NCDOA Home : Veterans Affairs : NCDMV Licenses

The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) makes available to veterans 16 specialized license plates listed below:

• American Legion. Issuable to a member or a supporter of the American Legion. The plate shall bear the words "American Legion" and the emblem of the American Legion. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
  
• Bronze Star Recipient. Issuable to a recipient of the Bronze Star. The plate shall bear the emblem of the Bronze Star and the words "Bronze Star".
  
• Combat Veterans. Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces who served in a combat zone, or in waters adjacent to a combat zone, during a period of war and who was separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate. A "period of war" is any of the following:
  
  • World War I, which began April 16, 1917, and ended November 11, 1918.
  • World War II, which began December 7, 1941, and ended December 31, 1946.
  • The Korean Conflict, which began June 27, 1950, and ended January 31, 1955.
  • The Vietnam Era, which began August 5, 1964, and ended May 7, 1975.
  • The Persian Gulf War.
  • Any other campaign, expedition, or engagement for which the United States Department of Defense authorizes a campaign badge or medal.
    
• Disabled Veteran. Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who suffered a 100% service-connected disability.
  
• Distinguished Flying Cross. Issuable to a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The plate shall bear the emblem of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the words "Distinguished Flying Cross".
  
• Legion of Valor. Issuable to a recipient of one of the following military decorations: the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Air Force Cross. The plate shall bear the emblem and name of the recipient's decoration.
  
• Military Reservist. Issuable to a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States. The plate shall bear the name and insignia of the appropriate reserve component. Plates shall be numbered sequentially for the members of a component with the numbers 1 through 5000 reserved for officers, without regard to rank.
  
• Military Retiree. Issuable to an individual who has retired from the armed forces of the United States. The plate shall bear the word "Retired" and the name and insignia of the branch of service from which the individual retired. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by the subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
  
• National Guard Member. Issuable to an active or a retired member of the North Carolina National Guard. The plate shall bear the phrase "National Guard". A plate issued to an active member shall bear a number that reflects the seniority of the member; a plate issued to a commissioned officer shall begin with the number "1"; a plate issued to a noncommissioned officer with a rank of E7, E8, or E9 shall begin with the number "1601"; a plate issued to an enlisted member with a rank of E6 or below shall begin with the number "3001". The plate issued to a retired or separated member shall indicate the member's retired status.
  
• Partially Disable Veteran. Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who suffered a service connected disability of less than 100%.
  
• Pearl Harbor Survivor. Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who was present at and survived the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The plate will bear the phrase "Pearl Harbor survivor" and the insignia of the Pearl Harbor survivors' Association.
• Prisoner of War. Issuable to the following: a. A member or veteran member of the armed forces of the United States who has been captured and held prisoner by forces hostile to the United States while serving in the armed forces. b. The surviving spouse of a person who had a prisoner of war plate at the time of death so long as the surviving spouse continues to renew the plate and does not remarry.
  
• Purple Heart Recipient. Issuable to a recipient of the Purple Heart award. The plate shall bear the phrase "Purple Heart Veteran, Combat Wounded" and the letters "PH".
• Silver Star Recipient. Issuable to a recipient of the Silver Star. The plate shall bear the emblem of the Silver Star and the words "Silver Star".
  
• Veterans of Foreign Wars. Issuable to a member of a supporter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The plate shall bear the words "Veterans of Foreign Wars" or "VFW" and the emblem of the VFW. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless in receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
  
• Vietnam Veteran. Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who served in Vietnam. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
  
• Fees. Upon request, the Division shall provide and issue free of charge one registration plate to a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, a 100% disabled veteran, and an ex-prisoner of war. All other special registration plates, including additional Congressional Medal of Honor, 100% Disabled Veterans, and Ex-Prisoner of War plates, are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration fees, plus an additional fee in the following amount:
  
  

  Special Plate	Fee Schedule
  Active Member of the National Guard	None
  100% Disabled Veteran	None
  Ex-Prisorner of War	None
  Legion of Valor	None
  Purple Heart Recipient	None
  Silver Star Recipient	None
  All Other Special Plates	$10.00