Removing a stubborn rusted license plate screw

If you have a hard time trying to remove a license plate screw or if the screw head is stripped, you can try to remove it this way.
Simply rip the old plate off. Doing so will create a space between the screw head and the car body. Spray some penetrating oil onto the screw and let it soak a bit. You can now use a pair of pliers to grip and turn the screw loose. A long pair of pliers like the one I used in the video gives you better leverage to remove the stubborn screw.
My vehicle is a 2009 Toyota Prius.
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[@ryancampion832]

Out of all the videos on this topic, this is the only one that worked for me. Well combined with another vid that recommended I buy some vise grips, which helped immensely. Simply tearing off the plate was critical for exposing enough grippable surface though. Just bought some anti-rust coated replacement bolts too. Thanks dude!

[@wtam69]

Enough grip is the key. My low profile laminated plier helped me too. Thanks for your feedback.

[@trainkid16]

I just had a screw that was so stripped nothing would work to get it out. Your suggestion was perfect!

[@wtam69]

Great.

[@miketobin2324]

Very informative! I find it fascinating that you didn't replace those old, rusted screws after they gave you so much grief this time around...... lol

[@wtam69]

You’re right. I think there’s a special size screw. I think the dealers just use any old screws when they put on your plates when you buy your car. My other car had the same problem. Makes it difficult for you to replace the screw later on. Just like you need a stubby green screw to attach a ground wire to a metal electrical box. Any other screw will be regarded as a code violation.

[@hopefully2224]

Of course he did!!!. Why should he think he should trust putting his identity out there on line?

[@homemovies751]

@@wtam69 ACE Hardware has a special cabinet including "license plate screws".

[@wtam69]

@@homemovies751 Thanks for this useful bit of info. Next time I know where to go.

[@fmmaj9noname332]

This is the ONLY thing that worked! WD-40 didn't work, using a heavy-duty screwdriver didn't budge, and the Vise-Grip just slipped off. But tearing off the old plate (using the Vise-Grip) and using the Vise-Grip "sideways" (flattened against the car as opposed to perpendicular) gave me enough torque to easily move screws, even though the screwdriver wouldn't move the screws for a few more turns. Thanks so much for the tip!

[@wtam69]

I’m glad it worked for you as well. It appears to be a simple job but it can be a pain.

[@bertcochran6443]

You live in the rust belt, lots of salt. Mechanics love it. Thanks for posting.

[@wtam69]

You got that right.

[@ididit2003]

Thanks for this great idea. I tried all other ways to unscrew the rusted screws. but none of them work for me. Until I saw your video, I realize that I can just break the frame to create space for plier to unscrew the rusted screws.

[@Lgonz053]

Trying this out tomorrow. Any tips on how to break the frame?

[@michaelsicowitz362]

I found a way, almost gave up but did this. Using your screwdriver clamp a vise grips to the screwdriver and carefully turn the rusted nut not to snap it. The vise grip's added leverage makes it almost easy. Those rusted screws hadn't been moved in 18yrs, soak in WD40 20min first. Works

[@dogearflopper7011]

My man hulked out and won, hell yeah

[@alexmanuel8312]

Very helpful tips. I went crazy & don’t know what to do! I will try your method. Thank you very uch🥰

[@larrygoodman2442]

Thanks for this video!!! I had the same issue and this helped me remove the screw so I could put on my new plate.

[@0Ghostie0]

Awesome, thanks. I was thinking of doing that but wasn’t sure if it’d be a good idea.

[@tzldrummer]

Thanks for the video! Vice grips ended up working eventually. Went and bought new screws, applied anti seize and tightened the new screws just enough with a manual screw driver to hopefully prevent another headache.

[@wtam69]

@@tzldrummer Thanks for your input. It can be a pain but I’m glad you got it done.

[@woodstream6137]

Glad i watched. Bolts are rusted on my 14yo Prius and i was going to grab an impact. Didn't know the nut in back could detach. Still have a month so ill try a few sessions with penetrating oil before i destroy the old plate. I wonder if anybody has ever just epoxied the new plate over an old one, lol.

