front licensce plate installation

I just recieived my metal tags from the MVA. When I went to put them on, i noticed the previous owner installed the tag without any protection. Now the front bumper has a groove in the paint where the bottom of the plate was.

Did anyone do anything to keep the front plate from scoring ( deep groove) the bumper? i would like to keep it original for the time being.
This is the first auto I have had where there is not a designated recess for the plate.

 

mine started to do that, so i put a few washers behind the plate to space it out 1/8" or so from the truck. Doesn't rub on the bottom now.

 

thanks, I was thinking about how to get it off the bumper.

 

I bent the bottom of the plate forward so it wouldn't rub

 

Welcome to TW!!! When I bought my truck the same thing had happened so I put a layer of that foam weather stripping along the bottom and that worked great.