Veteran License Plates by State (2026)
Every U.S. state issues at least one veteran license plate, and most issue between 15 and 40 distinct designs covering combat decorations, branch of service, war era, and family of the fallen. The fee structure ranges from completely free for service-connected disabled veterans to a $50 specialty surcharge on top of base registration. Twelve states waive the registration fee entirely on at least one veteran category, eighteen states grant toll-road exemptions to combat-decorated plates, and forty-one allow the plate to function as a disabled-parking permit when paired with the wheelchair symbol.
The seven plate categories that exist nationwide
Veteran license plate offerings vary by state, but seven core categories appear in nearly every DMV catalog. Each one carries a different evidentiary burden and a different fee structure.
- Veteran (general) — any honorably discharged veteran. Documentation: DD-214 showing character of service. Fee: $10-$30 plus base registration in most states.
- Combat Wounded / Combat Veteran — proof of combat-zone service via DD-214 block 18 or campaign medal. Fee: typically waived.
- Purple Heart — Purple Heart certificate or DD-214 line entry. Fee: free in 47 states, $10-$15 in the others.
- Pearl Harbor Survivor — proof of service at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Fee: free in all 50 states; cohort under 100 living recipients as of 2026.
- Former Prisoner of War (POW) — DD Form 214 plus VA letter or POW Medal. Fee: free in all 50 states; plate doubles as a disabled-parking placard in 38 states.
- Gold Star Family — proof of immediate family relationship to a service member who died on active duty. Fee: free in 49 states (Mississippi charges $11).
- Disabled American Veteran (DAV) — VA award letter showing service-connected disability rating, usually 50% or higher (10% in some states). Fee: free in 44 states for 100% rated; tiered in others.
The DAV category is where the largest financial benefit hides. A 100% service-connected disabled veteran in California, Florida, Texas, or New York pays zero in registration, zero in vehicle license fee or property tax, and in most cases skips smog inspection too. Across a 10-year vehicle ownership window, the cumulative savings exceed $4,000 in California alone. Our disabled veteran fee waiver guide breaks down the rating thresholds and surviving-spouse rules in all 51 jurisdictions.
Service-branch specialty plates
Beyond the decorations and family categories, all 50 states issue branch-of-service plates that any honorably discharged veteran of that branch can order. As of 2026 the standard menu in most states includes Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force — the latter rolled out across 38 state DMVs between 2022 and 2025. Several states also distinguish between active-duty, retired, and Reserve/National Guard variants. Branch plates carry a small specialty surcharge, generally $10-$30 annually, with proceeds split between the state veterans-affairs office and a designated military memorial fund.
Documentation for branch plates is the same DD-214 requirement, except in Alaska and New Mexico where a current Veterans Health ID Card is also accepted. The Coast Guard variant requires DD-214 from the Coast Guard, and pre-1967 service members must provide their original discharge certificate because DD-214 was not issued before that year.
Toll-road exemptions
Eighteen states currently waive tolls for vehicles displaying a combat-decorated plate. The exemption almost always requires the driver to be the registered plate holder and to use either a state-issued transponder programmed to the veteran account or a manual-stop lane.
| State | Plates Eligible for Toll Exemption | Transponder Required |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Purple Heart, POW, MOH, Pearl Harbor | SunPass Plus |
| Texas | Purple Heart, POW, MOH, DAV (100%) | TxTag |
| Illinois | Purple Heart, POW, ex-POW, DAV | I-PASS |
| Pennsylvania | Purple Heart, POW, MOH | E-ZPass |
| New Jersey | Purple Heart, POW, DAV (60%+) | E-ZPass |
| Virginia | Purple Heart, MOH, POW, Pearl Harbor | E-ZPass |
| Oklahoma | Purple Heart, MOH, DAV | Pikepass |
| Maryland | Purple Heart, POW, DAV (100%) | E-ZPass MD |
Most exemption programs are administered by the toll authority, not the DMV. After the plate is issued, the veteran must enroll separately with the toll agency and submit the plate registration plus DD-214. The transponder is often free; some states (Florida, Maryland) ship a pre-programmed unit by mail within 14 days of approval.
Parking benefits
Forty-one states allow a Disabled Veteran or Disabled American Veteran plate with a wheelchair symbol or DV-DP designation to park in any space reserved for persons with disabilities, exactly as if a separate disabled placard were displayed. The qualifying disability rating differs: California requires a VA-confirmed loss-of-limb or blindness rating, Texas requires 50% service-connected mobility-related, and Florida accepts any 100% rating. The parking benefit does not extend to general veteran plates without the disability symbol.
State-by-state availability and base specialty fee
| State | Distinct Veteran Plate Designs | General Veteran Plate Fee | DAV / Combat-Wounded Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 32 | $50 initial + $40 renewal | $0 |
| Texas | 110+ | $3-$8 specialty | $0 |
| Florida | 26 | $15 specialty | $0 |
| New York | 40+ | $28.75 | $0 |
| Pennsylvania | 21 | $22 specialty | $0 |
| Georgia | 32 | $25 specialty | $0 |
| Ohio | 30 | $15 specialty | $0 |
| Illinois | 22 | $27 specialty | $0 |
| North Carolina | 34 | $30 specialty | $0 |
| Virginia | 50+ | $10 specialty | $0 |
| Michigan | 17 | $5 specialty | $0 |
| Arizona | 21 | $25 specialty | $0 |
How to apply
- Pull DD-214, member-4 or member-1 copy. Request a replacement free from the National Archives eVetRecs portal if missing.
- Gather supporting paperwork: VA disability rating letter for DAV, Purple Heart certificate, POW Medal citation, or Gold Star kinship documents.
- Locate the state DMV's specialty-plate application. Most states use a dedicated form (e.g., California REG 256A, Texas VTR-421, Florida HSMV 83034).
- File in person or by mail. Many veteran categories cannot be ordered online because the DMV must verify the underlying military document.
- Wait 4-12 weeks for production. Custom embossing and unit numbers add another 2-4 weeks.
Common pitfalls
The most expensive mistake is applying for a general veteran plate when the underlying record qualifies for a free decorated plate. A combat veteran who orders the standard veteran plate pays the specialty fee for life, when the same DD-214 would have produced a free Combat Veteran or Purple Heart plate. The second pitfall is not transferring the plate at vehicle sale: most veteran plates are personal to the holder and must be surrendered or moved to the next vehicle within 30 days, not handed over with the title. The third issue affects active-duty members on PCS orders — see our SCRA guide for keeping home-state veteran plates while stationed elsewhere.
Save on auto insurance while you're at it
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — State Benefits Directory, 2026 edition
- National Conference of State Legislatures — Specialty License Plate Survey
- State DMV / DOR specialty-plate catalogs (CA, TX, FL, NY, PA, GA, OH, IL, NC, VA)
- American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators — Veteran Plate Standards
- Toll authority public records: SunPass, TxTag, E-ZPass, I-PASS, Pikepass