Motorcycle License Plate Frames

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A branded frame is the longest lived advertising a dealership hands out. It stays on the bike for as long as the customer owns it, and unlike a sticker or a keychain it is read by everyone riding behind them. Motorcycle license plate frames come two ways.

Screen printed frames carry your branding on the frame face, UV protected and resistant to normal wear, at roughly half the cost per unit and a faster turnaround. Raised graphics frames are custom moulded so the lettering stands proud and catches light, which reads at distance where flat print does not, but the tooling means a longer lead time and a higher minimum. A sensible split is screen printed as standard on every unit sold and raised graphics for premium models, demo bikes and event giveaways.

Two things to settle before artwork. Check the plate obscuring rules in the states you sell into, because most restrict covering the registration numbers, state name or validation stickers, and a motorcycle plate is small enough that a frame covers proportionally more of it than it would on a car. And keep the text short: one or two lines set large outperform four lines set small, since the only person reading it is in the vehicle behind. Car frames will not fit a bike plate, so automotive frames are ordered separately.

Motorcycle License Plate Frames

A branded frame is the longest-lived piece of advertising a dealership hands out. It stays on the bike for as long as the customer owns it, and unlike a sticker or a keychain it is visible to everyone riding behind them.

Raised Graphics or Screen Printed

Raised graphics frames use custom molding to produce 3D lettering and logos that stand proud of the frame surface. The result reads at a distance and catches light rather than sitting flat, which is why it costs roughly twice as much per frame. Because the graphics are molded rather than printed, expect a longer lead time and a higher minimum than a printed frame.

Screen printed frames print your branding onto the frame face. They are UV protected and resistant to damage in normal use, cost around half as much per unit, and turn around faster. For most dealers running volume giveaways, this is the practical choice.

A reasonable split: screen printed as standard on every unit sold, raised graphics for premium models, demo bikes, or event giveaways where the frame is part of the presentation.

Check Your State Rules First

Most states restrict frames that cover any part of the plate, including the registration numbers, the state name, and the validation stickers. Motorcycle plates are considerably smaller than car plates, so a frame covers proportionally more of one, and a frame that is legal on a car may not be on a bike.

Before committing to a design, check the plate-obscuring rules in the states you sell into, and keep your branding within the frame border rather than extending toward the plate face. If you are unsure, send us the design and the states you operate in and we will flag anything that looks likely to cause a problem.

Designing the Frame

Space is limited, so decide what the frame is for. Dealership name and city works for recognition. Name and phone number works for service retention. Trying to fit a name, address, phone number, and website onto a motorcycle frame produces text nobody can read at any distance. One or two lines, set large, outperforms four lines set small.

Related Motorcycle Supplies

For branding on the unit itself, see motorcycle dealer decals. For the rest of the range, see motorcycle key tags, motorcycle deal jackets, motorcycle service stickers, and all motorcycle dealer supplies.

If you also sell cars, see custom dealer license plate frames in the automotive range and custom dealer license plate inserts. Car frames will not fit a motorcycle plate, so the two are ordered separately.

FAQ

Raised graphics or screen printed?

Screen printed costs about half as much and turns around faster, which suits fitting a frame to every unit sold. Raised graphics are molded in 3D and read better at distance, so they suit premium units and events. Many dealers run both.

Will a car frame fit a motorcycle plate?

No. Motorcycle plates are a different, smaller size, which is why these are stocked separately from the automotive frames. Ordering car frames for bikes is the most common mistake in this category.

Are dealer plate frames legal?

Frames themselves are generally fine; what is restricted is covering the plate. Most states prohibit obscuring the registration numbers, the state name, or the validation stickers, and rules differ state to state. Because motorcycle plates are small, a frame covers proportionally more of one. Check the rules where you sell, and confirm with your state DMV or dealer association rather than assuming a design is compliant.

How much text fits?

Less than you would like. A motorcycle frame has room for one or two short lines at a readable size. Dealership name plus city, or name plus phone number, both work. Cramming in a full address and website produces text too small to read from another vehicle, which is the only place anyone will be reading it.

Can you match our existing frame design?

Usually. Send a sample or artwork with the states you sell into, and we will confirm what can be reproduced in screen print or raised molding. Raised graphics involve tooling, so an exact match there takes longer to set up than a printed reproduction.