this invention firstly relates to a method for joining a first component made of a plastic material , in particular a thermoplastic and / or thermosetting plastic material , to a second component by applying a joining element on the first component , wherein the joining element has a supporting plate formed of a thermoplastic and / or thermosetting plastic material and comprising a connecting means and a supporting plate bore . the method comprising the steps of incorporating a bore into the first component ; welding the supporting plate to the first component ; and joining the first component and the second component by incorporating a joining means arranged on the second component into the connecting means . due to welding of the supporting plate to the first component , a rivet joint , otherwise generally required for joining the supporting plate to the first component , can be omitted , whereby the production of a junction by means of the inventive joining means is considerably simplified . moreover , weakening of the first component as well as formation of corrosion processes due to different materials used for riveting being adjacent can be avoided . in addition , the invention relates to a joining element for creating a junction in accordance with the method . furthermore , the invention relates to a device , in particular for performing the method .