FAQs

Do all Moose Plates have the “CH” designation?

No. Vanity Moose Plates do not have the “CH” designation because they are designed to have up to six digits on them. The regular Moose Plate has the “CH” designation plus room for five digits, one of which is either a “C” or an “H.”

What does the small stacked “CH” on a standard Moose Plate stand for?

The “CH” stands for “conservation” and “heritage,” two important aspects of New Hampshire’s culture that benefit from funds generated by Moose Plate program.

Who designed the Moose Plate?

Plaistow resident Jim Collins created the design for the Moose Plate. A self-taught artist, Collins painted the four original designs for the license plate: a purple finch, a covered bridge, a maple tree and sap bucket, and the bull moose. The bull moose design was chosen by the public to be the first NH Conservation and Heritage License Plate.

How do I purchase a Moose Plate?

You can purchase a NH Conservation License Plate (Moose Plate) at any time — for your new car, for a car that’s already registered, or even for a friend or family member to use when they register their car! Visit your municipal office in person to make your purchase, whether you’re registering your car for the first time or renewing your registration and changing your plate to a Moose Plate. You can also purchase a gift certificate or print your own gift card for someone you know who doesn’t yet have a Moose Plate but would love one.

More information

How much does a Moose Plate cost?

Purchasing the Moose Plate for the first time costs $38. This includes the $8 standard “reflective plate fee” that you would normally pay to purchase license plates, and $30 toward supporting the NH Conservation and Heritage Program. You will also have to pay the annual vehicle registration fee set by your town or city (this fee varies and is based on your vehicle’s weight and the number of months for which you are registering the vehicle) and the standard state registration fee — just as you would for any vehicle registered in New Hampshire.

Every year that you keep the Moose Conservation License Plate, you will be charged $30 in addition to the annual vehicle registration fee set by your town or city and the standard state registration fee.

Where does the money from my Moose Plate go?

All funds raised through the purchase of a NH Conservation and Heritage License Plate (Moose Plate) help benefit programs that support New Hampshire’s natural, historical and cultural resources.

See recipient agencies

How many digits are on a Moose Plate?

It depends on whether you get a standard issue Moose Plate or a Vanity Moose Plate.

All standard issue Moose Plates have up to five digits, one of which is a “C” (for “Conservation”), an “H” (for “Heritage”), a “P” (for “Preservation”), or a “M” (for “Moose”). These plates also have a small vertical “CH” at the beginning of the individual plate number.

The Vanity Moose Plate can have up to six numbers, letters or symbols in any combination that is currently not being used for any New Hampshire license plate and that fulfills New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicle standards. An “Application for Vanity Plates” form is available at all New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles offices and at many town offices.

Standard Moose Plates have a “C,” “H,” “P,” or “M” as part of their number combination. What do those stand for?

The “C” is for “conservation,” the “H” for “heritage,” the “P” for “preservation,” and the “M” for “Moose.” When you buy a Moose Plate, you’re supporting conservation, heritage and preservation programs across New Hampshire.

What type of vehicles can have Moose Plates?

Passenger motor vehicles and recreation vehicles.

Can I have a Vanity Moose Plate?

You can change your Standard Issue Plate to a Moose Plate when you re-register your vehicle. Just go to your municipal office as you normally do to register or reregister your car and fill out the “Application for Vanity Plates” form. This form will provide you with the option to buy a new Moose Plate as a Vanity Plate. You will be able to put down several combinations for the Vanity Plate you want and the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles will search its database to see if any of those combinations already exist on a currently registered New Hampshire license plate. If your Vanity Plate combination is available, you will receive a new Vanity Moose Plate within 2-3 weeks. You may receive a temporary paper license plate in the meantime.

All Vanity Moose Plates are charged both the $30 Moose Plate fee and the $40 Vanity Plate fee each year. That means that a Vanity Moose Plate will cost you $70 a year. (When you first purchase the plate you will also be charged the standard $8 reflectorized license plate fee, for a total of $78.) This is in addition to the annual vehicle registration fee set by your town or city (this fee varies and is based on your vehicle’s weight and the number of months for which you are registering the vehicle), and the standard state registration fee. Please note that the fees for a Vanity Plate are now prorated. Please see the chart below for the monthly Vanity Plate fee.

1 month: $3.33
2 months: $6.66
3 months: $10.00
4 months: $13.33
5 months: $16.66
6 months: $20.00
7 months: $23.33
8 months: $26.66
9 months: $30.00
10 months: $33.33
11 months: $36.66
12 months: $40.00
13 months: $43.33
14 months: $46.66
15 months: $50.00
16 months: $53.33