Legislative Changes – Plates for Disabled Veterans and Gold Star Families
Updated:
Date: September 4, 2024
Bulletin: All Dealers and Title Service Agencies
From: Central Operations Vehicle Services Division
Effective October 1, 2024, there are two new laws related to plates for disabled veterans and Gold Star families. These new laws create special registration procedures for certain customers.
Disabled Veteran Registration Plates
This law creates a new special, non-logo disabled veteran registration plate and defines who is
eligible to receive the new plate.
Who can apply for this plate?
The customer must have:
- A letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stating that the customer has a service-connected disability rating between 50-99% or service-connected disability unemployability rating of 50-99% and
- A Class A, D, E, or M vehicle.
How does a customer apply for this new plate?
The customer must:
- Complete and submit the Application for Military Related License Plates (VR-120) - PDF (1)
- Include with the application a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stating that the customer has a service-connected disability rating between 50-99% or service-connected disability unemployability rating of 50-99% and
- Pay the annual or bi-annual registration and surcharge fee during the registration renewal process.
This plate is free. MVA will not charge a customer the $20 substitution or replacement fee charge for this plate.
What does this new plate look like?
The plate scheme is SC##### for Class A, M or E vehicles or ####SC for Class D vehicles. The words “Disabled Veteran” will be at the bottom of the plate. This plate will not display the universal disability logo.
(1) This form has been updated, and the new form will be posted online on October 1, 2024.
What happens if the ownership of the vehicle with this plate is transferred?
The MVA will issue a substitute standard plate at no charge and transfer ownership to a non-qualifying individual if:
- The vehicle is jointly owned by the qualified disabled veteran and their spouse and the
disabled veteran who qualified for this plate needs to be removed from the ownership. - The vehicle is transferred to someone who is not eligible for this plate.
These changes were made by Senate Bill 55 (Chapter 473 - PDF ) and House Bill 178 (Chapter 472 - PDF ).
Gold Star Family Plates
The law allows for the family of the recipient of a U.S. Department of Defense Gold Star and Next of Kin lapel button to apply for a special registration plate and not pay the initial fee to obtain the plate.
Who can apply for this plate?
The customer must have a copy of:
- A copy of the DD-3 or DD-1300 approved by the U.S. Department of Defense or an overseas death certificate issued by the military indicating the name and date of birth of the deceased service member and
- A Class A, D, E, or M vehicle.
How does a customer apply for this plate?
The customer must:
- Complete and submit the Application for Military Related License Plates (VR-120) (2) and
- Include a copy of the DD-3 or DD-1300 approved by the U.S. Department of Defense or an overseas death certificate issued by the military indicating the name and date of birth of the deceased service member and
- Pay the annual or bi-annual registration and surcharge fee during the registration renewal process.
This plate is free. MVA will not charge a customer the $25 fee to obtain this plate.
What does this plate look like?
Images of the Gold Star Lapel Button (left image) and Gold Star Next of Kin (right image) plates are below.
These changes were made by Senate Bill 275 (Chapter 25 - PDF ) and House Bill 231 (Chapter 24 - PDF ).
For any questions, please contact the Vehicle Services Division, Brian Forde
[email protected], Shanequa Richards-Marks [email protected]. or
Winfield Duffy [email protected].