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Modifications Civic X
1

Hello, since I saw little information about this, I have been researching. Can a small front license plate be installed?

It is not factory approved* to carry a small front license plate. It requires a compliance report* from Honda Spain and subsequent approval at the ITV if you want to legalize it.

Steps to legalize the small license plate:

  1. Request a Compliance Report from Honda Spain
    *Through: honda.es – Certificate of Conformity
    *Free if it’s the original; €175 if it’s a duplicate.
  2. Go to an ITV station with the report
  • To modify the car’s technical sheet and legalize the use of a small license plate.
  1. Install an approved license plate
  • Only on the front, and only if it is approved on the technical sheet.

:warning: Not allowed:

  • Installing a small front license plate without approval.
  • Installing a small license plate on the rear (never allowed).

:money_with_wings: Risk of penalty:

  • Fine of €200 if you carry an illegal license plate (due to size, visibility, or location).

Then you have a ``legal´´ loophole that says:

Yes, but only if certain technical conditions are met and adequately justified. According to Spanish regulations, a small license plate can be installed if:

  1. Lack of physical space: The vehicle design prevents the installation of a standard license plate.
  2. Interference with vehicle elements: The large license plate obstructs ventilation grilles or other essential components.
  3. Structural modifications: A bumper has been installed that only accommodates small license plates.

Honda Spain offers the possibility to request the COC through their official page. For this, you will need:

Having said all this, the cost of approval:

  • Compliance Report from Honda Spain:
  • Free if you already have the original document.
  • €175 if you need to request a duplicate of the European Certificate of Conformity (COC).
  • Inspection at the ITV for modification without a project**:
  • Between €55 and €65 (in Madrid) depending on the autonomous community and whether a technical project is required.
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2

Is there original license plate support for the small one or does it have to be placed directly on the bumper?

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3

They exist but not original ones, you can put one that is adjustable and change it as needed. But if you want it permanent, you have to get it approved.

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4

Well, I’d like to fit the small plate; I’ve had one on my other car for 15 years and they’ve never said anything at the ITV, but that’s a bit of an exceptional case because it’s an American car and the standard plate blocked the air intakes A LOT. Because of that, it fell under the provision for imported cars where the intakes get obstructed, but I don’t see it as clearly with the Civic, even though it does block it a bit at the bottom.

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5

On my Focus, I have the small plate on, even though it’s not in the logbook and theoretically isn’t homologated for it, but you can get away with it because the stock license plate holder on this model is small. The Guardia Civil stopped me once and warned me that I should be using the large one; however, after that, I checked with the ITV and they told me that since the space is small, I could use that plate, but it’s better to have it listed in the logbook. Honestly, it depends a lot on who you ask; everyone tells you something different…

On the Civic, it stands out more since the factory gap is for a large plate. I get that if you change the plate holder and everything, it could be considered a major modification. I think to avoid any trouble, you should get it homologated. Anyway, the large plate doesn’t look as bad on this one as it does on other models.

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6

Do you know if it’s possible to get a small license plate approved without the license plate holder? In other words, with the plate attached directly to the bumper?

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7

ChatGPT says so… the official on duty will be able to confirm it for you 100% humanly :rofl:

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8

My inspector says that it absolutely needs the short license plate holder, but that AI works wonders :rofl:

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