Best License Plate Frames
Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- The best license plate frames on the 2024 market are Ohuhu, Zakra, DMSE, Amazon Basics, and Aujen based on build quality, installation, fit, and durability.
- On average, you can expect to pay about $10 for one of the best license plate frames, making this a small purchase to spruce up your car’s exterior.
- When buying a license plate frame, you’ll want to consider the durability of the frame to ensure it will hold in all weather and driving conditions.
As far as car accessories go, license plate frames are one of the most helpful automotive accessories as they’re not only visually appealing but also can protect your vehicle. The best license plate frames aren’t made from specially designed carbon fiber and they’re not rhinestone license plate frames. Good license plate frames, like the best keychains, are the products that look the best to you and satisfy your needs.
There are a lot of questions when it comes to license plate frames such as their legality or their ability to deter theft. While some manufacturers claim that license plate frames are useful as anti-theft devices, that claim doesn’t stand to reason. Removing a license plate is the same, whether your license plate has a frame or not. However, our product testing team does feel that rattle-proof and scratch-proof license plate frames offer valuable vehicle protection.
License Plate Frame Reviews
For this review, our team thoroughly tested and evaluated each license plate frame based on each item’s material, fit, and durability. The scores in each category are compiled into a single overall rating that ranges from 1.0 to 5.0 stars.
What Is The Best License Plate Frame?
We named the Ohuhu, Zakra, DMSE, Amazon Basics, and Aujen as the best-rated license plate frames on the market in 2024.
Brand/Model | Cost | Overall Rating | Award |
---|---|---|---|
Ohuhu Matte Aluminum License Plate Frame |
$15 |
5.0 |
Best Overall |
Zakra License Plate Frame |
$15 |
4.8 |
Runner-Up |
DMSE Universal Metal Shark Teeth Jaws |
$15 |
4.8 |
Sharpest Design |
Amazon Basics Stainless Steel License Plate Frame |
$10 |
4.5 |
Best Value |
Aujen Silicone License Plate Frame |
$10 |
4.3 |
Best Silicone Frame |
*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.
License Plate Frame Ratings: Our Testing Process
After looking at factors such as ease of installation, customer ratings, prices, and the ability for the frame to not obscure parts of the license plate that need to be displayed, our product testing team ordered the license plate frames that best met these standards.
A team member tested each product on a 2003 Ford Focus ZX3, taking note of how well the license plate frame was made, how well the frame fit around a license plate, and its durability. Each license plate frame was given a rating out of 5.0 stars based on these criteria.
Learn more about how we tested license plate frames here.
1. Ohuhu Matte Aluminum License Plate Frame: Best Overall
2. Zakra License Plate Frame: Runner-Up
3. DMSE Universal Metal Shark Teeth Jaws: Sharpest Design
4. Amazon Basics Stainless Steel License Plate Frame: Best Value
5. Aujen Silicone License Plate Frame: Best Silicone Frame
License Plate Frames Buying Guide
License Plate Frames are a great way to add some personality to your car or protect your car’s paintwork and eliminate that pesky rattling noise. However, license plate frames aren’t street-legal across the United States and you need to know your state’s laws regarding using this type of product. Here, we cover state legality in regard to license plate frames and whether you’ll need two frames to satisfy front and rear plate requirements in some states.
License Plate Frame Legality
State laws vary on license plate frames and many states strictly regulate their use on the roads. While we recommend doing your own research or contacting your local DMV, there is only one state that completely disallows the use of license plate frames.
Oklahoma is the one and only state where license plate frames are illegal, while Virginia simply disallows colored license plate frames and Kentucky disallows frames that obscure letters or numbers of the plate from view.
