does the front of the vehicle in the middle protrude more than the rest (ie where the plate is currently)
then why not mount it on one side of the bumper..
then again without seeing what the front end of your car looks like its hard to advise.
you could make up a mesh or something to protect it
then again buy a new plate, then sticky pad it to the bumper or something then when you are offroading
remove the plate
sorted
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