2007 Toyota Rav4 rear license plate screws

[Graybuck]

I snapped off both screw heads that hold the rear license plate. The remaining portion of the screws are very rusted. Any thought how I can get these screws out so I can get my license plate back on the car?

[Jeremy airjer W]

Welcome to Toyota license plates!

Before they snapped would have been a great time to pull the inside trim panel on the rear hatch/door. You would have seen the nuts that the screws are threaded into. A small amount of heat (I use my butane torch) on those nuts is all that is needed to break the bolts/screws free.

With the trim panel removed you should see a small amount of the bolt sticking through. A good pair of small vise grips and a little heat on the nuts should get them out. You will want to turn them as though you where tightened the heads of the bolts.

If that fails a good chisel and a swift whack with a hammer will nock the nuts from the tack welds that hold them to the body. The only drawback to this is that the door panel will need to be removed the next time you replace the plates in five years.

Over the years I have perfected the art of frozen license plate removal, especially on toyotas.

[Graybuck]

Thanks for the info, how hard is it to remove the inner panel?

[Jeremy airjer W]

You'll probably find some hidden bolts or screws behind or in handles and such. Remove those and pull but not to hard. The clips should start to release. As you get a few of them popped shine a light in there and make sure the clips are holding you up and not a hidden screw or bolts.

[Graybuck]

Thanks Jeremy.