Single Vs. Dual Plates
Our team made a point to note which license plate frames came with two frames or just one, due to the fact that some states require both front and rear license plates. Below is a list of 19 states that only require 1 license plate.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
Compare License Plate Frames
Brand/Model | Material | Color(s) | Size (L x W) |
---|---|---|---|
Ohuhu Matte Aluminum License Plate Frame | Aluminum and plastic | Black | 8.0 x 12.0 inches |
Zakra License Plate Frame | Silicone | Black, white, hot pink, gray, and yellow | 6.3 x 12.4 in. |
DMSE Universal Metal Shark Teeth Jaws | Chrome plated steel | Black, chrome, and pink | 6.0 x 12.0 in. |
Amazon Basics Stainless Steel License Plate Frame | Stainless steel | Silver and black | 6.3 x 12.2 in. |
Aujen Silicone License Plate Frame | Silicone | Solid black and white, black, or multi-colored rhinestones | 6.0 x 12.0 in. |
Best License Plate Frames: Bottom Line
- Best Overall: Ohuhu Matte Aluminum License Plate Frame
- Runner-Up: Zakra License Plate Frame
- Sharpest Design: DMSE Universal Metal Shark Teeth Jaws
- Best Value: Amazon Basics Stainless Steel License Plate Frame
- Best Silicone Frame: Aujen Silicone License Plate Frame
License Plate Frame: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about license plate frames:
What is the best material for a license plate frame?
The best material for license plate frames is silicone. Through our testing process, we determined that silicone is rust-proof, rattle-proof, scratch-proof, and can handle all weather conditions with ease, making it the perfect material to construct a license plate frame from.
What’s the point of a license plate frame?
Some people use license plate frames for visual appeal or to add a little personality to an otherwise mundane part of a car. Others use license plate frames to protect their license plate from weather or accidental collisions.
Is it illegal to have a frame around your license plate?
License plate frames are only illegal in one state, Oklahoma. While license plate covers or license plate shields are illegal in a number of states, there are few laws against the use of license plate frames.
Full License Plate Frame Testing Methodology
Our extensive testing process compared each of our five license plate frames against the criteria listed below:
Material: A license plate frame’s material is arguably the most important factor of this type of product. Material plays a role in not only a frame’s fit but also its durability. We observed and recorded how each different material withstood our stress and durability testing. The license plates that were constructed of high-quality material and performed well during stress testing scored highest in this category.
Fit: Fit determines whether your license plate and frame rattle in the mount. We tested each license plate for how well it fit around a license plate as well as how it fit on the testing vehicle itself. The license plates that had the more secure fit without obstructing essential aspects of the license plate scored highest in this category.
Durability: Material greatly impacts this category of testing, but it is so important that it warrants a testing category of its own. We went about testing each license plate’s durability by subjecting it to a stress test where it was bent, shaken, stepped on, and generally beaten up. The frames that held up the best during our stress test scored highest in this category.
How We Score Products
Star ratings help us to provide an honest evaluation of each license plate frame and all products we have tested. By considering important aspects of each license plate frame throughout our testing process we can better score each product to provide an honest and in-depth review of our top picks for license plate frames. Among the license plate frames we tested, we calculated an overall average of 4.7 out of 5.0 stars.
- 5.0 Stars: A 5.0-star rating is a well above average score. If a license plate frame exceeded our expectations, was built for durability, and fit securing without obstructing the plate itself, you’ll see a 5.0-star rating.
- 4.0 Stars: A 4.0-star rating is an above-average rating. If the license plate frame had a high-quality material but didn’t perform as expected during our stress test when compared to other license plate frames, you’ll likely see a 4.0-star rating.
- 3.0 Stars: A 3.0-star rating is an average rating for the license plate frames in this review. If the frame performed in every aspect as expected but it did not exceed our expectations or compare to the top performers in at least one testing criterion, we gave the frame a 3.0-star score.
- 2.0 Stars: A 2.0-star rating is a below-average score. For example, if the frame did not fit securely around our testing vehicle’s plate, we would give the frame a 2.0-star rating for fit, one of our license plate frame testing criteria.
- 1.0 Star: A 1.0-star rating is a well below-average rating. While rarely seen in our reviews of the best products, a 1.0-star score would be given if an item was defective, could not be installed, or was built with poor material.
Why Trust Motor1.com
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.
*Data accurate at time of publication. Products subject to availability.