If you have a service-connected disability, Illinois offers two distinct types of free disabled veteran license plates. Which one you qualify for depends on whether your disability affects your mobility.
The Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) — which operates the state’s vehicle services facilities — administers both the standard Disabled Veteran plate and the ISERVE (Service-Connected Disabled Veteran) plate. Understanding the difference between the two is the key to getting the correct plate, avoiding doctor visits if you don’t need them, and securing your parking privileges.
Illinois’ Two Disabled Veteran Plate Options Explained
Illinois splits its plates based on whether you need disabled parking access.
| Feature | Disabled Veteran Plate | ISERVE Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Who is it for? | Veterans with a service-connected disability that limits mobility. | Veterans with a 50% or greater service-connected rating. |
| Doctor Certification? | Yes. A physician must certify the mobility impairment. | No. VA letter alone is sufficient. |
| Disabled Parking? | Yes. Bears the International Symbol of Access (ISA). | No. Strictly for honorary recognition. |
| Cost (First Set) | Free | Free |
Note: If your 50%+ service-connected disability does not impair your ability to walk (e.g., hearing loss, PTSD), you must apply for the ISERVE plate.
Documents Needed for Your Illinois DV Plate Application
You must gather your documents before visiting the Secretary of State’s office.
For the standard Disabled Veteran Plate:
- VA Rating Letter: A copy of your VA letter confirming a service-connected disability.
- Form VSD 62: The Persons with Disabilities Certification for Parking Placard/License Plates form. Part 2 must be completed and signed by a licensed physician, advanced practice nurse, optometrist, chiropractor, or physician’s assistant verifying your mobility disability.
- DD-214: Showing an Honorable or Under Honorable Conditions discharge.
- Vehicle Registration/Title: For the vehicle you are registering.
For the ISERVE Plate:
- VA Rating Letter: Must explicitly confirm a combined service-connected disability rating of 50% or more.
- DD-214: Showing an Honorable or Under Honorable Conditions discharge.
- Vehicle Registration/Title.
How to Apply for an Illinois Disabled Veteran License Plate
- Download your VA letter
- Get your current Summary of Benefits letter from VA.gov confirming your rating percentage.
- Get physician certification (Form VSD 62) (Required for the standard Disabled Veteran Plate only)
- If applying for the mobility plate, have your medical provider fill out and sign Form VSD 62.
- Submit your application
- Bring your VA letter, DD-214, vehicle registration, and Form VSD 62 (if applicable) to any Illinois Secretary of State facility, or mail it to: Secretary of State, Special Plates Division, 501 S. 2nd St., Howlett Building, Springfield, IL 62756.
How Much Do Illinois Disabled Veteran Plates Cost?
Illinois provides the first set of either the Disabled Veteran plate or the ISERVE plate entirely free of charge. This means your initial registration fee and your annual renewal fees are completely waived.
However, standard state fees apply in the following situations:
- New Vehicle Titles: If you are buying a car and titling it for the first time, you still must pay the standard Illinois title fee and taxes. The fee waiver only applies to the registration plate.
- Multiple Vehicles: The free plate waiver is limited to one vehicle. If you want a second set of DV or ISERVE plates for another vehicle, you must pay the standard Illinois registration fees for that second set.
Do You Also Need a Parking Placard?
While the standard Disabled Veteran plate displays the wheelchair symbol and allows you to park in accessible spaces, it does not exempt you from paying parking meters.
Illinois law dictates that only individuals with severe motor control limitations in both hands, or who are completely unable to access a meter due to a wheelchair, qualify for meter-exempt parking.
- To get meter exemption: Your doctor must specifically fill out Part 3 of Form VSD 62. If approved, the SOS will issue you a separate yellow and gray striped placard to hang from your rearview mirror.
- To park in other vehicles: The DV plate only covers the vehicle it is attached to. You should request a standard blue permanent placard (using Form VSD 62) so you can legally use disabled parking when riding in a spouse’s car or a rental vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The ISERVE plate does not feature the International Symbol of Access. If you have an ISERVE plate but occasionally need accessible parking, you must apply for a separate blue parking placard using Form VSD 62.
Both the Disabled Veteran and ISERVE plates must be renewed annually like regular plates (online, by mail, or in person). However, the system will process your renewal fee as $0 for your primary vehicle. You do not need to resubmit your VA letter or doctor’s certification each year.
Yes. Separate from vehicle plates, Illinois offers the Disabled Veterans’ Standard Homestead Exemption (DVSHE). Veterans with a 30% to 49% rating receive a $2,500 reduction in their home’s equalized assessed value (EAV); 50% to 69% receive a $5,000 reduction; and veterans with a 70% or higher rating are completely exempt from property taxes on their primary residence.
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