Shopping for a 2 hole license plate frame usually starts after you notice one of two annoying problems on a newer SUV, crossover, or sedan: the front plate is bent backward from highway airflow or automatic car wash brushes, or the rear plate clatters against the painted liftgate every time you shut the trunk. Because many automakers mold only two upper screw bosses into the bumper or tailgate instead of four corner mounting points, the lower half of a bare aluminum license plate hangs completely unsupported. Fixing the issue properly requires treating the front bumper and rear liftgate as two separate mechanical problems rather than buying a generic decorative frame.
Quick Answer: Match the hardware to the location on your vehicle. To stop a front plate from bending in the wind or folding in a car wash, pair a rigid LFPartS 2-Hole Slim 304 Stainless Steel Frame with a Cruiser Accessories 79150 Mounting Plate, which converts two top bumper holes into a four-corner mount. To stop a rear plate from rattling or scratching your paint, wrap the plate in an Aujen or Rightcar Solutions Silicone License Plate Frame, or apply Frost King R734H Sponge Rubber Foam Tape to the back of the plate.
This issue first stood out to us on a Nissan Murano and several other crossovers where the factory rear tailgate only provides two upper threaded inserts. If you live in a state that mandates both front and rear tags, you cannot simply leave the front bracket off. Below, we compare the five best hardware fixes for two-hole license plate mounts, explain how to convert a two-hole bumper into a four-screw setup without drilling into your paint, and walk through the easiest ways to silence rear tailgate rattle. If you are also outfitting your rear plate area with a reversing camera, see our Garmin wireless license-plate backup camera guide.
Best 2 Hole License Plate Frame and Anti-Rattle Fixes Compared
Use the comparison table below to match your symptom (front wind bending vs. rear trunk rattle) to the right hardware type.
| Mount / Fix | Best For | Fits / Attachment |
|---|---|---|
| LFPartS 2-Hole Slim 304 Stainless Steel Frame | Best rigid metal frame for front plates that flex or bend | Standard 12″ x 6″ US plates; 2 upper screw holes; 304 stainless steel with screw caps |
| Cruiser Accessories 79150 Universal Mounting Plate | Best 2-to-4-hole backing adapter to stop car-wash plate folding | Bolts to 2 top vehicle holes; provides 4 corner attachment points for the plate |
| Aujen Silicone License Plate Frame | Best overall silicone anti-rattle frame for rear tailgates | Full-back and edge silicone sleeve with bottom drainage slots; fits 2-hole or 4-hole mounts |
| Rightcar Solutions Flawless Silicone Plate Frame | Best minimalist matte-border silicone frame for paint protection | Molded silicone tray with narrow street-legal perimeter lip and water drain notches |
| Frost King R734H Sponge Rubber Foam Tape | Best low-cost hidden cushion to stop rear plate slap | 3/4″ wide x 7/16″ thick x 10′ adhesive closed-cell sponge rubber roll applied to plate back |
Why 2-Hole License Plate Mounts Cause Trouble on Newer Vehicles
Standard North American license plates measure 12 inches wide by 6 inches tall and are stamped from thin sheet aluminum with four slotted corner holes (spaced roughly 7 inches apart horizontally and 4.75 inches apart vertically). For decades, domestic and import automakers provided four matching screw bosses on both the front bumper bracket and the rear trunk lid. On many modern vehicles, however, manufacturers eliminated the lower two bosses to cut assembly cost or simplify curved plastic bumper and composite liftgate tooling.
When a thin aluminum plate is anchored only by two top screws, the entire lower half acts as a cantilevered flap. That creates two distinct failure modes depending on which end of the vehicle you are looking at:
- Front Bumper Bending and Car-Wash Creasing: On the front fascia, highway airflow pushes backward against the lower edge of the plate, while rotating bristle brushes and cloth strips inside automatic car washes catch the unsupported bottom lip and yank it forward. Without lower structural support, the aluminum plate creases permanently across the middle right below the upper screw heads.
- Rear Liftgate Rattle and Paint Abrasion: At the rear of the car, aerodynamic wind loads are low, but the unsupported bottom corners of the plate hang millimeters away from painted sheet metal or plastic trim. Closing the trunk, driving over expansion joints, or playing music with bass causes the lower edge of the metal tag to chatter against the body panel, wearing through clearcoat over time.