[@wtam69]

I think the idea is carefully apply force rather than brute force. Let the penetrating oil work. An impact wrench can sometimes apply too much force. Good Lucy.

[@nathankent6356]

That worked!! Thanks man

[@wtam69]

@@nathankent6356 Thanks for adding your comment and I’m glad it worked for you.

[@fredpatzold5685]

That's what he's doing I thought it was to catch the penetrating oil LOL

[@DlfnGrl68]

OMG, I'm sorry but I've gotta say it, your voice reminds me of Christopher Walken. I guarantee you could do a PERFECT impression. Anyways, thnx for the video!!

[@wtam69]

When I hear Walken, he doesn’t sound like me that much. But you can be right. I sound like him and he doesn’t sound like me.

[@rae7739]

What if theres a frame

[@Luke-san]

You should replace those with some inox hex key ones. A lot less dangerous in regards to slipping away with a crosshead screwdriver and damaging the paint. Also less prone to theft I would suppose. Happy New Year!

[@wtam69]

Thanks for your valued suggestion. What was a seemingly straight forward job turned out to be not so straight forward for me. This. 12 old Prius endured a catalytic converter theft 4 months ago. Hope no one will try anything soon. Happy New Year to you and yours!

[@Luke-san]

@@wtam69 Catalytic converter theft. I have yet to hear such thing over here in the Benelux but saw it in plenty of KZbin videos from you guys in the states. Here I've heard that tourists that went to the South of France had their license plate stolen and left a note behind to pay a certain amount of money to get it back. Over here if you drive around without a license plate your car gets confiscated. A lot of people carry around a Philips or flathead screwdriver around but not hex keys. Also seems to be different from country to country on how to attach the plate to the car or holder. In France or South Africa they use rivets.

[@wtam69]

@@Luke-san Very interesting story about stolen plates in other countries. Rusted screws to hold license plate is deterrent enough. My catalytic converter was stolen in a lot full of Mercedes’, bmw and other much more expensive cars. Figure that one out. The Toyota dealer told us my car would start because it was missing the catalytic converter. So the story that you can start a Prius without the cat is not always true. The kicker is the computer had to be replaced too as part of the not starting “problem.”

[@wtam69]

Typo in my comment. Dealer told us we couldn’t start the car because the catalytic converter was missing.

[@woodstream6137]

​@@wtam69they like stealing prius cats because they're hybrid so the cats are in better condition than combustion engines. At least that's one theory.

[@chrisk8208]

My go to for Phillips head screws that don't want to play is to apply penetrating solution, wait, smack the back of the screwdriver with a hammer and then put a rubber band between the screwdriver and the screw head and smack it with a hammer whilst turning the screwdriver anti clockwise.

[@wtam69]

Great suggestion. I was thinking of different ways to attack this problem after trying the obvious solutions. It was getting cold and the light was fading...

[@chrisk8208]

@@wtam69 Hi, thanks for the video. Honestly in the same light / cold situation, I'd have likely just hit it with the impact drill and faced the same problem you had, with the dislocated nut. We live and learn. Thanks for sharing and saving me that problem in the future.

[@joeschmoe2697]

Worked great, thanks!

[@mariabaumgartel766]

Clever, thank you

[@shaheeralikhan9561]

Dude trying so hard to hide his number 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@omargetem1672]

Sorry guess I was too busy focused on solving the problem I didn’t realize he covered the plate in the video.. but seeing comments at least I’ll have the decency to say who cares he covered the plate bc we’re only watching this for guidance. Let’s stop judging others and appreciate their value.

[@shaheeralikhan9561]

@@omargetem1672 ok babe only for u

[@Gonzo_OG]

@@shaheeralikhan9561 🤣

[@Trizzy_68]

I don’t get this comment…

[@stevenpoljak9762]

dude trying so hard to look tough in his profile photo 😂

[@lonewolfx499]

It worked! Thank you so much!

[@Erdie5]

The nut twisted off on my car. That day I found out the Rogue has a plastic lift gate! Worked out okay, I just attached the screw and nut to the new plate, smeared epoxy on the nut and pushed it back into the plastic lift gate. I put anti seize on the screw, so with any luck next time it'll just unscrew. Maybe.

