Minnesota Veteran Designation and Special Licence Plates

The designation on the card and the plates on the vehicle are separate systems with separate eligibility. Section 171.07, subdivision 15 lets an eligible applicant have a driver's licence or Minnesota identification card bearing a graphic or written designation of "Veteran", "Veteran 100% T&P", or, from January 1, 2027, "SGU Veteran". The third designation was added by Laws 2026, chapter 96, section 1 for a veteran of the Secret War in Laos under section 197.448, and it is evidenced by the certificate of eligibility that section issues rather than by discharge papers. For the ordinary designations the applicant must be a veteran as defined in section 197.447, or a retired or honorably discharged member of the National Guard or a reserve component, and must provide a certified copy of discharge papers confirming an honorable or general discharge under honorable conditions, or a military retiree identification card, veteran identification card or veteran health identification card. For the 100% T&P marking the applicant must additionally provide satisfactory evidence of a 100 percent total and permanent service-connected disability determined by VA. The 100% T&P designation is worth more than it looks. Under section 97A.441 it serves as satisfactory evidence at all licence agent locations to obtain the free permanent angling licence, the free deer licence and the free small game licence, so the card replaces carrying the VA letter. Plates. Section 168.123 issues veterans' special plates to an applicant who served in active military service in a branch of the armed forces of the United States, or of a nation or society allied with the United States in conducting a foreign war, was discharged under honorable conditions, and is a registered owner of a passenger automobile, recreational motor vehicle or one-ton pickup that is not a commercial motor vehicle. The allied-service route is unusual: where the applicant served with an allied force and cannot obtain a record of service and discharge status, the commissioner of veterans affairs may certify the applicant as qualified. The inscriptions in subdivision 2 include VIETNAM VET, PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR, WORLD WAR VET, KOREAN VET, COMBAT WOUNDED VET with a Purple Heart emblem, GULF WAR VET, LAOS WAR VET for service in the Laos War after July 1, 1961 and before July 1, 1978, IRAQ WAR VET, AFGHAN WAR VET, GWOT VETERAN, KOREAN DEFENSE SERVICE, BRONZE STAR VET, SILVER STAR VET and WOMAN VETERAN. A serving member who holds the Purple Heart is eligible for the combat wounded plate. The GWOT Service Medal plate expressly reaches a member of the National Guard or other reserves ordered to federally funded state active service under title 32 who holds that medal, whether or not the person qualifies as a veteran under section 197.447. The "Proud to be a Veteran" plate in section 168.1255 is available to any veteran under section 197.447 on payment of the special plate fee, the registration tax, and a onetime World War II memorial contribution of $30. That $30 is a contribution rather than a fee, so the disabled veteran fee exemption in section 168.012, subdivision 13 does not cover it. The Gold Star plate in section 168.1253 is free and is the most generous of the series in who it reaches. An eligible person is a surviving spouse, parent or legal guardian, child, or sibling of a person who died while serving honorably in active service, and the relationship may be established by birth or adoption. The plates are issued at no charge, replaced free if damaged, and even personalised Gold Star plates carry no personalisation fee. Transfer to another vehicle owned or jointly owned by the eligible person costs $5. Production is paid for out of the "Support Our Troops" account under section 190.19. Ordinary veterans plates and "Proud to be a Veteran" plates transfer between qualifying vehicles registered to the same individual for a $5 fee.