Important: Do not expect a single product to solve both problems equally well. Soft silicone frames excel at silencing rear trunk rattle and protecting paint, but they are flexible by nature and will not stop a front license plate from folding backward in a brush car wash. Conversely, a rigid metal frame without rear cushioning can still clatter against a painted tailgate if only two top screws hold it in place.
Best Fixes for a Front Plate That Bends (Rigid Frames and Backing Plates)
If the bottom of your front plate is curling at highway speeds or getting bent by automatic car wash rollers, the solution is structural rigidity. You need hardware that reinforces the thin aluminum tag across its vertical span rather than merely dressing up the border.
1. LFPartS 2-Hole Slim Style Polished Stainless Steel License Plate Frame: Best Rigid Metal Frame
Best for: Drivers who want a rustproof, rigid metal perimeter frame built specifically for two-hole mounting without empty lower screw tabs.
Fits: Standard 12-inch by 6-inch US and Canadian license plates using two upper mounting screws.
Most metal license plate frames sold in auto parts stores have four mounting ears at the corners. When you install a four-hole frame on a two-hole bumper, the two empty bottom screw tabs look unfinished and leave the lower rail loose around the plate. The LFPartS 2-Hole Slim Style Polished Stainless Steel License Plate Frame solves this cleanly by omitting the lower screw ears and replacing them with rear retaining tabs that capture the bottom edge of your license plate inside the steel channel.
Manufactured from heavy-gauge 304 stainless steel, the frame resists road salt, coastal humidity, and corrosion far better than chrome-plated zinc or thin painted aluminum frames. Because the slim perimeter border is narrow around all four sides, it adds torsional stiffness to the plate without covering state names or corner registration stickers. The kit includes stainless steel mounting screws and matching snap-on screw caps for a clean installation.
2. Cruiser Accessories 79150 Universal Mounting Plate: Best 2-to-4-Hole Backing Bracket
Best for: Converting a vehicle with only two upper bumper or tailgate holes into a solid four-screw mount without drilling into the body.
Fits: Bolts to your vehicle’s two upper factory holes and provides four corner fastener locations for your license plate and frame.
If you frequently use automatic brush car washes or have a contoured front bumper that leaves the bottom half of the plate hanging in open air, adding a rigid backing plate behind your license plate is the strongest mechanical upgrade you can make. The Cruiser Accessories 79150 Universal Mounting Plate is a molded black ABS plastic backer plate designed specifically to bridge the gap between two-hole factory bumpers and four-hole license plates.
Installation takes less than ten minutes and requires zero drilling into your vehicle: first, bolt the Cruiser Accessories mounting plate to your car’s two upper factory screw holes using the slotted top tracks. Next, place your license plate (and optional perimeter frame) against the front of the backing plate and thread four machine screws into the backing plate’s four corner mounting bosses. Because all four corners of your aluminum license plate are now bolted flat against a thick structural backer, car wash bristles and highway wind pressure can no longer hook the bottom edge of the plate and fold it upward.
Best Silicone License Plate Frames for Rear Tailgates
When your primary complaint is rear plate chatter, subwoofer buzz, or bare aluminum edges scraping the paint around your trunk recess, a silicone license plate frame is the cleanest modern solution. Unlike a metal frame that only surrounds the front perimeter, a molded silicone frame wraps completely behind the back of the license plate and folds over the front edges like a protective phone case. That creates a continuous rubberized gasket between the metal plate and your vehicle’s paint.
3. Aujen Silicone License Plate Frame: Best Overall Silicone Anti-Rattle Frame
Best for: Eliminating rear tailgate rattle, subwoofer vibration, and edge scratches with a full-coverage silicone backing sleeve.
Fits: Universal 12-inch by 6-inch US plates on both two-hole and four-hole vehicle mounts.
The Aujen Silicone License Plate Frame is one of the most popular anti-rattle upgrades for SUVs, trucks, and hatchbacks with two-hole rear mounts. Instead of leaving the back of the aluminum plate bare, the Aujen frame uses a one-piece industrial-grade silicone tray that covers the entire rear face of the plate and wraps snugly around all four outer edges.
