Idaho Veteran and Disabled Veteran License Plates

Idaho's military plates are set in Title 49, chapter 4, of the Idaho Code. Disabled Veteran. Idaho Code 49-403: "No fee shall be charged for the registration or reregistration of a motor vehicle owned by a veteran" who has established a right to the VA automobile grant (Public Laws 662, 79th Congress, and 187, 82nd Congress), or who is "receiving compensation from the veterans administration or in lieu thereof, from any of the armed forces of the United States, for one hundred percent (100%) service-connected disability or for any of the following specific disabilities: Loss or permanent loss of use of one (1) or both feet; loss or permanent loss of use of one (1) or both hands; loss of sight in both eyes or permanent impairment of vision in both eyes to the degree as to constitute virtual blindness". The privilege covers one vehicle at a time (not one over 26,000 pounds), carries over to a later vehicle, and the "D.V." plates are issued by the Transportation Department, not the counties. The plates carry the parking privileges of section 49-410(7), and the Department issues a disability placard with them, so a D.V. plate does give disabled parking. Medal of Honor. Section 49-415A: the plates "shall be provided free of charge"; the regular registration fee is paid; up to two vehicles at a time; a surviving spouse may keep them, and may reapply within five years of the death. Purple Heart. Section 49-403A: open to a veteran or current or retired member, Guard and reserve included, with proof of the award; "The applicant shall be charged the regular registration fee but shall not be charged the plate fee"; any number of vehicles; a surviving spouse may keep them or reapply within five years. A recipient who also qualifies as disabled under section 49-410 gets the accessible symbol on the plate. Former prisoner of war. Section 49-415: for a POW of a recognized war period released under other than dishonorable conditions, on up to two vehicles, paying the regular registration and plate fees; a surviving spouse may keep them or reapply within five years. Gold Star. Section 49-403B: for a surviving spouse, parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, sibling, grandparent or legal guardian of a service member who died on active duty as the Division of Veterans Services defines it by rule, or of one awarded the gold star lapel pin, certified by the Division. No special plate program fee is charged to a spouse, parent or stepparent; other family members pay the plate fee and $35 at first issue and $25 a year. Veterans plates. Section 49-418: open to "a current or former member of the United States armed forces" with a DD-214 or VA statement, designating the branch and either "VETERAN", a recognized war period or post-9/11 service in Afghanistan or Iraq, for the regular registration and plate fees plus a $25 initial and $15 annual program fee that partly funds the State veterans cemetery. Apply through the Idaho Transportation Department or a county assessor's motor vehicle office (the D.V. plates only through the Department), with the VA letter or proof of the award.