In Australia, as you can see in the pic, our number plates aren't as wide as Euro plates, so I have these ugly holes either side of the number plate. Any suggestions on making this look better? Has anyone solved this issue themselves ? Looking for a chrome or similar plug for those holes.

PsFiat said:

In Australia, as you can see in the pic, our number plates aren't as wide as Euro plates, so I have these ugly holes either side of the number plate. Any suggestions on making this look better? Has anyone solved this issue themselves ? Looking for a chrome or similar plug for those holes.View attachment 156608

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My car is black so those plugs looked even worse! I bought a packet of four black plastic plugs from Autobarn. They consist of a round plug with a separate pin that you push in to spread the inner 'claws'. The pin sat flush with the top as you can see below. Finding suitable white ones was more problemmatic.

The original plugs had to be snapped off from inside the lid to remove them - the nylon is quite hard.

Since then, due to my number plate being stolen, I've added a full-size rear 'adaptor' from Secureaplate. It's powder-coated aluminium and pre-drilled. It might look better with black screws but I fitted stainless ones with nuts inside the boot lid. The partner's car is fitted likewise but with security screws. Even with the silver screws it still looks better than original (well, I think so anyway).

Piccolo Nero e Bella said:

My car is black so those plugs looked even worse! I bought a packet of four black plastic plugs from Autobarn. They consist of a round plug with a separate pin that you push in to spread the inner 'claws'. The pin sat flush with the top as you can see below. Finding suitable white ones was more problemmatic.

The original plugs had to be snapped off from inside the lid to remove them - the nylon is quite hard.

Since then, due to my number plate being stolen, I've added a full-size rear 'adaptor' from Secureaplate. It's powder-coated aluminium and pre-drilled. It might look better with black screws but I fitted stainless ones with nuts inside the boot lid. The partner's car is fitted likewise but with security screws. Even with the silver screws it still looks better than original (well, I think so anyway).

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Very impressive .... I wonder if Fiat Au would have anything ?

I have a short plate here in the UK and had the same problem.
The Japanese cars all have a plug in the hole so I went to my fiat dealer here in the UK and asked to look on their computer for parts for a Japanese car and they found the plugs. They cost around £3 for all 4.
I painted them with my touch up stick and put them in. ( you do have to take out the old white plastic screw bits first)

RUI said:

I have a short plate here in the UK and had the same problem.

The Japanese cars all have a plug in the hole so I went to my fiat dealer here in the UK and asked to look on their computer for parts for a Japanese car and they found the plugs. They cost around £3 for all 4.

I painted them with my touch up stick and put them in. ( you do have to take out the old white plastic screw bits first)

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They look perfect! Any more info on the actual part? Might just go to my local Toyota dealer ... Thanks!

Piccolo Nero e Bella said:

It might look better with black screws but I fitted stainless ones with nuts inside the boot lid.

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Get yourself some black spray paint, spray it into the lid (careful some lids have a small hole in them) and apply with a cotton bud

I actually made my own plastic covers that sit flush with the panel and are bonded in from inside. Painted with touch up paint, should be all but invisible. Never got around to actually installing them though

UFI said:

Get yourself some black spray paint, spray it into the lid (careful some lids have a small hole in them) and apply with a cotton bud

I actually made my own plastic covers that sit flush with the panel and are bonded in from inside. Painted with touch up paint, should be all but invisible. Never got around to actually installing them though

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Thanks UFI, I might give that a go. My only concern is that the paint might not adhere well to the stainless and chip off, looking even worse.

It astonishes me that FIAT (Aus) looked at the car with standard plates and thought "Yeah, that's OK". I don't think I've seen any other car with such an 'unfinished' look about it. Even if they'd fitted black blanks instead of the white nylon it wouldn't have looked half as bad, even on light-coloured cars.

Incidentally, I tried to use the S/T screws supplied by Secureaplate to fit the adaptor to the white car and the nylon bushes snapped off inside the boot lid before the screws could be tightened securely, necessitating removal of the trim and clamping the broken piece with pliers so the screw could be removed again. I've replaced the screws with bolts now, with washers and nuts inside. I left the top of the white plugs in place to act a a spacer between the body and the adaptor.

PsFiat said:

In Australia, as you can see in the pic, our number plates aren't as wide as Euro plates, so I have these ugly holes either side of the number plate. Any suggestions on making this look better? Has anyone solved this issue themselves ? Looking for a chrome or similar plug for those holes.View attachment 156608

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This annoyed me too. Nearly spent $700 on a euro style number plate to fit over the holes than came to my senses.

Lakin Plates (google them) have a plate bracket that covers the holes and you can mount a "normal" number plate on the bracket. Cost approx $170, inc bracket, Number plate cover and shipping.

The Secureaplate FIAT rear adaptor costs $35.00 and comes with a variety of security screws, spacers etc. A standard adaptor (for the front) costs $25.00. All before freight of course. Most available covers will fit too.

Piccolo Nero e Bella said:

The Secureaplate FIAT rear adaptor costs $35.00 and comes with a variety of security screws, spacers etc. A standard adaptor (for the front) costs $25.00. All before freight of course. Most available covers will fit too.

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Would I have to respray to match my Gelato White?

Also exploring plugs for the holes.
Another alternative is a set of Euro plates which fit perfectly in those holes I'm told.

PsFiat said:

Would I have to respray to match my Gelato White?

Also exploring plugs for the holes.
Another alternative is a set of Euro plates which fit perfectly in those holes I'm told.

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Yeah, I didn't raise the issue, I like black even on our white car, but I'm pretty sure they only come in powdercoat black. Euro-style plates should cover the holes but I'm not sure about whether they're punched to suit, particularly that offset lower right hole (why do they do that?). In any case, to protect the plates I'd be inclined to fit them with the adaptors rather than screw them direct to the vehicle.

I've considered getting an Euro novelty plate off ebay, and just riveting my WA plate to that. That's the way I'd go if UFI wasn't on a diet

Piccolo Nero e Bella said:

The Secureaplate FIAT rear adaptor costs $35.00 and comes with a variety of security screws, spacers etc. A standard adaptor (for the front) costs $25.00. All before freight of course. Most available covers will fit too.

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Oof. Wish I'd seen that a year ago. Ah well.

UFI said:

I've considered getting an Euro novelty plate off ebay, and just riveting my WA plate to that. That's the way I'd go if UFI wasn't on a diet

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I recommend this Euro plate - it's good looking, have a decent price & quality (installed on my 500 ).
PS! Use some rubber spacer between plate and the boot lid (to protect paint and avoid rattling) for firm installment.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chrome-license-registration-number-plate-surround-holder-frame-/261669104878?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cecb1acee

I have the same issue with my licence plate and can't find something to cover those holes on ebay. Any suggestions??