Drivers & Vehicles > Vehicles >  Disabled parking >

Disabled veteran license plates 

Veterans with a permanent disability received in U.S. military service are eligible

A veteran with a permanent disability received in active U.S. military service that limits or impairs ability to walk may receive Disabled Veteran plates.

To qualify, the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration (VA) must certify that the disability is permanent, impairs the ability to walk and is a result of injuries received while on active U.S. military duty. According to state law, a person with a disability that impairs mobility includes any of the following:

• Cannot walk 200 feet or more without stopping to rest.
• Cannot walk without the use of (or assistance from) another person or brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistance device.
• Is restricted by lung disease to the extent that forced expiratory volume for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
• Uses portable oxygen.
• Has a cardiac condition to the extent that functional limitations are classified in severity as class III or IV, according to standards accepted by the American Heart Association.
• Is severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition.

If the disability that qualifies you for disabled parking privileges is not a result of injuries received while on active U.S. military duty, you may apply for disabled parking license plates or a disabled parking identification card. Disabled parking license plates and disabled parking identification cards provide the same parking privileges as the Disabled Veteran parking license plates.

For information about other military-related special license plates, please see military license plates. Note that these plates do not provide any special parking privileges. 

Things you should know:

• The veteran must be the:
  • Owner of the vehicle, or
  • Lessee of the vehicle, or
  • Beneficiary of a trust that owns or leases the vehicle
• The following vehicles qualify for Disabled Veteran license plates:
  • Automobiles
  • Motor homes (annual registration only)
  • Motor trucks
    • 4,500, 6,000 or 8,000 pound gross weight including dual purpose farm and dual purpose motor home
    • 12,000 pound gross weight farm truck
• A person with Disabled Veteran license plates may receive up to one disabled parking identification card.
• WisDOT may cancel a Disabled Veteran license plate that was issued as a result of fraud or error.
• If you are a licensed driver, WisDOT may review your disability to make sure you are able to exercise ordinary and reasonable control of a motor vehicle. If the VA medical provider recommends a re-examination, you will be required to complete a knowledge, highway signs and road test to determine any license restrictions.
• You must provide a copy of your Certificate of Registration or the complete vehicle description on the application to receive new plates.
• Upon the death of the qualifying veteran, Disabled Veteran license plates must be replaced with regular plates. A surviving spouse/domestic partner will receive credit for any remaining months of registration.

Disabled Veteran license plates privileges

A motor vehicle with Disabled Veteran license plates issued by Wisconsin (or any other state or country) is subject to all Wisconsin motor vehicle laws and qualifies for certain privileges. Please read this important information about authorized disabled parking privileges .

How to apply:

1. Complete the Disabled Veteran Parking License Plates Application form MV2172 "Applicant Section" (page 1).
2. If you have a health care provider at a VA medical facility, he/she may sign the VA Certification section. If the certification is not signed, WisDOT will fax your application to the regional VA office for verification. This may delay your application up to six weeks. This information is privileged and will not be released without the signed consent of the applicant.
3. If you wish to receive one disabled parking identification card, indicate this on your application. When using the ID card, you must keep a copy of the completed eligibility certification on your person or in the vehicle to provide to a traffic officer upon request. Please make and keep a copy of the certification, signed by your health care provider, before sending the application to WisDOT.
4. If you want personalized Disabled Veteran plates, check the personalized plates box and complete the "Personalized Plate Section."
5. If the vehicle that you wish to register with Disabled Veteran plates is already registered in your name, send:
   • A completed Disabled Veteran Parking License Plates Application "Applicant Section" (page 3);
   • A current VA rating sheet or a certification from the VA. If not provided, WisDOT will contact the VA for certification;
   • A copy of your Certificate of Registration OR complete the vehicle description on the application;
   • Registration fee if you do not have plates or if your plates expire within the next three months;
   • An additional $15 if applying for personalized plates.
6. If the vehicle is NOT titled in your name, send:
   • A completed title application MV1 (314 KB) or MV11 (if purchased from a Wisconsin dealer);
   • A completed Disabled Veteran Parking License Plates Application "Applicant Section" (page 3);
   • A current VA rating sheet or a certification from the VA. If not provided, WisDOT will contact the VA for certification;
   • All required documents and fees, including your annual registration fee;
   • An additional $15, if applying for personalized plates;
   • If a fee is required, make check or money order payable to: Registration Fee Trust;
   • Mail the application with payment (if required) to:

     WisDOT
     Special Plates Unit - VET
     P.O. Box 7306
     Madison WI 53707-7306

Temporary plates required

To legally operate your vehicle, you must display license plates within two business days of purchase. If you do not have current plates, you may apply to a DMV service center or an agent authorized by DMV to receive a temporary plate while your Disabled Veteran plate order is processed. An agent may charge a plate fee and/or a service fee.

For personalized plates:

• Personalizing your Disabled Veteran license plates is optional.
• A $15 personalized plate fee is required each year in addition to the regular annual registration fee.
• No refund or adjustment will be made for changes requested after the plates are ordered, or if the application is incorrectly or unclearly completed.
• WisDOT may refuse to issue, OR may recall after issuance, a request that is misleading or may be offensive to good taste or decency.
• Allow 4-6 weeks for the plates to be manufactured after you have received your Certificate of Registration. If you do not currently have disabled parking plates or ID card, we will send a temporary disabled parking ID card for use until the personalized plates arrive. 

Changing from personalized to regular disabled veteran plates 

If you wish to re-register your vehicle with regular disabled Veteran license plates at renewal time, or within three months of the renewal expiration date, send a copy of your Certificate of Registration or renewal notice with a request for regular Disabled Veteran plates. Include the regular annual registration fee (subtract $15 from the fee shown on the renewal notice). If you wish to re-register any other time, send the request and a copy of the Certificate of Registration. 

Release of information

WisDOT uses the information on form MV2172 to issue Disabled Veteran license plates. Under open records laws, the department must make nonexempt information available upon request. If you want your name and address withheld from mailing lists of 10 or more individuals, complete and return page 2 of form MV2172.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

If you have any questions about Disabled Veteran parking license plates:

• E-mail: special-plates.dmv@dot.wi.gov
• Call: (608) 266-3041 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
• Fax: (608) 267-5106
• Write to the address above

Back to Special and personalized license plates

Return to top

You will need the Adobe Reader (provided free of charge) to view PDF files. For more information about getting your free copy of the Adobe Reader, visit WisDOT's Software information page.

Questions about the content of this page:
Special Plates Unit, special-plates.dmv@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: February 3, 2010