Front plate relocation kit
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I ordered and plan to use(only had the car for one month, so I don't have my registration/plates yet) the Craigs Custom brackets one for the 15-16 Focus. Cheaper than the sto n show, doesn't require any drilling/holes to mount and it's built super well. Did a few test mounting of it without the plate and it fit great, nice and snug. Doesn't feel like it will bend or break or anything like that. You can also mount it in the center or off to the sides a bit. I also ordered some 3/4inch wide sticky neoprene rubber tape from amazon which I plan to line the entire backside/underside of the mount with where it could possibly come into contact with paint so that if something hits it/pushes it, it will never scratch the paint. Highly recommended!
Here are the pictures he emailed me for reference sake, to give you an idea of how it looks/mounts.
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Here are the pictures he emailed me for reference sake, to give you an idea of how it looks/mounts.
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Nice set up! However, that blockage tho.
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I'd find a place to pin it up on either the left or right side of the bumper, no one said it has to be ded center.
Yeah, it for sure blocks quite a bit. Unfortunately I live in a state/location where the plate is a necessity otherwise I'd love to remove it entirely. Then again, I don't drive the car hard enough to actually notice any difference I bet and I plan on keeping it stock for quite some time.
I lived in san diego for 8-9yrs, I never ran a front plate. I might have only gotten one ticket maybe? which I just paid. "you pay to play." I'm fine with tickets for stuff I know I'm in the wrong. In Tacoma WA, I can't park on the street, I have to use a private lot as that city is vigilant with tickets.
I have the craigs bracket on mine. I searched for weeks after I got my ST to try and figure out the best option. Even tried to make my own, but it didn't turn out how I intended it to, so I caved and bought the craigs. I have it moved towards the drivers side of the car. The nice thing is that its removable and you never knew it was there. We really don't have many options and our mounting areas are very limited.
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The issue of blockage of the IC is more theory than fact. Around town, where you are most likely to get nicked for not having a front plate, the blockage issue is pretty well moot, you can't get the speeds up for it to be an issue. The plate is well in front of the IC so air will still flow around the plate at speed. If you are going out for a spin in the hills and dales around where you live there are fewer cops to pull you over, in those situations just run without the plate and you'll be fine. I live in a state that requires a front plate but I haven't run one for the 13 months I've owned the car and there is no issue, never been stopped. I use a Sto n Sho and keep the front plate on the back floor of the ST, if pulled over I'll explain I was at a show and forgot to put it back on and then offer to reattach it on the spot which can be done in about 10 seconds. Most cops aren't out to bust your a** over something like this.
Everyone has to do what is best for them, it is too bad Ford has such a poor design for the front plate on the ST, they could have done so much better. I find plates mounted to the either side just look unbalanced and is worse than the stock setup. If the sole reason to move it to the side is to unblock the IC I think you are whistling Dixie, it ain't making any difference in real life on the road.
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Everyone has to do what is best for them, it is too bad Ford has such a poor design for the front plate on the ST, they could have done so much better. I find plates mounted to the either side just look unbalanced and is worse than the stock setup. If the sole reason to move it to the side is to unblock the IC I think you are whistling Dixie, it ain't making any difference in real life on the road.
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A fair bit of warning for Craig's front plate kit. If you live in an area with rough roads or uneven terrain, the carrier might get ripped off. The plate also sits much lower. My plate( license plate not the carrier) was bent the first day I put it on and gone after about a month or so. 
The carrier it self is of great quality.
The carrier it self is of great quality.
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Mines mounted a bit higher. I had to do this because of the splitter. It doesn't hang below the bumper cover.A fair bit of warning for Craig's front plate kit. If you live in an area with rough roads or uneven terrain, the carrier might get ripped off. The plate also sits much lower. My plate( license plate not the carrier) was bent the first day I put it on and gone after about a month or so.
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Mind showing how yours is setup? I have to get a new license plate soon and don't want the same thing to happen again..
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Huh.. did you just mount it on one of the low fins ratherthe very bottom?![]()
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Most states it's illegal to modify your plate in anyway. So I don't recommend this. Some states you can't even put a frame on the plate.I trimmed the top and bottom of my plate. Still readable, and not much different than a plate bracket that covers up the top and bottom anyway.
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I've checked the IL statutes. Regarding license plates, it prohibits clear covers and blocking the registration sticker (which is on the back plate) and specifies mounting locations (height, etc...). As it did not mention anything about plate frames or plate modifications, I took my chances that having a legible plate is better than no plate whatsoever on the front. I've run one like that for a few years on another car with no issues, and (knock on wood) haven't had any concerns yet with it like this on my ST.
Yours would be too low to comply with IL state law, for example, but it might comply with the statutes in your area.
I agree that it is worth checking your state/local laws to determine if this is worth considering before hacking up your own plate, though. But for me, it represents the best solution and might be an option for others to consider.
Yours would be too low to comply with IL state law, for example, but it might comply with the statutes in your area.
I agree that it is worth checking your state/local laws to determine if this is worth considering before hacking up your own plate, though. But for me, it represents the best solution and might be an option for others to consider.
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