License plates in car adverts

[running_coach]

Thread from 2003

@Redsland

Ad man here.

We put plates on the cars because the cars would look strange without them.

We use neutral colors for the plates so as not to distract your attention from the car/action/scenery.

@Redsland

The decision about whether to use a front plate is made on a case-by-case basis. If you’re doing a national TV spot, you probably wouldn’t use one since, as you point out, it would look strange to some viewers. If, on the other hand, you’re shooting a regional TV spot, you would follow the local custom.

In a print piece, unlike in broadcast, you can only show a portion of the vehicle. If you’re showing the back end, you’d use a plate. If you’re showing the front end, you usually do not place a plate UNLESS your ad’s concept involves delivering some message via the plate’s letters. Like if you were nose-on and tight with a Pontiac and the front plate said “ZoomZoom,” or whatever.