a cross sectional view taken from fig1 further illustrating the hatch assembly 50 of the universal license plate cord winder of the present invention wherein a hatch 20 having a perforation therethrough accepts a snap type connector 28 integral with the hatch knob and a spring pin 57 is slidably engaged between the upper spring guide 46 and the upper inner surface of the outer wall portion of the housing 2 and between the lower spring guide 47 and the lower inner surface of the outer wall portion of the housing 2 the housing 2 integrally includes a secondary spring pin 56 on which a compression spring 24 frictionally attaches therearound said spring 24 also frictionally attaches to the spring pin 57 of the hatch 20 the hatch 20 being slidably engaged within the housing thereby can be moved against the spring 24 to gain access to the male power cord through an opening 58 in the housing 2 created by raising the hatch 20 and automatically closes against the power cord when hatch knob 22 is released the spring 24 by applying greater pressure onto the male cord than the pressure excreted by the recoil spring of the reel thereby allows said springed hatch 20 to act as a brake to prevent male cord wire from recoiling when in use to recoil said cord user simply lifts hatch 20.