I'm currently shooting a film about a Serial Killer. It's really nasty stuff, and the main character is really not a nice guy.

Anyway... the actor playing the role has allowed us to use his car in the film, and his number plate appears on screen in a couple of scenes. Seeing how vile his character is... i'm starting to get a little worried that i'm showing his actual number plate on screen for all to see.

What are your thoughts on this? Should i blur it out, leave it, crop the shot? Am i just over-analysing things?

I wouldn't worry about long shots, but I would avoid closeups of it if possible.

The shot i'm most worried about is a mid shot with the number plate clearly in focus in the center of the screen! LOL...

I would have to see the shot to give a better opinion. You could soft blur the plate, so the effect isn't as obvious.

Also, I would worry less if this was an online short. There are a lot of movies with license plates in view. If it's a feature going to DVD, I would probably blur it.

Can't crop it out in post?
Can you re-shoot the scene without the plate?
Can you get a After Effects replacement plate layered over it, like GEdwards does in Monsters?

All good ideas so far...
I'll take a screen shot tonight and post it.

Motion track in a vanity plate.