Military Veteran License Plates

Please note: Regardless of the plate applied for, you will need to fill out a Form MV-9W. Remember to take this form and a copy of your DD Form 214 (or other supporting documentation for certain plates) to your local county tag office.

Chosin Reservoir Campaign of 1950 License Plates

Veterans from the armed forces of the United States who participated in the Chosin Reservoir Campaign of 1950 in North Korea are eligible for a Chosin specialty license plate, if they are Georgia residents. There is a $25 manufacturing fee. There is no charge for the annual registration fee for this specialty plate. An applicant is also entitled to one additional specialty plate upon payment of a $25 manufacturing fee. The surviving spouse of a qualified deceased veteran is also eligible as long as he/she does not remarry.

[O.C.G.A. § 40-2-85.2 (2012)]

Commemorative Service License Plates

Anyone who served during active military combat is eligible for a free commemorative service license plate if he/she is Georgia resident on active duty or a veteran with a discharge from the armed forces of the United States under honorable conditions. The surviving spouse of a qualified deceased active duty member or veteran is also eligible as long as he/she does not remarry.


There is no registration fee, manufacturing fee, or annual registration fee for this specialty plate. An applicant is also entitled to one additional specialty plate upon payment of a $25 manufacturing fee. Applicants will also be required to pay a $25 annual registration fee for the additional specialty plate.  

Qualifying service during active military combat includes active duty service during:

  • World War II
  • Korean War
  • Vietnam War
  • Operation Desert Storm
  • Global War on Terrorism (as defined by Presidential Executive Order 13289, Section 2)
  • Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • Operation Enduring Freedom

Honorably discharged veterans who did not serve during one of these conflicts may still qualify for a Commemorative Service License Plate under the "General Veteran" category.

To view samples of these and other license plates, visit our License Plate Design page.

[O.C.G.A. § 40-2-85.1 (2012)]

Disabled Veterans’ License Plates

A veteran is eligible for a free disabled veteran’s license plate if he/she is a Georgia resident, has qualifying service in the armed forces of the United States, and meets the disability requirements. Qualifying service includes current active duty service in the armed forces of the United States or a discharge under honorable conditions. The surviving spouse of a qualified veteran is also eligible as long as he/she does not remarry.

In order to meet the disability requirements for free disabled veteran’s license plates and revalidation decals, the veteran must be certified by either the VA or an authorized physician as disabled under at least one of the following categories:

  • 100 percent totally and permanently disabled
  • 100 percent totally disabled – nonpermanent (requires annual recertification)
  • Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet
  • Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands
  • Loss of sight in one or both eyes
  • Permanent impairment of both eyes of the following status:  central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, with corrective glasses, or central visual acuity of more than 20/200 if there is a field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends on angular distance no greater than 20 degrees in the better eye.
  • Compensated at less than 100% level or Nonservice Connected Disabled

In order to apply for free disabled veteran’s license plates, the applicant should either obtain a disabled veteran’s license plate entitlement letter from the VA, if he/she has a qualifying service-connected or non-service-connected rating; or obtain a certified statement from an authorized physician that verifies his/her eligibility under one of the categories listed above.

Applicants who obtain an appropriate VA entitlement letter can apply directly with their local county tag office.

Applicants who obtain a certified statement from an authorized physician should take it to a GDVS Veterans Field Service Office along with discharge paperwork or proof of active duty service and verification of residency. 

An eligible person will receive two free license plates or revalidation decals each year for vehicles other than motorcycles. The plates should be fastened to the front and rear of the vehicle. If the applicant has a motorcycle, he/she will receive one plate to fasten on the rear of the motorcycle.

[O.C.G.A. § 40-2-69 and  § 40-2-70]

Gold Star License Plates

The spouse, mother, father, sibling, child, or step-parent of a service member who has been killed in action while serving in the armed forces of the United States is entitled to a Gold Star specialty plate. Upon payment of all ad valorem taxes and other fees due at registration of a motor vehicle an eligible family member may apply for a Gold Star license plate. One free license plate shall be allowed for the spouse, mother, and father and they may purchase additional license plates for each motor vehicle they register in this state. Siblings, children, or step-parents may purchase Gold Star plates for motor vehicles registered in this state.

Renewal decals shall be issued at no cost to any person that received a free license plate upon the payment of ad valorem taxes and other registration fees, provided that the renewal is applied for on or within 30 days prior to the renewal date of the eligible person.

