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What are Anti-Theft Screws (Security Screws)
License plate security screws are designed for preventing your tag from being stolen, by requiring uncommon bits to install or remove. There are a few different designs using their own special wrench or screw bit, but our favorite style is the one showed above because it is a very uncommon screw head and is harder to remove with pliers than the acorn shaped security screws commonly found at parts stores.
How are License Plate Screws Going to Stop Car Theft?
They won’t! But, there is a reason they are mentioned here. In the event your vehicle is stolen, thieves will likely want to quickly remove anything that will identify your vehicle, most notably the license plate. Using these screws could cause them to have to drive your car further with the tag on it, creating more opportunities for your car to be spotted by the police or license plate recognition software. They are also helpful in the sense that it’s just another thing that will waste their time, add frustration, and hopefully make recovery more likely. While this should be low on your priority list for auto theft prevention, once you have a good layered defense in place, it’s a cheap addition to strengthen your recovery plan as well as protect against the very real threat of license plate theft itself.
How do You Use These Security Screws?
These are typically a simple install, just remove your existing license plate screws that likely just use a standard flat or Phillips head screw, and replace with the security screw using the included special screwdriver bit (you will likely need a screwdriver that uses 1/4″ drive removable bits, but some come with a special little wrench). To make things simpler the products we have recommended below include both common thread types, making them suitable for essentially all vehicles.
Now if you want to get fancy with it… (only do this if you really don’t anticipate the need to remove your tag in the future)
For American/coarse thread screw vehicles: Screw down all four corners if possible. Using two screw head types can make removal even more complicated. If the design of your vehicle allows you to reach your hand around to the back side of where the screws go, you can use the fine thread metric screws along with an M6 locking nut and fender washer to through bolt it to avoid the screws getting ripped out of plastic. Using red LOCTITE thread locker will make removal even more difficult.
For most import (fine thread metric screw) vehicles: Screw down all four corners if possible. Using two screw head types can make removal even more complicated. Using red LOCTITE thread locker will make it very difficult to unscrew these security screws from your car.
Recommended Products:
17 Piece Stainless Steel Security Screw Kit (Coarse Thread, Cannot Find Metric Fine Thread in This Style) (Top Pick)– View on Amazon
Security Torx Style License Plate Screw Kit (Contains Coarse & Fine Thread) (More Budget-Friendly Pick)- View on Amazon
Red LOCTITE 263- View on Amazon
M6 Lock Nuts- View on Amazon
M6 Fender Washers- View on Amazon
