Isle of Wight County Free Vehicle License for Disabled Veterans and Former Prisoners of War

Isle of Wight County charges a local vehicle license fee of $33 a year on a motor vehicle and $18 on a motorcycle. Section 11-18 of the county code says local licenses "may be issued free of charge" for vehicles owned by disabled veterans and vehicles owned by former prisoners of war, among others. The section does not define "disabled veteran" or set a rating, and it is wider than the state's mandatory rule in section 46.2-755(B), which covers only one vehicle of a veteran with Disabled Veteran plates and the DMV exemption. Ask the Commissioner of the Revenue what proof it takes. An active-duty member living in Isle of Wight whose legal residence is not Virginia is exempt from both the license fee and the personal property tax on his or her vehicles under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, and a spouse can claim the same exemption with the county's affidavit under the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act. The county asks for a current leave and earnings statement every year.