More Special License Plates for California Veterans
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues registration cards and license plates for all vehicles in
California.
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Disabled Veterans
Service-connected disabled veterans with any of the
conditions listed below may receive, free of charge, a set of special "DV" plates which permit
free parking at all parking meters in the state with no time limit, and allows for parking in
handicapped zones. USDVA proof of service connection is required. The veterans service-connected
disability must:
- Be rated at 100% service-connected AND must substantially impair or interfere with mobility.
- Require the use of an assistive device for mobility.
- Have resulted in the loss or loss of use of one or more limbs.
- Have rendered the veteran permanently blind.
| Details |
 | Medal of Honor
Any California recipient of the Medal of Honor
is eligible for one set of free commemorative license plates. | Details |
 | Legion of Honor
Veterans who are recipients of some of the
other highest decorations for valor are eligible for special Legion of Honor license plates. | Details |
 | Ex-Prisoners of War
Former American Prisoners of War are
eligible for one set of free commemorative license plates. | Details |
 | Pearl Harbor Veterans
Any veteran who was stationed at
Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, is eligible for special Pearl Harbor Survivor plates. | Details |
 | Purple Heart
Any veteran who was the recipient of a Purple
Heart is eligible for special Purple Heart plates. | Details |
To obtain applications, please contact your local DMV
office, auto club or County
Veterans Service Office.
Disabled Veteran Plates
California Vehicle Code Section 5007. (a) The department* shall, upon application and
without additional fees, issue a special identification license plate or plates to a disabled person or
disabled veteran, pursuant to procedures adopted by the department.
(b) The special identification plates issued to a disabled person or disabled veteran shall run in a
regular numerical series which shall include one or more unique two-letter codes reserved for disabled
person license plates or disabled veteran license plates. The International Symbol of Access adopted
pursuant to Section 3 of Public Law 100-641 commonly known as the "wheelchair symbol" shall be depicted
on each plate.
(c) (1) Prior to issuing any disabled person or disabled veteran a special identification license plate,
the department shall require the submission of a certificate, in accordance with paragraph (2), signed
by the physician or surgeon substantiating the disability, unless the applicant's disability is readily
observable and uncontested. The disability of any person who has lost, or has lost use of, one or more
lower extremities or both hands, or who has significant limitation in the use of lower extremities,
may also be certified by a licensed chiropractor. The blindness of any applicant shall be certified by
a licensed physician or surgeon who specializes in diseases of the eye or a licensed optometrist.
(2) The physician or other person who signs a certificate submitted under this subdivision shall
retain information sufficient to substantiate that certificate and, upon request of the department,
shall make that information available for inspection by the Medical Board of California.
(d) The special identification license plate shall, upon the death of the disabled person or disabled
veteran, be returned to the department within 60 days or upon the expiration of the vehicle registration,
whichever occurs first.
* Throughout this page "the department" refers to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Medal of Honor Plates
California Vehicle Code Section 5101.6. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this
article who is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient may apply for special license plates for the
vehicle under this article. The special license plates assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate
numerical series and shall have inscribed on the license plate the words "Congressional Medal of Honor"
or "Medal of Honor." The department* shall reserve and issue the special license plates to all
applicants providing the proof required by subdivision (b).
(b) The applicant shall, by satisfactory proof, show that the applicant is a Congressional Medal of
Honor recipient.
(c) Special license plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only for a vehicle owned or
co-owned by a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.
(d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her
surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. Upon the death of the spouse, the retained, special license plates shall be returned to the
department either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first.
(e) Any vehicle exempted from fees by Section 9105 and by Section 10783 of the Revenue and Taxation
Code shall lose the exemption upon the death of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.
(f) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
* Throughout this page "the department" refers to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Legion of Valor Plates
California Vehicle Code Section 5101.4. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this
article who is a recipient of the Army Medal of Honor, Navy Medal of Honor, Air Force Medal of Honor,
Army Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross may apply for special license plates
for the vehicle under this article.
(b) The applicant, by conclusive evidence, shall show that the applicant is a recipient of one of the
nation's highest decorations for valor, as specified in subdivision (a).
