It certainly won’t hurt to be in the know about these things if you’re planning to make a grand presentation of your vehicle tag:

• Check with your state’s DMV if you can customize your front license plate. Other states require that you use the same state issued license plate on both your vehicle’s front and rear areas.
• Know how many characters you can put on the license plate. Verify, too, if punctuation and other special symbols are allowed.
• Get acquainted with the Dictionary of Custom License Plate Terms. This might help you in your pursuit of the right design or statement.
• Fill out all necessary DMV forms for a hassle-free license plate application. Truthfully.
• Expect that you’re to pay more for a personalized license plate. If you’d rather not spend that much these days, there’s always the standard license plate.
• Make sure that you renew your personalized license plate’s registration before its expiration date to continue using it. Don’t forget to pay all due fees, of course.
• Remember that your personalized license plate automatically ends when your vehicle’s registration expires. So mark this important date on your calendar.
• Confirm with your local DMV if it’s legal in your state to have personalized or even plain license plate frames and license plate covers. Learn about all the rules.
• Decide which type of license plate frame you want. There’s one that’s airbrushed, printed, computerized, or LED with scrolling texts or graphics.
• Find a license plate frame or a license plate cover that doesn’t hide what’s on your license plate. Everything it contains should be visible at all times.
• Avoid a license plate cover that’s tinted and colored. Replace one that’s already aging either.
• Whether it’s for a license plate or a license plate frame, pick the design that reflects your sense of style or states your personal stand. Check out the net for ideas, or create your own.
• Never use offensive or misleading messages on your license plate or license plate frame. They probably won’t make it to the road anyway.
• Scout the net and your neighborhood for the best manufacturer of your personalized license plate, frame, and cover. Ask for the best deals.

And while we’re at the issue of legal license plate accessories, why not we cover the license plate covers as well?

Okay, so they promise protection for your license plate—against bugs and dust, thieves and cops, uppity road fashion commentators. Neat! That means one item less from your cleaning list, your OBAMA tag stays, your wallet is safe from traffic ticket fines, your sense of style is lauded (or goes unnoticed—works for me, too, rather than receiving those hurtful remarks… ouch! =P).

But the question is, again, are they legal?

Many license plate covers today boast of invincibility and invisibility. Gone were the days of smoke-colored or tinted covers to escape police detection. What they do now is they use state-of-the-art technologies to bend the light ala-Matrix or diffuse the infrared laser beam ala-Star Wars blah, blah, so no photo-radar or photo-laser cameras could track you down—ever. You’d be like a god anywhere you go, violating all traffic rules, and you’d still keep that Mafia gangstah smirk, right? Wrong!

Aside from MythBusters junking the effectiveness of crystallized and lenticular lens license plate covers to evade traffic cameras, we go back again to the question of legality. Is your state cool with your use of these über cool license plate covers?

I believe that would us bring back to the basic question of them all—of whether your license plates are visible come day, come night.

Now, this license plate frame is one cool way to make getting stuck in traffic at least a bit more exciting. With this flash frame, you can provide amusement for yourself and other people as well. Like when someone tailing your car seems to be suffering from obsessive-compulsive honking, flash “Silencio por favor, amigo.” Or, if there’s some hottie out there on the street you’d like to meet, just flash some totally sweet message or directly ask for his/her number—whichever style works for you. The flash frame’s ad says you can write as many as five messages that can be easily seen come day or night. Wow.

The question is, is this one legal?

It’s better to be on the safe side these days, you know. Like in Arizona, they have this new ruling this year that a license plate frame shouldn’t obscure the state’s name on the license plate. Otherwise, you’d be pulled over and charged a staggering $135, plus $15-$25 for court fees. Ouch.

So c’mon, people, let’s all be proud of our license plates. Everything that’s on the plate—including the state and the tab sticker number—should be out for everyone to see. Paying a $150 or more for a cutie but illegal license frame isn’t worth it at all.

Or, to be on the sure side, we can all just be responsible citizens for once and ask for advise regarding legal and illegal license plate frames from our respective states’ DMV.

