The German H plate: what a classic car needs
Old enough, close to original, well kept: then a car can carry an H plate (H-Kennzeichen) and pay a fixed tax. What the inspection asks for, what registration costs and when it pays off.
The H plate (H-Kennzeichen) is the classic-car plate under section 10(1) of the vehicle registration ordinance (FZV): an ordinary plate with the letter H after the registration number. Under section 2 no. 22 it requires a vehicle that first went into service at least 30 years ago, is largely in original condition, well preserved and serves to maintain automotive cultural heritage. An expert checks this in a report under section 23 of the road vehicle licensing regulations (StVZO); the testing organisation sets its price. With the report, the registration office allocates the plate for the fee under the road traffic fee schedule (GebOSt), last amended by Art. 6 of the Ordinance of 12 August 2026; Berlin quotes €31.80 as the cheapest case. The advantage is vehicle tax: under section 9 of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act, a flat €191.73 a year for cars and €46.02 for motorcycles, whatever the engine size and emissions. Vehicles with an H plate may also enter low-emission zones.
When can I get an H plate?
At the earliest in
2026
| Age today | 30 |
| Flat vehicle tax per year | €191.73 |
The 30 years run from the day of first registration; a classic-car report is also required.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
When your car qualifies
The 30 years run from the day of first registration, not from the start of the year. The table shows which model years join this year and which follow in the coming years. The calculator for your own vehicle is below the summary.
| First registered | H plate at the earliest | From today |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2026 | from the anniversary this year |
| 1997 | 2027 | in 1 year |
| 1998 | 2028 | in 2 years |
| 1999 | 2029 | in 3 years |
| 2000 | 2030 | in 4 years |
The date of first registration is in field B of registration certificate part I. For imports, the first registration in the country of origin counts, which you must prove with old papers.
The section 23 StVZO report
An officially recognised expert from a testing organisation checks four points: age, largely original condition, good state of preservation and status as automotive cultural heritage. They look at the body, engine, chassis and interior and compare them with the delivery condition and period modifications. The report is often done together with the roadworthiness test. Its price is not an official amount; the testing organisation quotes it on request.
What registration costs
For the registration office, the H plate is a special type of plate for which it charges the fee under the fee schedule. New plates are needed because the H is added. The amounts by case:
| Case | Fee | With small items, no plates |
|---|---|---|
| Switching a registered car to H | €30.00 | €32.60 – €33.60 |
| Switching with a personalised number | €40.20 | €42.80 – €43.80 |
| Registering a deregistered classic with H | €30.00 | €34.60 – €36.10 |
| The same with an old logbook | €35.10 | €39.70 – €41.20 |
| Berlin, cheapest case (retrieved 21 October 2026) | €31.80 | published by the city |
Many classic cars still have an old logbook (Fahrzeugbrief) from before registration certificate part II. It is exchanged at registration, which explains the €5.10 surcharge. Keep the old logbook; the office returns it cancelled, and collectors value it.
When can I get an H plate?
At the earliest in
2026
| Age today | 30 |
| Flat vehicle tax per year | €191.73 |
The 30 years run from the day of first registration; a classic-car report is also required.
Tax: fixed instead of by engine size
With an H plate, the customs office sets vehicle tax as a flat rate under section 9 of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act: €191.73 a year for cars and other vehicles, €46.02 for motorcycles. Engine size, fuel and emission class no longer matter. For a large engine without a catalytic converter that is often a fraction of the normal tax; for a small car with a converter it can be more. Look at your last tax assessment before deciding.
Low-emission zones, seasons and red plates
Vehicles with an H plate are exempt from driving bans in low-emission zones and need no emissions sticker. An H plate can be combined with a seasonal period, in which case the flat tax is also charged only pro rata. If you own several classics and drive them rarely, you can apply to the office for a red classic-car plate used on changing vehicles for trips to events, inspections and workshops; the office sets the conditions.
Common mistakes
First, getting the report too early. Before the anniversary of first registration the office may not allocate an H plate, even with a report. Second, modifications fitted after the inspection; the basis then lapses, and a roadside check can mean trouble. Third, treating the H plate as a pass for poor condition. The roadworthiness test applies unchanged. Fourth, choosing a personalised number so long that the H no longer fits; check this before the reservation. The fee calculator works out the whole registration for your case.