Damage at the Dealership: Don't let them do it!

fyi guys, the dealer has to mount a front plate in CA.its a dmv law and all dealers and salespeople have a license and that license can be taken away.
it happens when the car get pdi'ed(pre delivery inspection)

we had a big issue with this when i was selling Porsche.people buying a 140K car dont want a front plate too.

it sucks and my person car had it too.
believe me the dealer doesnt want to put it on as it costs them money as the pay a tech to do it.
the funny part is that some cars come from the factory with mounting brackets for a plate holder and some cars you drill right into the bumper

 

Wrong.

 

Really yourself, torque wrench guy. You're the guy that would demand a new truck for an accident that was repaired by them? And no, they don't have to legally drill the holes.

 

That plastic front bumper is going to get ripped off anyway. Don't worry about it.

 

For a used car that may work, but a new car has no plates at all so where's your "dealer has to" on that?

 

I almost told them that but let it slip! Damn!

 

i did the job for over 20yrs(sales/finance/sales manager)
you really think you know more then me about this? buzz wrong!!!

all cars in the state of California has to have two plates,no way around this.
dealer have to comply or loose there sales license

 

I know 7 dealers on the verge of losing their license then for well over a decade now..

 

Apples to oranges my friend. An accident, like the other person who they forgot to put lugnuts on.... NOT ACCEPTABLE AT ALL.


That stated if you signed something that said they would no drill the front bumper than stick it to them, make them give you an undrilled front bumper im all for having the dealer do exactly what you tell them to do especially if you signed something.

But god damn karma is a bitch and ill bet even if you never had a front ticket plate, Ill bet you that you will magically get a ticket for causing sucha ruckus over 2 holes to be compliant with THE LAW.

If it were me, and i had signed something like that.... out of spite id make them get a new bumper paint it and right there in the dealer lot once they gave it back to me, right in front of all of them... id bring out my hand drill, tape measure blue tape and drill 2 holes for my plate and drive off.


And lastly sir, and this is probably the biggest thing, that over everything above i would listen to. Bumper covers come unpainted. This means the dealer will have to paint it, getting colors matched is pretty good today, but your probably not going to have that perfect match you currently have from the factory paint especially that sexy Barcelona red!

 

Yeah total BS!! I am lucky my truck was bought in IN were I guess no front piste is required, so no ugly freaking front plate bracket on my truck. OH for now still requires it, but it's been up for vote up in Columbus for a while to do away with front plates here. I think my last 4 cars came with no front plate brackets and were all limited production type's, Mitsu EVO's, Subaru STI's, and a Integra Type R...

 

I''ve thought about plugs. That's a for sure maybe if I can't get the dealer to trade bumpers for me.

On your other idea of dealer trade, that could certainly happen, but mine was special order from the factory, so they drilled it while I was in Finance signing the waiver.

 

x2...

Its a completely different scenario. You drove your property up to the shop, and had them do previously specified work to your vehicle. In the above instance, they are selling their property off to you. After cash down and paper work signed, it would be in their best interest to ensure that you drive off their lot in a vehicle that meets the standards set by the law. In this case, with a front plate. And because theres a determined spot for that front plate, I don't see the big deal in a dealership using that space (those 2 dimples) to mount that front plate.

To the OP's credit, if you don't want it... make it clear during the purchase. Otherwise... suck it up. Thats where the front plate typically goes, and by manufactures specs... where it should go.

Im no fan of the stealership, but I'd side with them in a heartbeat should new-owners attempt to have THEM pay for tickets due to the lack of a front plate.

 

DupliColor color match paint on some plastic bumper plugs from a parts house. Done?

Or you could raise hell, but I'm kinda thinking the time to have had that issue corrected was when you walked outside and saw a front plate holder mounted.

 

Josef, I just sold my 1977 Chevrolet El Camino, California registered since new, never EVER had a front plate. That's what makes me sick about the dealer taking it on his own to drill my bumper.

 

Yeah, I was waiting for someone to say that. When I walked out and saw it, I was bummed out, but I wasn't sure it wasn't predrilled. I shoulda bitched then, I know.

 

I just remembered, my sales manager took pictures for me for my scrapbook as it was delivered! As you can see, it was straight from Mexico, with no holes drilled!

 

Wrong, there are other options to mount a front plate that don't require drilling.

 

Wrong.. I bought my Vette from a GM dealer in Costa Mesa CA, and it did not
Have a front plate.. All of the Vettes on their lot have no front plate. They have been doing it that way for years.. They didn't seem to be too worried about
Losing their sales license.

 

This is what the dealer had me sign.

 

You should buy a no drill license plate bracket and cover the drilled license plate bracket holes. Then demand a new truck with extended service agreement that covers any future drilled license plate bracket holes.