My 4 inch drop hitch doesn't obstruct the license plate. However, I always take it off if I'm not towing. That's to make sure my hitch stays mine. :thumbsup:
After a couple of years up here they rust in place and become permanently mounted anyhow. When my 2015 was traded the hitch went with it because I couldn't get it out. OTOH the drop on my Ranger is one which I picked up off the road a couple of years ago... I saw another last week which had fallen off somebody's vehicle but the traffic was too heavy to stop and grab it. Apparently they don't stay in very long if you neglect to put the retaining pin in.