[@wtam69]

Thanks for the solution to this not often mentioned problem. No one thinks about this until you find you cannot easily remove your license plate.

[@paigeandjeremy236]

Ha! It worked for me!

[@Kat-rv5rj]

Mine snapped off sigh

[@HiFiInsider]

I have the exact problem.

[@wtam69]

Yes, you have to use just the right amount of force. Too much and the nut inside will spin round and round. Not a serious thing, just a little annoying.

[@mistervacation23]

Never mind the man that contemplates doing away with license plates,

[@michaelburgos6806]

Haha, Slingblade is so good.

[@mistervacation23]

@@michaelburgos6806 Classic

[@brotherkossi]

All the rusted license plate bolt videos that I've been seeing are from Toyota owners. It's a ridiculous toyota thing. I got a 5y old lp bolt on my camry and its seized, while I have a 7y old lp crew on a german car and I can still remove it. That's bcs the German car has a platic insert to hold the screw. It prevents it from rusting. Stingy toyota just left it metal on metal... Ridiculous! I mean, how much will that tiny plastic add to the overall manufacturing cost of the car??? Less than a dollar, yet Toyota is too cheap to add that and leaving us to fend for ourselves..

[@wtam69]

I don't think they give the dealers the right screws to screw on your license plates when you buy your car. They just use any old screws and are rusted within a month.

[@jeffmilroy9345]

Its brilliant mechanical engineering at its best. If you own a Toyota simply notch around the new plate's bolt holes and drill a rivet hole along the side. Then charge Toyota engineering time and mechanic labor rates come time to deal on a new car. I figure 500 bucks off the dealers walk away price should suffice.

[@richardlapera77]

Have an Avolon and a nice plastic bolt into a metal slot....so... the plastic bolt broke off. Even with after removing the plate & gripping the bolt again.

[@rarerides]

Still doesn't work for me, this thing is STUCK :(

[@wtam69]

Last resort to drill it out with small drill bit so u don’t damage nut on the inside of the car.

[@cityxlovee]

did you get it off?

[@user-qe3kd1ke8t]

That’s smart tho.. lbs

[@nunyabidnis5407]

There is thus stuff called tape. It could be used to hold that paper in place.

[@wtam69]

Yes and thank you.

[@deljean]

😂

[@jkgaming0565]

Why didn’t you just blur out the licenses plate?

[@bassdynasty8840]

Why for?

[@zztop8592]

I tried the pliers, but still broke the screw! lol

[@wtam69]

You can’t win them all.🥲

[@zztop8592]

@@wtam69 Yeah, it seems like they would use plastic backer inserts. The manufacturers used plastic backers in the 1970's, but you can't fix stupid! lol

[@wtam69]

@@zztop8592 I don’t tighten the license Plate too snugly now. Sure people can steal the plates but they can’t steal the car too.

[@zztop8592]

@@wtam69 As easy as it is to steal a plate, I've never had a plate stolen in 50 years of driving.

[@krissm3851]

i hate my damn prius , theres always something

[@wtam69]

We sold ours and got a few thousand for it.

[@krissm3851]

@@wtam69i got it for 3k , ima hold on to it for a while

[@avp0713]

Do you drive around with a cover over your plate? You don’t need to cover it, the car is public. If someone wants to see the plate they can just drive behind you. About removing the plate… this can be difficult as you’ve shown. What about drilling out the screwhead with a dremel? In my case I cannot sacrifice the plate… I need it.

[@wtam69]

Thanks for your input. A dremel might work.

[@elizabethguzman7720]

People are evil. Wifi address and plates can identify his location- better safe than sorry w hackers now a days

[@krissm3851]

update instead getting a wrench, open the back panel and spray wd-40 in the screw inside theres an opening, and outside of the car, so both sides of the screw, and unscrew it with a hand held screw driver, im a girl so if i can do it so can you 💗🫶🏼

[@wtam69]

Thanks for your insight. I’m sure it’ll of help.