Most content about trailer hitch covers assumes you’re starting with a truck or SUV that already has a receiver hitch installed. But plenty of sedan, coupe, and crossover owners without a receiver hitch want the exact same thing: an easy, damage-free way to display a novelty plate or graphic. It turns out you don’t need a hitch at all, thanks to how The Hitch Cover Company built its Interchangeable Hitch Cover® system.
The Part Most People Don’t Realize
A hitch receiver is the most common mounting point, but it isn’t the only one. Some trailer hitch cover systems, including the interchangeable design built by The Hitch Cover Company, are specifically engineered with a second mounting method built in: a rear window deck mount that doesn’t require a receiver hitch, a drill, or any permanent hardware installation at all.
This matters because a huge number of vehicles, most sedans, many crossovers, and older cars without towing packages, simply don’t have a receiver hitch and never will. Without a mounting alternative, all of that personalization potential, sports team pride, novelty designs, custom graphics, would be off the table entirely for those owners.
How a Window Deck Mount Actually Works
Rather than sliding into a hitch receiver tube, a window deck mount sits on the rear window ledge, positioned to hold a 6″ x 12″ plate or graphic upright and visible through the rear windshield area. Because rear window angles vary significantly between vehicle models, a well-designed mount adjusts across multiple positions, typically three, to sit level regardless of your specific vehicle’s window pitch.
No drilling, no adhesive, no permanent modification to your vehicle. The mount rests in place using the natural shape of the window deck, which means it can be removed just as easily as it was installed if you ever want to take it out.
Who This Actually Solves a Problem For
This mounting option matters most for a few specific groups: sedan and coupe owners who want to show team spirit without a hitch, crossover and SUV owners whose vehicle didn’t come with a factory tow package, and anyone driving a leased or newer vehicle who doesn’t want to drill into a bumper or install aftermarket hardware just to display a novelty plate.
It’s also a practical option for seasonal or event use, someone who wants to display a specific design for a road trip, tailgate, or holiday season without committing to a permanent hitch installation they’ll rarely use for actual towing.
What You Can Actually Display This Way
The display format doesn’t change based on mounting method. Whether it’s installed in a hitch receiver or resting on a rear window deck, the same 6″ x 12″ plates and vinyl graphics fit either way, sports team designs, novelty humor plates, military or patriotic graphics, holiday themes, or a custom design representing a business or personal interest.
Installation Time and Effort
This is one of the more underrated advantages of a window-mounted option: there’s genuinely nothing to install in the traditional sense. There’s no tool required, no trip to a shop, and no waiting. The mount adjusts to your window angle by hand, and the plate or graphic slides into place the same way it would on a hitch-mounted version.
A Realistic Comparison to Other Options
Some owners without a hitch consider adhesive-backed plate frames or magnetic mounts instead. Both come with tradeoffs a window deck mount avoids: adhesive options risk paint damage on removal, and magnetic mounts can shift, rattle, or scratch a vehicle’s finish over time, especially at highway speeds. A properly designed window deck mount avoids both of these issues since it isn’t relying on adhesive or magnetism to stay in place.
The Bottom Line for Hitch-less Vehicles
Not having a trailer hitch was never really the barrier to entry it might seem like. With the right hitch cover mounting system, the same personalization options available to truck owners are just as accessible to anyone driving a sedan, coupe, or crossover without towing hardware.
FAQs
Can I display a novelty plate if my car doesn’t have a trailer hitch?
Yes. A rear window deck mount is designed specifically for vehicles without a receiver hitch, requiring no drilling or permanent installation.
Does a window deck mount work on any vehicle?
Most window deck mounts adjust across multiple positions to accommodate different rear window angles, making them compatible with the majority of sedans, coupes, and crossovers.
Will a window mount damage my car’s window or paint?
No. Since it rests in place using the window ledge’s natural shape rather than adhesive or drilling, there’s no damage risk to your vehicle’s window or finish.
Can I use the same plates and graphics on a window mount as a hitch mount?
Yes. Both mounting options are designed for the same standard 6″ x 12″ plate and graphic size, so your display options don’t change based on which mount you use.