Hi guys I have a forum member contact me. suggest that I take license plate off before I begin washing the cars I detail. I think its a good suggestion, but some cars come with seized screws, plate frames that has caps covering the screws ( be careful prying those out ), plastic break easy when its cold, and some have double sided tape ( that if you take them off, you need to reapply tape). Also I do see a lot of us skipping that step, my reason is that I charge per job and not by hour. Every detail I do, I will go over with whats exactly will be done on the detail with a client, and I never had a complain " you didn't take the plate off ?! " feel free to comment!
I'd be more concerned with making the paying customer happy, not some random person on the internet. People really need to focus more on their customers and what they want, not what people are doing online!
Just add it to the list of pre-detail questions with the customer. I wouldn't do it unless asked, but I do it on my personal vehicles.
If privacy is a concern post process the few shots with the plate exposed and blur our the plate. People might be freaked out by the fact that you can supposedly look up where said car 'sleeps' at night and find out more personal info about the owner. But that technology only exists for police. Don't believe the websites that do a reverse plate search; that's private information. However, of you want the deepest clean, leaving no dirt behind the plate then by all means remove them.
I always remove plates IF THEY ARE EASILY REMOVED. If there is anything that will impede the removal of the plates such as rust or caps, I don't bother.
Same here too. Sometimes removing the plates can be a job in itself, and in that case it wouldn't be worth it
I always remove the plates before a major detail/correction. I dont bother for regular washings, but always before a full job. I've always done that, thats what I thought we were supposed to be doing anyway. Guess I've been lucky so far, but havent had an issue getting one off yet.
thanks, a second thread from you on here in my honor. i told you i read the forum but i choose not to post here. yea that was my pm. good suggestion but obviously you dont need to do it for a basic hand wash. also, if the bolt or screw is rusted or stripped dont bother. if the pate is taped to the car leave it alone. it was just a suggestion. if you can remove the plate for an exterior detail like a simple polish or full correction then just do it. you never know when the customer might decide to change the plate or something & then all of the dirt & crap will be there. just a way of doing complete work thats been on my checklist ever since i learned the trade. i told ya if i catch one of my guys not removing a plate i wigg out so imagine what the customer would say. sometimes people like to look for mistakes before they pay, look for things to complain about. this is one of those things that is removed from theyre mind. take a pic & show the customer that you took the extra time to do some of the simple things that maybe someone else doesnt do & that will stand out in theyre mind on the next detail. i dont know when ill be back so goodbye for now. :giggle:
I dunno why you don't post here Andrew, we have good folks here. I hope its not about me making that thread about you, Im apologized to you and moved on.
Sup A My biggest headache besides Subaru carpet is seriously seized rusted plate bolts, so much so that I mention to cars' owners in my area that I will not attempt so much force that I break them off or break the socket clipy thing that attaches to body panel for them. I always give a little bit of a lubricant as well for the non regulars just to make it easier - again the details of a detail. Its vehicle care, not just aesthetic care. I just replace my regular customers' cars with stainless hardware during their first detail with the car - saves the headache the everyone. That said, if they come out easily I prefer to wash behind plates so I don't blow dirt or grit out when drying.
There's a few websites that you can pay to receive that info. That's why one of my friend's doesn't even mount his plate on his scuderia
