Warren County Vehicle License Fee Exemptions for Disabled Veterans, Decorated Veterans, Guard Members, and Surviving Spouses

Warren County charges a vehicle license fee, formerly a decal fee, of $30 on a car or truck and $15 on a motorcycle, billed with the first half of personal property tax on June 5. Residents of Front Royal are exempt from it when the town charges its own. Section 172-37.2 of the county code, last amended August 17, 2021, has the Treasurer issue the license free for one vehicle regularly used by: A disabled veteran, or the veteran's unremarried surviving spouse, with Disabled Veteran plates under section 46.2-739. A Purple Heart recipient, Medal of Honor recipient, former prisoner of war, or Navy and Marine Corps Medal recipient, or the recipient's unremarried surviving spouse, with the matching special plates. An active National Guard member with Guard plates, or a retired Guard member with retired Guard plates. "A person who is otherwise exempt from annual registration fees imposed by the Commonwealth of Virginia." The state requires only the first, and only for a veteran with both the plates and the DMV disabled veteran exemption (section 46.2-755(B)); the rest are Warren's own. The last clause reaches a veteran whom DMV exempts from registration fees for limb loss, blindness, or a permanent and total disability, which since July 1, 2026 includes one with a standard passenger plate. The Treasurer's decal page lists only "Disabled Veteran: Free (1)" and still lists "National Guard: $10", a half fee the Board repealed in 2021. At the Board's September 1, 2026 work session the Commissioner of the Revenue said that a 100% disabled veteran who receives the vehicle tax exemption is still charged the $30 fee, and asked the Board to change that from January 1, 2027. A veteran charged the fee who holds any of the plates above, or whose DMV registration card shows the disabled veteran exemption, should cite section 172-37.2 now.