would loosen the corroded bolts making unscrewing easy. Using oil in a bottle, spray the screws and let them sit for 30 minutes, and attempt to unscrew the old screws.

Suppose the oil does not soften the corroded bolts; you may need to go for the vinegar as it removes rusts from the screws allowing it to unscrew easily. Again, after applying vinegar, you would use a wire brush that removes rust from the surface and the screws effectively.

Consequently, use an impact wrench with an appropriate bit as it has a high torque and helps remove the remaining rusts. The technique potentially damages rusted fasteners and is suitable when all the alternative techniques have been exhausted. You can then start replacing rusted screws.

You should mount the new screws for the license plates, and it could be a better idea to use stainless steel as it would last longer and are easy to replace in the long run. You would use a flathead screwdriver and pass the screw through the bracket through the bumper in a clockwise direction.

You can then attach the license plates to the brackets with the screws and match the holes in the corner of the plate with the holes in the corner of the bracket after mounting the bracket. You would assemble the license plate and screw the screw clockwise through the opening.

Final Thoughts

License plate screws can rust and fall easily, and you should know how to fix them appropriately. Unfortunately, not all the license screws would fit your plate well. However, the most common license plate size is ¼ – ¾ inches, and you should know which could fit your vehicle well. Smaller screws might not fit the plates well, while the larger ones would damage the plate holes. Good luck finding the right screws that could fit your license plate well.

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