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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>71947</law_id><section_number>46.2-743</section_number><catch_line>Special license plates for active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States and certain veterans; fees</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-752</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Titling, Registration and Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="6">Titling and Registration of Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="10">Special License Plates</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is an honorably discharged former member of one of the Armed Forces of the United States, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> to the applicant special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span>. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259245" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is on active duty with, has been honorably discharged after at least six months of active duty service in, or has retired from the United States Marine Corps, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> to the applicant special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> whose design incorporates an emblem of the United States Marine Corps. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259246" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is on active duty with, has been honorably discharged after at least six months of active duty service in, or has retired from the United States Army, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> to the applicant special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> whose design incorporates an emblem of the United States Army. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259247" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is on active duty with, has been honorably discharged after at least six months of active duty service in, or has retired from the United States Coast Guard, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> to the applicant special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> whose design incorporates an emblem of the United States Coast Guard. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259248" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is on active duty with, has been honorably discharged after at least six months of active duty service in, or has retired from the United States Navy, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> to the applicant special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> whose design incorporates an emblem of the United States Navy. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. The annual fee for plates issued pursuant to this subsection shall be $25 in addition to the prescribed fee for state <span class="dictionary">license plates</span>. For each such $25 fee collected in excess of 1,000 registrations pursuant to this subsection, $15 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to a special nonreverting fund known as the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Fund established within the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Accounts. These funds shall be paid annually to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and used to support its operation and programs in Virginia. All other fees imposed under the provisions of this subsection shall be paid to, and received by, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of <span class="dictionary">Motor Vehicles</span> and paid by him into the state treasury and set aside as a special fund to be used to meet the necessary expenses incurred by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of <span class="dictionary">Motor Vehicles</span>. <a id="paragraph-259249" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is on active duty with, has been honorably discharged after at least six months of active duty service in, or has retired from the United States Air Force, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> to the applicant special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> whose design incorporates an emblem of the United States Air Force. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259250" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> All special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> that have been developed and issued pursuant to subsection B, C, D, E, or F shall also be issued to applicants who can provide documentation from the U.S. <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Veterans Affairs indicating that the applicant has been designated disabled, and that his disability is service-connected, and that he has been honorably discharged from a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States. <a id="paragraph-259251" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is a veteran of World War II, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> to veterans of World War II. For each set of <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> issued under this subsection, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall charge, in addition to the prescribed cost of state <span class="dictionary">license plates</span>, a one-time fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259252" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="I"><p><span class="prefix-number">I.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is a veteran of the Korean War, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> to veterans of the Korean War. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259253" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#I"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="J"><p><span class="prefix-number">J.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is a veteran of the Vietnam War, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> to veterans of the Vietnam War. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259254" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#J"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="K"><p><span class="prefix-number">K.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is a veteran of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> to veterans of that campaign. For each set of <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> issued under this subsection, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall charge, in addition to the prescribed cost of state <span class="dictionary">license plates</span>, a one-time fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259255" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#K"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="L"><p><span class="prefix-number">L.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259256" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#L"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="M"><p><span class="prefix-number">M.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> to veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259257" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#M"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="N"><p><span class="prefix-number">N.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is a member of the Virginia Defense Force, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> to members of the Virginia Defense Force. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259258" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#N"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="O"><p><span class="prefix-number">O.</span> On receipt of an application and written <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the applicant is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> to veterans of those military operations. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection may also be issued special <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> under this subsection. <a id="paragraph-259259" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#O"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="P"><p><span class="prefix-number">P.</span> The provisions of subdivisions B 1 and 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Special license plates, generally" href="/46.2-725/">46.2-725</a> shall not apply to <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> issued under subsections F, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, and O. <a id="paragraph-259260" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-743/#P"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1985, c. 162, &#xA7; 46.1-105.11; 1987, c. 696; 1989, c. 727; 1995, c. 747; 1996, c. 1026; 1997, cc. 774, 816; 1999, cc. 883, 907; 2000, cc. 75, 190; 2002, cc. 90, 864; 2005, cc. 264, 273, 929; 2006, c. 437; 2008, Sp. Sess. II, c. 4; 2009, c. 679; 2011, cc. 572, 586; 2012, c. 379; 2013, c. 478; 2014, cc. 270, 483; 2022, c. 107; 2023, c. 539; 2024, c. 188.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
