MV-440H

Form MV-440H is the official application and instruction guide for New York State residents to obtain historical license plates for vehicles manufactured more than 25 years before the current calendar year. To qualify, the vehicle must be used exclusively as a collector's item or exhibition piece, weighing no more than 20,000 lbs, and not used for daily transportation. Standard historical plates feature the word HISTORICAL and end in the letters HL for cars and trucks or HC for motorcycles, with personalized combinations available for an additional fee.

The application process requires several specific documents, including a completed MV-440H form, a Vehicle Registration/Title Application (MV-82), a photocopy of the applicant's driver license, and proof of ownership such as a title or transferable registration. Applicants must also provide a valid New York State Insurance ID Card specifically marked with the word HISTORICAL and a sales tax receipt if the vehicle was never registered in their name in New York. Fees vary depending on the vehicle type and current registration status: standard historical plates for passenger vehicles cost $28.75 if currently registered or $53.75 if not, while motorcycles cost $23.75 or $37.50, respectively. Additional costs apply for personalized plates, title fees for 1973 or newer models ($50.00), and certain regional metropolitan transportation district taxes. Completed applications must be mailed to the DMV Custom Plates Unit in Albany.