[O.C.G.A. § 40-2-85.3 (2012)]

Military Medal Award License Plates

Anyone whose service during active military combat resulted in the award of a qualifying medal may be eligible for a free Military Medal Award License Plate.

These plates are available to both honorably discharged veterans and active duty service members who are Georgia residents.

The surviving spouse of a qualified deceased service member or veteran is eligible as long as he/she does not remarry.

There is no registration fee, manufacturing fee, or annual registration fee for this specialty plate.

Applicants are entitled to one additional specialty plate upon payment of a $25 manufacturing fee. Applicants are also required to pay a $25 annual registration fee for the additional specialty plate.

Qualifying medals for the Military Medal Award License Plate:

  • Medal of Honor
  • Distinguished Service Cross
  • Navy Cross
  • Air Force Cross
  • Defense Distinguished Service Medal
  • Homeland Distinguished Service Medal
  • Distinguished Service Medal
  • Navy Distinguished Service Medal
  • Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
  • Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
  • Silver Star
  • Defense Superior Service Medal
  • Legion of Merit
  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Bronze Star
  • Purple Heart
  • Air Medal

Qualifying service during active military combat includes active duty service during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, the Global War on Terrorism (as defined by Presidential Executive Order 13289, Section 2), the war in Afghanistan, and the war in Iraq, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

[O.C.G.A. § 40-2-85.1 (2012)]

National Guard License Plates

A member of the Georgia National Guard is entitled to one free National Guard specialty plate. The surviving spouse of a member of the National Guard who was killed while serving in a combat arena is also eligible as long as he/she does not remarry. There is no registration fee, manufacturing fee, or annual registration fee for this specialty plate. An applicant is also entitled to one additional specialty plate upon payment of a $25 manufacturing fee. An applicant will also be required to pay a $25 annual registration fee for the additional specialty plate.

[O.C.G.A. § 40-2-66 (2012)]

Pearl Harbor Survivor License Plates

Veterans of the armed forces of the United States who survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are eligible for a Pearl Harbor Survivor specialty license plate, if they are Georgia residents. The manufacturing fee for this specialty plate is $25.  There is no annual registration fee for this specialty plate.  Applicants are also entitled to one additional specialty plate upon payment of a $25 manufacturing fee. The surviving spouse of a qualified deceased veteran is also eligible as long as he/she does not remarry.

[O.C.G.A. § 40-2-85]

Prisoner of War License Plates

Former prisoners of war with a discharge from the armed forces of the United States under honorable conditions are eligible for a free Prisoner of War specialty license plate, if they are Georgia residents. Prisoner of war is defined as a veteran who was captured and held prisoner by forces hostile to the United States while serving in the armed forces of the United States in World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The surviving spouse of a qualified deceased veteran is also eligible as long as he/she does not remarry. There is no registration fee, manufacturing fee, or annual registration fee for this specialty plate. An applicant is one additional specialty plate upon payment of a $25 manufacturing fee. Applicants will also be required to pay a $25 annual registration fee for the additional specialty plate.

[O.C.G.A. § 40-2-73]

Reserve Component License Plates

An assigned or attached member of troop program units of any branch of the active reserve components of the United States inside or outside the State of Georgia is entitled to one free reserve component specialty plate, which will identify his/her specific reserve military branch of service. A retiree from any branch of the active reserve components is also entitled. The surviving spouse of a member of the active reserve components of the United States who was killed while serving in a combat arena is also eligible as long as long as he/she does not remarry. There is no registration fee, manufacturing fee, or annual registration fee for this specialty plate. An applicant is also entitled to one additional specialty plate upon payment of a $25 manufacturing fee. An applicant will also be required to pay a $25 annual registration fee for the additional specialty plate.

[O.C.G.A. § 40-2-65 (2012)]

Retired Military Veterans’ License Plates

Veterans who retired from active duty with the armed forces of the United States are entitled to one free retired military veteran specialty plate, if they are residents of Georgia. The surviving spouse of a qualified deceased military retiree is also eligible as long as he/she does not remarry. There is no registration fee, manufacturing fee, or annual registration fee for this specialty plate. Applicants are also entitled to one additional specialty plate upon payment of a $25 manufacturing fee. Applicants will also be required to pay a $25 annual registration fee for the additional specialty plate.

[O.C.G.A. § 40-2-85.1 (2012)]

 

For more information visit the Department of Veterans Service.