License Plate Bracket

What Is a License Plate Bracket?

A license plate bracket is the mounting hardware that holds your front or rear license plate securely to your vehicle. While it may seem like a minor detail, the placement and quality of your license plate bracket can have a surprising impact on both aesthetics and performance — especially up front. On many modern vehicles, the factory-mandated front plate location sits dead center on the bumper, blocking airflow to the radiator, intercooler, and transmission cooler. A license plate relocation bracket solves this by moving the plate to a side-mounted position, typically using the OEM tow hook thread, without any cutting or drilling required.

Why Upgrade Your License Plate Bracket?

Stock license plate brackets are functional but rarely optimized for performance-minded drivers or enthusiasts who have added front-mount intercoolers, light bars, or winches. Aftermarket brackets address several real-world problems:

• Improved airflow: Relocating the plate away from the center grille restores unobstructed airflow to cooling components.
• Aerodynamic benefit: Angling the plate to follow body lines reduces wind resistance at speed.
• Bumper protection: Tow hook-mounted relocation kits eliminate the need to drill holes into your front bumper, preserving the factory finish.
• Accessory compatibility: Brackets with multiple mounting points accommodate add-ons like winches and light bars.
• Clean, custom look: A properly relocated plate simply looks better on a built vehicle.

What to Look for When Shopping

Material matters most. Quality aftermarket brackets are typically fabricated from aluminum alloys or heavy-gauge steel, finished with powder coating or anodizing for corrosion resistance. Look for vehicle-specific fitment, tow hook compatibility, and whether all necessary hardware — including stainless steel fasteners — is included. Adjustability is a bonus, allowing you to fine-tune the plate's angle and position to suit your setup.

Top License Plate Bracket Brands

Mishimoto is a leading brand in this category, and for good reason. Their vehicle-specific relocation kits are fabricated from high-strength 6061 aluminum with an anodized and powder-coated finish for long-lasting durability. Kits mount directly to the OEM tow hook location — no drilling required — and every kit ships with all necessary hardware plus Mishimoto's signature lifetime warranty.

GrimmSpeed is a go-to choice for Subaru enthusiasts. Their relocation kits feature a proprietary Infinite-Adjust design, offering a wider range of mounting positions and angular adjustment than competing products. The laser-cut 5052 aluminum plate bracket pairs with a CNC-machined, black zinc-coated 12L14 steel tow hook shaft — a notably more robust construction than standard aluminum shafts.

Mopar Performance rounds out the top brands with OEM-grade license plate bracket kits engineered specifically for Jeep, Ram, and other Stellantis vehicles. For Jeep owners — particularly those running winch setups or off-road bumpers — Mopar brackets are designed to integrate cleanly with the factory mounting points, making them a reliable, brand-matched solution.