How to Install a Magnetic License Plate Holder – Step by Step

What you're working with

QuickPlate is a two-part magnetic system. One part mounts to your car: the counter magnet plate. The other part is the holder that attaches to your license plate. When you bring them together, they click and hold. When you want to remove the plate, you pull it straight off. That's it.

Installation takes about 20 minutes. Most of that is waiting for tape to bond. The actual hands-on work is maybe five minutes.

What's in the box

• Counter magnet plates (x2 for front and rear, or x1 depending on your kit)
• License plate holders with built-in magnets
• 3M VHB double-sided tape (pre-cut)
• Stainless steel screws and nuts (alternative mounting method)
• Cleaning wipes for surface prep

Before you start: pick your mounting method

You have two ways to mount the counter magnet to your car: 3M VHB tape or stainless steel screws.

Tape is the cleaner option. No drilling, no marks, and 3M VHB is industrial-strength. It holds cars together in manufacturing plants. Most people use this and never have a problem. The trade-off is that it takes 24 hours to fully cure, and it needs a warm, clean surface to bond properly.

Screws give you more confidence if you're going to remove and reattach the plate often, or if your bumper has an existing screw mount you can reuse. More permanent, slightly more work to install.

Either works. Most customers go with tape.

Step 1: Clean the mounting surface

Use the included cleaning wipe to degrease the area on your bumper where the counter magnet will sit. This step matters more than most people think. Any oil, dust, or wax on the surface reduces the tape bond strength significantly. If you've just waxed your car, wait a day before installing.

The surface should be dry and at room temperature. Cold surfaces (below 10°C) don't bond well. Install in your garage or on a warm day.

Step 2: Mount the counter magnet to your car

Tape method: Peel the tape backing, press the counter magnet plate firmly onto the cleaned bumper surface, and hold for 30 seconds. Apply pressure across the whole plate, not just the center. Leave it to cure for at least 2 hours before light use, and 24 hours before any high-speed driving or car washing.

Screw method: Use the existing screw holes on your bumper if they're there, or drill new ones at the positions marked on the counter magnet plate. Fasten with the included stainless steel screws and nuts. Tighten until snug, not overtightened.

Step 3: Attach the holder to your license plate

The plate holder attaches to the back of your license plate using the same 3M VHB tape or the small screws included in the kit. Clean the back of the plate first. Same process as the bumper.

If your plate has existing screw holes, you can run the screws through those directly. Cleaner result, stronger hold.

Center the holder on the plate. Roughly centered means the magnetic pull is balanced and the plate hangs straight.

Step 4: Click the plate onto your car

Bring the plate toward the counter magnet on your bumper. At about 3-4 cm distance, you'll feel it pull. Let it click into place. Done.

The plate should sit flush and level. If it's slightly tilted, pull it off and adjust. The magnets allow micro-positioning before they fully seat.

How to remove the plate

Grip the plate and pull straight out, perpendicular to the bumper. Don't pull from one corner or slide sideways. Straight out is the easiest and puts the least stress on the tape bond over time.

It takes a bit of force the first time. After a few uses, you'll have the motion down and it comes off in one smooth pull.

When to remove it

Take the plate off before going through an automatic car wash with rotating brushes. The high-pressure water jets combined with the brush motion can create enough lateral force to dislodge the plate. It takes two seconds to remove it before you enter. Put it back on when you're done.

Touchless washes and hand washing are fine with the plate on.

If the tape bond weakens over time

3M VHB tape is designed for permanent bonding, but extreme cold or heat cycles can reduce adhesion over years of use. If you notice the counter magnet plate starting to lift at the edges, clean the surface, remove it, and reattach with fresh tape. Replacement tape is available from any hardware store. Look for 3M VHB tape, 1mm thickness.

Questions we get asked a lot

Will it work on a plastic bumper? Yes. 3M VHB bonds to most plastics, painted or unpainted. Rough-textured plastic bonds less well than smooth. In that case, screws are the better option.

Can I use it on both front and rear plates? Yes. The kit includes counter magnets for both positions. Same installation process for each.

My plate is a non-standard size. Will it fit? The holder attaches to the plate, not to a specific plate size. As long as the plate is at least the size of the holder, it works.

Does it work in winter? The magnets work in any temperature. The tape bond can weaken in extreme cold. If you're in a climate that regularly drops below -20°C, screws are the safer long-term choice.

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