Military Benefits

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN (PERMANENT PLATE)

You may qualify for a Disabled American Veteran license plate if you’ve served in any branch of the armed forces of the United States and had:

• An honorable discharge or a discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record.
  AND
• A 100% service-connected disability rating from the Veterans Administration or the military service from which you were discharged.

VETERAN/MILITARY SERVICE AWARD EMBLEMS

Veterans or active duty members are eligible to receive service award emblems for their license plates. You will need one of the following for proof of eligibility:

• Copy of DD214 for veterans. 
  OR
• Official letter showing awarded medals for active service members.
• The fee is $15.00 for the initial issue of the emblems. There is no fee to replace faded or unreadable emblems.

ARMED FORCES LICENSE PLATE

The Department of Licensing offers specialty license plates for members, veterans, reservists, spouse or family members of the Armed Forces.

• The initial fee for a passenger vehicle is $72.75, a truck is $72.00, and a motorcycle is $54.75.
• An additional $32.00 is charged every year to retain the Armed Forces license plate.

GOLD STAR LICENSE PLATE

The Gold Star plate is available for family members of a US armed forces member who died while in service to his or her country, or as a result of his or her service. A qualifying family member would include one of the following:

• Birth mother or birth father
• Stepmother or stepfather
• Mother or father through adoption
• Adult who fulfilled the parental role, such as foster parent, kinship care provider, or
• caretaker relative. (Additional documentation required.)
• Biological child
• Adopted child
• Sibling
• Widow or Widower (A widow or widower does not have to pay yearly registration and tab fees for the Gold Star plates on one vehicle.)

The initial fee for the Gold Star License plate is $8.75. Vehicle renewal fees may apply.

SALES OR USE TAX EXEMPTION

If you purchase a vehicle while you’re stationed out of state and license it in Washington, you may not have to pay Washington State sales tax if:

• You’re a resident of Washington serving outside the state as an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces.
• You’re on active duty more than 6 months.
• You got the vehicle at least 90 days before discharge.
• The vehicle was purchased and delivered outside of Washington.

RTA TAX EXEMPTION

You may not have to pay vehicle excise tax or RTA tax when you license your vehicle in Washington if:

• You’re an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces.
• Certify your home of record is in a state or country other than Washington.
• Be the registered owner or co-registered owner of the vehicle or boat for which the excise tax exemption is sought.

Department of Licensing (360) 902-3770 opt #5
Pierce County Auditor’s Office (253) 798-3649
Department of Veteran’s Affairs (800) 827-1000
Department of Revenue (253) 382-2000
Sound Transit (877) 755-4550