Car license plate screw size
M6 · 12 to 20 mm long
If you are replacing a screw on Car license plate, the thread is M6 in lengths from 12 to 20 mm.
Where it is used: holds the plate to the bracket or bumper.
This entry is marked reported and comes from autozone.com.
An M6 screw is 6 mm in diameter with a 1 mm pitch, tapped with a 5 mm drill; imperial look-alike: 1/4in-20 (6.35 mm) — the tripod/camera thread; visibly larger than M6.
Car license plate screw specifications
One row per fitment record. Head, drive are shown only where the source states them; pitch is the ISO coarse pitch for the thread.
| Thread | Length | Pitch | Head | Drive | Where it goes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M6 | 12–20 mm | 1 mm | not stated | not stated | holds the plate to the bracket or bumper | Reported |
Fitment records and sources
holds the plate to the bracket or bumper
pitch 1 mm · tap 5 mm · clearance 6.6 mm · PH3 / Torx T30
How to check the screw before you buy
- Board standoffs and enclosure bosses set the usable length: the screw should clamp the board without bottoming in the standoff.
- Diameter: across the threads an M6 screw measures about 6 mm with calipers (usually a hair under). If yours measures noticeably more or less, it is a different thread.
- Pitch: 1 mm from one thread crest to the next (10 crests per centimetre). A thread pitch gauge or the pitch-gauge tool settles it in seconds.
- Length: measure from under the head to the tip for pan, button, wafer and cap heads; countersunk (flat) heads are measured overall.
- The records span 12–20 mm, which means different positions take different lengths — match each hole to its own screw.
- Driver: the source does not name the drive. Standard M6 heads take PH3 for Phillips and T30 for Torx, and a 5 mm hex key for socket heads; a bit that fits loosely will cam out and strip the head.
- Tightening: no device-specific torque is published in these records. The site's general figure for M6 is about 7-10 N·m into metal threads and 2.5-4.0 N·m into plastic bosses; snug it up and stop.
Common mix-ups with M6
- Rack hole threads vary: 10-32 and 12-24 are still common in US racks alongside M6 - check the rail before buying.
- Trailer license plate mounts frequently use 1/4 inch screws in the US, but international and many modern bracket kits have shifted to M6.
Buy these screws at TechSpare Warehouse
In stock and shipped from South Carolina. Our black screws are Phillips wafer head (low profile); match the head style and length to the original before you order.
More in Electronics, Racks & Enclosures
The same screw also fits
Devices whose records share a thread with Car license plate, closest length match first.
- MikroTik MTAD-5G-30D3-PA parabolic dish also M6 × 20 mm
- Rack ears on pro-audio gear also M6 × 12 mm
- Rad Power Bikes RadMini 4 also M6 × 20 mm
- Industrial machinery also M6 × 12–20 mm
- Weight machine adjustment brackets also M6 × 15–20 mm
- 19in / 10in server rack cage nut and screw kit also M6 × 12 mm
- Patch panel rack ears also M6 × 12–16 mm
- Rack-mount servers, switches and routers also M6 × 19 mm
Questions about Car license plate screws
- What size screw does Car license plate use?
- M6 × 12–20 mm for holds the plate to the bracket or bumper.
- How long are the screws in Car license plate?
- The records range from 12 to 20 mm depending on the position, so match each screw to its own hole.
- What is the thread pitch of an M6 screw?
- 1 mm (coarse), which is the standard pitch for M6 machine screws; a 0.75 mm fine pitch exists but is uncommon. The tap drill is 5 mm and the normal clearance hole is 6.6 mm.
- What screwdriver do I need for Car license plate?
- The sources do not name the drive. For M6, Phillips heads normally take PH3 and Torx heads T30; socket heads take a 5 mm hex key.
- Can I use an imperial screw instead of M6?
- No. Imperial look-alike: 1/4in-20 (6.35 mm) — the tripod/camera thread; visibly larger than M6. Use a true M6 screw so it does not cross-thread or strip the hole.