# License plates in car adverts

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-plates-in-car-adverts/768319
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 12, 2016, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-plates-in-car-adverts/768319 "2016-10-12T08:53:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 4

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### Author: ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2016, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/license-plates-in-car-adverts/768319/4 "2016-10-12T12:26:47Z")

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[Thread from 2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=228529)

> [@Car commercial license plates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-commercial-license-plates/218266/5):
>
> 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.

> [@Car commercial license plates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-commercial-license-plates/218266/9):
>
> 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.

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