New York Veteran Driver License Designation and Military Plates

New York prints "Veteran" on a driver license, learner permit or non-driver photo ID for an honorably discharged veteran. DMV: "There is no additional fee for the veteran status designation on your document, but all regular transaction fees will apply." Proof is an honorable discharge (DA 1569, DD 13, DD 214, DD 217 or a DD 256 honorable discharge certificate), with Form MV-44, at an office or by mail with photocopies; once added it carries onto every later card. Ask at the next renewal rather than mid-cycle, since a replacement carries its own fee. The fee waiver is tied to a specific federal benefit rather than to a rating. DMV: "If you obtained your vehicle under the Federal Title 38 program, you are eligible for a fee-exempt registration. This exemption can only be used for one vehicle." The vehicle must be a passenger car, suburban, or light truck of 20,000 pounds or less used only for passengers and owned by the disabled veteran; renewal needs Form MV-1G each time, and fee-exempt registrations cannot be renewed online. Medal of Honor and former prisoner of war plates are registered on Form MV-1H; ask DMV what each costs. That adapted-vehicle status carries into a benefit most veterans do not know exists. The New York State Thruway Authority runs a Disabled Veterans Non-Revenue E-ZPass program giving free unlimited travel on the Thruway to a veteran whose vehicle registration is fee-exempt on adapted-vehicle grounds. For a veteran commuting any distance in this state, that is worth considerably more per year than every plate fee combined. DMV's custom plate galleries list the military and veteran plates, ordered on Form CP-30; the plate fees vary by plate and are not printed on DMV's military information page, so check the gallery before ordering. Protections while serving. DMV: "New York State law extends license privileges throughout active military service for up to 6 months after discharge or separation"; an expired license can then be renewed up to two years after the extended expiration, so no more than 30 months after discharge. Form MV-75 keeps a driver's status on file at no fee. A registration held by a service member is extended for up to 60 days after return to New York from active duty, with proof of service. Liability insurance must be kept or the plates surrendered while deployed, and DMV has a procedure to clear the administrative actions on return. Sales tax. A service member who buys a vehicle out of state may claim the exemption on Form DTF-803 (box 12) with military ID, and one who does not reside in New York may defer the sales tax until leaving the service or returning to New York.