Because soft silicone sits between the back of the license plate and the painted tailgate across the entire 12-inch by 6-inch footprint, it is physically impossible for metal to tap against paint when you slam the hatch or drive over rough pavement. The bottom lip includes three molded drainage slots so rainwater and car-wash runoff can escape rather than pooling inside the sleeve, and the thin matte-black front lip leaves state names and corner registration tags completely visible.
4. Rightcar Solutions Flawless Silicone License Plate Frame: Best Low-Profile Silicone Option
Best for: Drivers who want a streamlined, uniform silicone border that blends into dark trim and stops rear plate vibration.
Fits: Standard US license plates; works with two-screw or four-screw factory mounting locations.
The Rightcar Solutions Flawless Silicone License Plate Frame was one of the original full-back silicone frames to gain traction in automotive detailing and car-audio communities. Like the Aujen, it slips over your metal tag like a fitted glove, isolating the back of the plate with a ribbed silicone cushion while wrapping the sharp stamped-aluminum perimeter edges.
Rightcar Solutions molds this frame with an even, minimalist outer lip that sits nearly flush with the face of the plate, making it an appealing choice for vehicles with tight recessed trunk cutouts where bulky frames bind against body creases. Built-in water drainage notches along the bottom edge prevent trapped moisture in winter weather. Just remember to orient the frame with the drainage notches at the bottom during installation.
Best Hidden Fix for a Rear Plate That Hits or Rattles
If you prefer the look of a bare license plate (or already own a metal dealership or aftermarket frame that you want to keep) and simply want to stop the bottom edge from slapping the trunk, you do not need to buy a new frame at all. Applying closed-cell foam tape to the back of the plate is a fast, invisible fix that costs just a few dollars.
5. Frost King R734H Sponge Rubber Foam Tape: Best Hidden Cushion
Best for: Silencing rear plate rattle and cushioning rigid metal frames without changing the outside appearance of your plate.
Fits: Sticks to the back of any metal license plate or rigid frame; roll measures 3/4-inch wide by 7/16-inch thick by 10 feet long.
The Frost King R734H Sponge Rubber Foam Tape is a weather-resistant, closed-cell sponge rubber roll designed to dampen automotive, marine, and household vibrations. At 7/16-inch thick, it is thick enough to bridge the gap behind a recessed two-hole license plate mount and apply gentle outward preload against the bottom half of the plate so it cannot bounce when the liftgate closes.
To install it properly, unscrew your license plate, wash and dry the back surface of the aluminum plate (a quick wipe with isopropyl alcohol removes road film), and stick two or three short strips of foam tape along the lower back edge of the plate where it contacts the vehicle. When you tighten the two upper mounting screws, the 7/16-inch sponge rubber compresses slightly against the body panel, absorbing trunk-closing shock and stopping metal-on-paint vibration completely. A single 10-foot roll provides enough material to cushion plates on several vehicles.
Important Installation Tip: Always stick the adhesive side of the foam tape onto the back of the aluminum license plate, never directly onto your vehicle’s painted bodywork. Putting the adhesive on the back of the plate keeps the soft, non-sticky rubber face against the clearcoat and prevents adhesive residue on your paint when you replace plates years later.
How to Choose the Right Setup for Your Front and Rear Plates
Because front bumpers and rear liftgates experience completely different forces, the smartest approach on a two-hole vehicle is often to mix solutions rather than buying a matching two-pack of the same product for both ends of the car:
- If your rear plate taps the trunk when closing: Apply two strips of Frost King R734H Foam Tape to the lower back corners of the plate. It is completely hidden from view and stops the metallic clank immediately.
- If your rear plate rattles from road vibration or bass and you want a finished border: Slide the rear plate into the Aujen or Rightcar Solutions Silicone Frame. The full-back silicone tray isolates the plate and wraps the sharp outer edges.
- If your front plate is bending from highway wind: Use the LFPartS 2-Hole Slim 304 Stainless Steel Frame. Its rigid steel channel and bottom retaining tabs keep the aluminum tag flat without blocking stickers.
