A handle assembly for a vehicle door includes a backplate, operable to be mounted to a portion of the vehicle door, and the backplate including a recessed region displaced away from the exterior surface of the vehicle door. A handle aperture is provided within the recessed region of the backplate with at least one pin mount extending from the recessed region of the backplate. The pin mount includes a void and a slot that is narrower than the void. Pins extend from a handle body portion into the voids and pivotally mount the handle to the backplate. The handle further includes a spring locator retaining a handle spring prior to mounting the handle to the backplate. The spring is compressed between the handle and the backplate and biases the handle to an un-actuated position.