(c) The special license plates issued under this section shall contain the words "Legion of Valor" and
shall run in a regular numerical series. An adhesive sticker denoting which of the nation's highest
decorations for valor, as specified in subdivision (a), is held by the applicant shall be affixed in
a recess provided for it on the license plates.
(d) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her
surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. Upon the death of the spouse, the retained special license plates shall be returned to the
department* either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first.
(e) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
* Throughout this page "the department" refers to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Ex-POW Plates
California Vehicle Code Section 5101.5. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this
article who is a former American prisoner of war may apply for special license plates for the vehicle
under this article. The special plates assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series
and contain a replica design of the American Prisoner of War Medal followed by the letters "POW" and
four numbers. The special license plates issued under this subdivision also shall contain the following
words: "Ex-Prisoner of War." The department* shall, pursuant to this article, reserve and issue the
license plates provided for by this section only to persons who show by satisfactory proof his or her
former prisoner of war status. Any person otherwise issued license plates within this series pursuant
to this article prior to January 1, 1982, may retain them.
(b) Special license plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only for a vehicle owned or
co-owned by a former American prisoner of war.
(c) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her
surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. Upon the death of the spouse, the retained special license plates shall be returned to the
department either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first.
(d) Any vehicle exempted from fees by Section 9105 and by Section 10783 of the Revenue and Taxation
Code shall lose the exemption upon the death of the former American prisoner of war.
(e) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
(f) The department shall recall all former prisoner-of-war license plates issued pursuant to this
section prior to January 1, 1999, and shall issue to the holder of those plates, without charge, the
revised plates authorized by this section.
(g) This section shall become operative on July 1, 1999.
* Throughout this page "the department" refers to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Pearl Harbor Survivor Plates
California Vehicle Code Section 5101.3. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this
article who qualifies under subdivision (b) may apply for special license plates that shall run in a
separate numerical series and shall contain the words "Pearl Harbor Survivor." The plates may be issued
for any vehicle, except a vehicle used for transportation for hire, compensation, or profit, or a
motorcycle, which is owned or co-owned by the person.
(b) To qualify for issuance of the special plates, the applicant by satisfactory proof shall show all of
the following:
(1) The applicant was a member of the United States Armed Forces on December 7, 1941, and received an
honorable discharge from military service.
(2) The applicant was on station at Pearl Harbor, the Island of Oahu, or offshore within a distance of
three miles, on December 7, 1941, during the hours of 7:55 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Hawaii time, as certified
by a California chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
(c) Upon the death of a person issued special license plates pursuant to this section, his or her
surviving spouse may retain the special license plates subject to the conditions set forth in this
section. Upon the death of the spouse, the retained special license plates shall be returned to the
department* either (1) within 60 days following that death or (2) upon the expiration of the vehicle
registration, whichever occurs first.
(d) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
* Throughout this page "the department" refers to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Purple Heart Plates
California Vehicle Code Section 5101.8. (a) Any person otherwise eligible under this
article who is a Purple Heart recipient may apply for special license plates for vehicles that are not
used for transportation for hire, compensation, or profit, under this article. The special plates
assigned to the vehicle shall run in a separate numerical series, shall have inscribed on the plate
the Purple Heart insignia, and shall contain the words "Combat Wounded" and "Purple Heart" or at least
the letters "PH" as part of the numerical series. The department* shall reserve and issue the special
plates to all applicants providing the proof required by subdivision (b).
(b) The applicant, by satisfactory proof, shall show that the applicant is a Purple Heart recipient.
(c) Special plates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) only for a vehicle owned or co-owned by
a Purple Heart recipient and may not be transferred to any other person, including the coowner of the
vehicle. The special plates shall be surrendered to the department upon the death of the Purple Heart
recipient.
(d) When an applicant for the Purple Heart license plate qualifies as a disabled veteran, as specified
in subdivision (b) of Section 22511.55, the applicant may also apply for a distinguishing placard
described in subdivision (a) of Section 22511.55 to be used in conjunction with the Purple Heart
license plate for the purpose of allowing special parking privileges pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 22511.5.
(e) Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to this section.
* Throughout this page "the department" refers to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.