H-plate regulations in 2026

The H-plate is more than just a visual marker: it brings tax benefits, access to environmental zones, and a special legal status for classic vehicles. But for a vehicle to qualify for the H, it must meet clearly defined conditions, and that’s exactly what the appraisal under §23 StVZO is for.

Requirements for the H-plate

For a vehicle to be legally recognised as a classic, three conditions must be met:

1. Minimum age of 30 years from first registration. The cut-off date is the day of the appraisal, so a vehicle from 1994 is in principle eligible from the start of 2024.
2. State of preservation: the vehicle must be in a condition that largely matches its original state at first delivery. Maintenance, care, and repairs are allowed, restoration is too, provided it is period-correct and uses appropriate materials.
3. Cultural significance: the vehicle must be suitable for preserving automotive cultural heritage. In practice, this means: no heavy modifications, no modern tuning, no changes that destroy the historical character.

Changes to the vehicle are not automatically excluded, but they must be period-correct. A sports exhaust available on the market in the 1980s may be acceptable. A modern LED headlight upgrade on a 1985 model, on the other hand, would not be.

How the appraisal works at our station

The classic-vehicle appraisal under §23 StVZO is a standalone assessment carried out at our premises. We recommend booking a separate appointment for it, the inspection takes significantly longer than a regular HU and requires a thorough visual examination of the interior and exterior, the engine bay and the underbody.

Please bring with you:

• Your vehicle registration document and any available papers on the vehicle’s history
• Any existing restoration documentation (invoices, photos of work carried out)
• Ideally, original literature about the model (sales brochures, workshop manuals)

The better documented the history, the more smoothly the appraisal will run.

If the appraisal is positive

You’ll receive an appraisal under §23 StVZO from us, which you submit to the vehicle registration office. There, the H-plate is issued and recorded in your vehicle papers. The H is valid indefinitely, as long as the vehicle retains its condition. Major modifications may require the status to be reviewed.

If you have questions before the appraisal, particularly about modifications or documentation, give us a call beforehand. We’ll advise you openly, even if the answer sometimes is: “with the vehicle in its current setup, the H will be difficult.”