A license plate frame, of course, holds or encloses your license plate. But it sure can be used as a form of expression, too. Whether it’s to flaunt your individual style or announce to the nation your views and convictions, it’s up to you. Just see to it that you use your license plate frame to your advantage. Well, it’s more sensible that your car displays a great part of you rather than your car dealer’s boring and cheap-looking advertisements (unless you work for the car dealer or you’re the car dealer himself).

And it’s always smart to invest in those quality license plate frames. You have to consider how durable they are because that dictates how long they’ll serve you. Shiny chromed steel is a recommended material when it comes to these frames’ construction. It’s sturdy and even highlights the frame’s content. Check the graphics as well if they’re firmly applied with a permanent adhesive vinyl decal; one that’s weather-, UV-, and water-resistant.

Now for my OBAMAnia blog series as tribute to the President, here are some of my favorite Obama license plate frames. They’re hip and catchy, bold and celebratory.

You’ve got to be ready, though, for those admiring stares (or intrusive paparazzi!) every time you take out your car for a drive. That’s the price you pay when you have a good-looking frame to match your license plate’s visual value.

It’s amazing how people could transform the simplest things into something else.

Take, for example, the license plate. In essence, it’s your car’s ID, but it has also now become your personal road statement. Like a show-and-tell masterpiece. More than tell the car’s alphanumeric code and the issuing state, a license plate can show someone’s story…

An invitation to your territory.

Your take on issues.

Who you support.

Who you are.

Who you love.

Haha, do people really go around town with a kitty? Hmmm, this might be a cute way to say “Hello” to fellow motorists and curious bystanders.

I’ve just witnessed history unfold this afternoon. And, boy, how I wish to always carry that with me. You know, like the line of a poem that resides in your mind… that echoes in your ears… that looks you straight in the eye… that would have Mr. Smiley hold up that annoying L sign because I’m starting to get really yellow cheesy. But, ye, exactly that kind of impact.

It’s official. He’s now President Barack Obama. He who has been blessed (what his name means in Arabic) among men to rule the most powerful nation standing on the crumbling side of the Earth today. He’s my President and I trust he shall rebuild America. Oh, he said during the inauguration speech, that it’s we who’ll be doing that. =P

So as part of my commitment to supporting my President’s dream, I’ve decided to set aside some thirty bucks (as my pal told me) for this remarkable license plate. It’s symbolic of ex-President Abraham Lincoln’s Bicentennial 56th Presidential Inaugural and 44^th US President Obama’s entry into the White House. Imagine, for that measly amount, I’m gonna be traversing the roads with two freedom fighters on my ride. Freedom from slavery, courtesy of Sir Lincoln and freedom from (looming—please, no!) depression, I really hope, courtesy of Sir Obama.

When you see my two heroes rockin’ down the highway at full speed, take time to think of all the freedom you’ve so long enjoyed.

Whenever you hit the pavement with your ride, various kinds of road debris can damage it from all sides. However, the first thing that will get his is its front-end part and when that happens, its expensive paint job will be in trouble. Getting a paint job these days is really expensive and that’s the last thing that you want to happen. That’s not all, because you can expect chipping, dings, and scratches all over, which do not look good even from afar.

Because of these threats, most owners equip their vehicle with the car bra, which functions like deflectors. A car bra is built primarily to prevent paint damage, dents, and more importantly, it increases your car’s resale value. It’s not only a protective accessory since it can also give your car an aggressive look.

Basically, car bras are made of a thick vinyl material that is perfect for deflecting and protecting the front part of your car. Most car bras out there can also protect the paint underneath it, which is possible because of its soft inner lining. That means that it will remain pristine and unspoiled, even if you’re tumbling and rolling already.

There are various styles, colors, and classes of car bras out there. Some of the most familiar car bra shapes are the full front-end, sports, and T-styles. On the other hand, bra styles include classic car bras, all-weather car bras, color car bras, and luxury car bras.

Despite of these variations, car bras should be able to withstand the difficulties of your daily commute. Additionally, it should be weatherproofed so that it can handle a heavy downpour, snow storms, and the scorching heat of summer. However, when your car bra gets wet, it is important that you remove it and let it dry in order to preserve its quality.

Overall, you need not spend a lot of money to maintain the showroom finish of your car. All you need is a car bra and everything will fall into place.

