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Live in a state that requires a front license plate but hate how it looks? The Show N Go lets you flip the plate down when you need it and tuck it away when you don’t.
I bought the Show N Go retractable license plate holder by Altec on Amazon. It’s a manual one, not the motorized kind with a remote, and it was the cheapest I could find, in the $30 range when I bought it. The electric ones with remotes tend to be around $150. In Illinois you have to have a front plate, so I wanted something for my Prowler. This is a first look at what’s in the box and how it works, before I install it.
- Far cheaper than motorized holders
- No batteries or fuse-box wiring
- Spring action is strong but easy to pull down
- Plate holder is light and the plate lines up well
- Galvanized strip lets you brace it against the bumper or body
- You have to get out of the car to deploy it
- A bit of the track sticks out past the car
- Mind your fingers on the spring when closing it
- Install takes drilling and some figuring out
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
Why I picked a manual holder
There are a number of these on the market. Motorized versions with remotes tend to be in the $150 range, which seemed like a lot to me. This manual one was about $30.
My questions were: is it robust enough to hold the plate while driving, will wind resistance ruin it, how hard is it to install, and how far out does it need to stick so the plate can flip up and clear the bumper, lip or front fascia.
What’s in the box
The instructions say to jack up the car, drill holes in the bottom of the bumper, push in rubber expanding nuts, and fasten everything with machine screws. A galvanized strip is for extra bracing: you bend it as needed and brace it against another piece of the fascia, the back of the bumper or the body, since bumpers are mostly plastic and it could otherwise wobble.
You also get foam pads with double-sided tape, plastic expanding washers, black screws for the plate, machine screws with nuts, and a retaining strap.
How it works
The plate holder is a light ABS-type plastic, slightly bowed so it hugs the track. My plate’s holes lined up top and bottom, and the plate takes on a slightly convex shape. It’s light and seems pretty robust.
The track mounts under the car with the plate facing the ground. Pull it down and it slides out and flips up, held by a spring clip. The spring is decently strong and the action is nice; it isn’t overloaded, so it’s easy to pull down and push back in. Watch your fingers, though; I jammed mine on the spring closing it.
How far it sticks out
With the plate pushed all the way back, there’s about an inch and a quarter of extra track. You need the track to extend past the edge of the car so the plate can flip up without touching the paint, and since it’s angled back slightly, you probably want an inch and a half or more depending on the shape of your car. A little bit sticking out is a fair trade-off.
Who it is for
It’s low-tech, but you don’t need batteries or to wire it into your fuse box. You can’t deploy it on demand from the driver’s seat, so you have to get out of the car. For me that’s fine: downtown at a meter they’ll write you up in minutes for not having a front plate. I can deploy the plate, roam the city without worrying about tickets, and hide it again for shows.
FAQ
Is the Show N Go manual or electric?
This one is manual. There are motorized versions with remotes, but they cost much more.
How much did it cost?
About $30 when I bought it.
Does it need wiring?
No. No batteries and no fuse-box wiring.
How far does it stick out?
About an inch and a quarter of track past the plate when stowed. Plan for 1.5 inches or more so the plate clears your bumper.
How does it mount?
Drill holes under the bumper, push in expanding nuts and fasten with screws. A galvanized strip braces it against the bumper or body.
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