- If automatic car wash brushes keep folding your front plate in half: Install the Cruiser Accessories 79150 Universal Mounting Plate behind your front tag (and pair it with the LFPartS stainless frame or a silicone sleeve if desired). Converting the two top bumper holes into a four-corner mount is the only reliable way to stop car-wash brush catch without drilling new holes in your bumper cover.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with 2-Hole License Plate Mounts
Before bolting on new hardware, watch out for four common pitfalls that cause plates to loosen or damage bodywork:
- Relying on a soft silicone frame alone to stop front plate bending: Silicone frames are flexible elastomers. While they quiet vibrations on a flat rear tailgate, a silicone sleeve mounted with only two top screws on a curved front bumper will still fold forward when caught by rotating car wash brushes. Always put a rigid backing plate behind a front silicone frame if your bumper only has two top holes.
- Using long four-hole screws in the bottom holes of a backing plate without checking depth: When you bolt a plate to the lower two corners of a 2-to-4-hole adapter bracket like the Cruiser Accessories 79150, make sure the lower screws do not protrude out the back of the adapter and gouge the bumper paint behind it. Use short machine screws that stop flush with the back of the adapter nuts, or place a strip of Frost King foam tape over the rear nut bosses.
- Mixing metric M6 bolts and coarse self-tapping lag screws: Most Japanese, Korean, and European vehicles use threaded metal M6-1.0 inserts on the rear trunk lid and snap-in nylon grommets on the front bumper. Forcing a coarse domestic lag screw into a fine-thread M6 trunk insert will strip the threads or break the weld nut loose inside the tailgate.
- Buying wide decorative frames that cover state names or registration stickers: Many states strictly enforce license plate obstruction rules prohibiting frames that obscure the state name at the top or renewal decals in the bottom corners. Stick to slim-border frames like the LFPartS 2-Hole Slim Stainless model or narrow-lip silicone holders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you stop a 2-hole license plate from rattling on the trunk?
The fastest way to stop a two-hole rear license plate from rattling is to add a soft buffer between the unsupported bottom half of the metal plate and the painted tailgate. You can either stick two strips of Frost King R734H closed-cell sponge rubber foam tape to the back of the license plate along its bottom edge, or slide the plate into a full-back silicone license plate frame from Aujen or Rightcar Solutions.
How do I keep my front license plate from bending in an automatic car wash?
Automatic car wash brushes catch the loose bottom edge of a two-hole front plate and fold it upward around the top screws. To prevent this without drilling holes into your front bumper, install a 2-to-4-hole backing bracket such as the Cruiser Accessories 79150 Universal Mounting Plate, which bolts to the two top bumper holes and lets you secure all four corners of your license plate, or reinforce the perimeter with the LFPartS 2-Hole Slim 304 Stainless Steel Frame.
Can you use a 4-hole license plate frame on a car with only 2 screw holes?
You can physically attach a standard four-hole frame using only the top two screws, but the bottom edge of a thin four-hole frame will often gap away from the plate and allow the lower corners to rattle. Either choose a dedicated 2 hole license plate frame with lower rear retaining tabs (like the LFPartS 304 stainless frame), use a wrap-around silicone frame, or mount a 2-to-4-hole adapter plate behind the frame so you can install all four screws.
Will foam tape behind my license plate trap water and cause rust?
Closed-cell sponge rubber tape like the Frost King R734H resists absorbing water, unlike open-cell household craft foam. To ensure rainwater drains freely behind the plate, apply the tape onto the back of the aluminum license plate in short vertical strips or small corner pads rather than running one solid horizontal dam across the entire width of the plate.
Are silicone license plate frames street legal?
Yes, narrow-lip silicone frames from Aujen and Rightcar Solutions are designed with a slim outer border that only wraps the outer 1/4-inch perimeter of the tag, leaving the state name, license plate characters, and all four corner registration sticker wells unobstructed.
Bottom Line
When your vehicle only gives you two upper screw holes for a license plate, treat the front and rear tags as two separate jobs. For the rear tailgate, where the goal is stopping noise and protecting your paint, apply Frost King R734H Sponge Rubber Foam Tape to the back of the plate for an invisible fix or wrap the tag in an Aujen or Rightcar Solutions Silicone License Plate Frame. For the front bumper, where wind and car washes bend unsupported aluminum, reinforce the tag with the LFPartS 2-Hole Slim 304 Stainless Steel Frame or bolt on the Cruiser Accessories 79150 Universal Mounting Plate to give your plate true four-corner support.
If you are also upgrading your cabin mounts, browse our car phone mounts hub, check our car dashboard mounts guide, or find custom-fit brackets for your vehicle in our vehicle-specific mount directory.