If you’re getting sick and tired of the dull and boring look of your auto’s fenders, all you actually need are fender flares to give them additional style. The fact is, fender flares are small and inconspicuous items on their own. However, when you attach them on the fender flares, they can give your car that million-dollar look without the accompanying six-digit price tag. You can be sure that your ride will get more than the attention that it needs once these are installed.

Fender flares come in multiple colors and designs. However, most are built to provide every vehicle a tough and aggressive look day in and day out. Aside from providing great looks, fender flares are designed to protect the paint of your vehicle from road debris. That means that you don’t have to worry about your off-road adventures, because these accessories can handle them.

On the other hand, don’t settle for second-rate fender flares out there. Get those that are resistant to the harmful UV rays of the sun and other harsh weather elements. Also, you should make sure that they will fit seamlessly to your fender without ay trouble. That’s not all, because you need to make sure that your replacement fender flares come in four pieces, for all of your ride’s four wheel wells.

When it comes to installation, most fender flares can be attached to the fender via a set of screws and heavy-duty adhesive tape. The fact is, most fender flares these days can be installed without any professional to help you do it. Just make sure that you are able to read and understand all the instructions to prevent any problems.

Using high-quality fender flares is a great way of expressing your personality through your car. With that being said, you can be sure that your vehicle will stand out from a pack of uniform-looking wheels out there.

These days, especially when the money is tight and the economy is not doing well; you don’t want to invest on something that only looks good. People are always looking for something that provides two things at once: aesthetics and functionality. That’s because, everyone just wants to stretch his or her dollar as much as possible. That’s also the case when it comes to your vehicle because you want an accessory or part that will make it look good, while providing topnotch performance at the same time. In short, you want to make the most of your money, without even having to spend that much.

Meanwhile, one part that most enthusiasts are talking about these days is the air deflector. As the name implies, the air deflector is built to prevent bugs, insects, dirt, and air from rushing inside your auto. These elements can surely damage your interior if you don’t pay attention to them and that’s the last thing you want to happen. Aside from that, when water gets inside, there’s a good chance that your interior will have rust in it.

Meanwhile, the air deflector is initially designed to reduce a vehicle’s air resistance when going downhill. However, the constant improvements by the industry have made this accessory a three-bladed knife when it comes to practicality. Aside from reducing resistance, it’s also a good way of improving your auto’s looks without spending too much.

Most air deflectors are made of tough fiberglass in order to make them sturdy against minor collisions. Aside from that, most air deflectors are now built to minimize the noise of the wind that hits your vehicle when you are going at full speed.

On the other hand, make sure that you’re only going to buy a high-quality air deflector from a store that you can trust. That means you should cross out those fly-by-night stores out there that don’t give you any kind of warranty. Meanwhile, using air deflectors is a cheap way of lessening your ride’s drag, while making it look slick and hip all the time. Just be sure that you get it from an authorize dealer, so you won’t have any regrets in the future.

The first thing that most people would think when talking about their vehicle’s illuminating devices are their headlights. As much as the headlights are synonymous to car lighting, there are other lighting devices that every vehicle is equipped with aside from them. One of them is the parking light, which work together with the headlights to provide the best possible visibility on the road.

Basically, the parking lights are primarily built for poorly lit roads that are also too narrow. Also, they come in handy when you want to alert other drivers of your intention to park. On the other hand, not all countries use parking lights these days and in fact, most no longer require them. In the US however, parking lights should have clear lenses in order to emit a bright and white light. However, some versions use amber color in order to distinguish them from red brake lights and the headlights.

The great thing about having parking lights is that they are bright enough to be used as an alternative to busted headlights. They can do this function because they are located in the front part of a vehicle. That means you can see them easily, even in poor visibility conditions. However, if your headlights are working properly, using only your parking lights can earn you a fine or worse, suspension of your license.

On the other hand, replacing broken parking lights is pretty easy to do. In fact, most replacements out there can be installed without even the help of a professional. Just make sure that you have read all the instructions properly before you do the entire installation process.

Overall, safety should be your priority when you’re driving on the road. That means all of your lighting devices should be working the right way and if something is damaged, immediately address the issue to prevent mishaps from happening.