Alaska runs two separate license plate programs for former service members, and mixing them up is the most common reason applications get sent back. A standard Veteran plate simply shows your service and costs a small one-time fee. A Disabled Veteran plate is a different benefit tied to your VA disability rating, and it’s issued free of charge. This guide walks through both programs, exactly what the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) wants to see on your application, and how to decide which plate fits your situation.
Alaska’s Two Veteran Plate Programs at a Glance
Before gathering paperwork, confirm which plate you actually qualify for and want. The table below compares the standard Veteran plate with the two versions of the Disabled Veteran plate.
| Plate Type | Who Qualifies | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran Plate | Anyone who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces (proof of service required) | $30 one-time fee (first issue or replacement) + standard vehicle registration |
| Disabled Veteran Plate (no parking symbol) | VA-certified combined service-connected disability rating of 50% or more | No plate fee; one vehicle registration issued free |
| Disabled Veteran Plate (with parking symbol) | Same 50%+ VA disability certification, plus Form 861 signed by a health practitioner confirming a permanent disability | No plate fee; one vehicle registration issued free |
Option 1: The Standard Alaska Veteran Plate
Available to anyone who honorably served or is currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Alaska Territorial Guard (no disability rating required).
Proof of Service (Submit one):
- DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge)
- VA verification letter
- Military ID (active duty, reserve, or retiree)
- Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
Cost: A one-time $30 fee (charged for new or replacement plates), plus your standard biennial vehicle registration fees. Note: Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, Pearl Harbor survivors, and Gold Star families receive this plate at no charge.
Customization: You can add one of 60+ recognized unit emblems to your plate by referencing the corresponding emblem code on your application form.
Option 2: The Alaska Disabled Veteran Plate
Reserved for veterans with a service-connected disability. Unlike the standard plate, this comes with a full fee waiver(no plate charge and free registration) for exactly one vehicle.
Who Qualifies: You must provide VA certification confirming a combined service-connected disability rating of 50% or more.
Parking Privileges (Crucial Step): A Disabled Veteran plate does not automatically grant accessible parking privileges. There are two versions:
With the wheelchair symbol: You must also submit Form 861 (Special Disability Parking Permit), signed by a qualified health practitioner confirming a permanent mobility disability. (If you already have a valid Alaska disability parking permit or plates, just reference your existing permit number on your application instead of filling out a new Form 861).dicapped plates, you can simply reference that existing permit number on your application instead of completing Form 861 again.
Without the wheelchair symbol: Submit only your VA certification. This provides the fee waiver but does notauthorize you to park in accessible spaces.
How to Apply for an Alaska Veteran or Disabled Veteran Plate
- Gather your proof of service
- Collect your DD214, VA letter, or military ID and, if applying for the disabled version, your VA certification of a 50%+ combined disability rating.
- Complete Form 861 (if requesting parking privileges)
- If you want accessible parking privileges attached to a Disabled Veteran plate, have Form 861 completed and signed by a qualified health practitioner.
- Complete Form 803
- Fill out the Application for Personalized or Special Request Plates (Form 803), listing yourself as the registered owner of the vehicle.
- Submit your application
- You can submit Form 803 and your proof of service online through the DMV’s portal, in person, or by mail. If you are also submitting Form 861 for parking privileges, you can email the completed form directly to
[email protected].
- You can submit Form 803 and your proof of service online through the DMV’s portal, in person, or by mail. If you are also submitting Form 861 for parking privileges, you can email the completed form directly to
- Wait for processing
- Plates ordered at the counter are sometimes available immediately; others are mailed within about two business days for standard designs.
How To Renew Your Plate or Permit
Alaska vehicle registration runs on a standard biennial (two-year) cycle. Your Disabled Veteran plate’s fee exemption will renew automatically as long as the vehicle remains registered in your name.
Keep in mind that renewing your vehicle registration is separate from renewing a physical disability parking placard. The renewal timeline for your parking permit depends on your medical certification:
- Permanent Disabilities: Must be renewed every five years.
- Temporary Disabilities: Valid for a maximum of six months.
- Out-of-State Doctors: If your physician certification was completed by an out-of-state doctor, you will only be issued a temporary permit (valid for up to six months).
Renewals and replacements for parking permits can be requested free of charge through the DMV’s online renewal portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Alaska’s threshold is a combined service-connected disability rating of 50% or more, not 100%.
No. Only plates displaying the international symbol of accessibility carry parking privileges. A Disabled Veteran plate without that symbol is a registration and fee benefit only, not a parking permit.
You can be issued a Disabled Veteran plate for each vehicle you own, but Alaska’s free registration only applies to one vehicle at a time. Any additional vehicles displaying the disabled plate will be subject to standard registration fees.
If you hold a separate physical disability parking permit in addition to your plate, that placard extends your parking privileges to any vehicle you’re riding in, including rentals. The plate alone only covers the vehicle it is physically attached to.
The $30 fee applies to most standard Veteran plate orders, but Purple Heart, former POW, Pearl Harbor Survivor, and Gold Star family plates are issued without that initial charge.
Conclusion
If you’re a veteran without a qualifying disability, the standard Veteran plate is a straightforward $30 way to display your service. If you have a VA-rated service-connected disability of 50% or more, the Disabled Veteran plate is worth pursuing for the registration fee waiver alone — and it’s worth the extra step of submitting Form 861 if you also need accessible parking. Start by requesting your VA disability letter (if you don’t already have one on file) and your DD214, then submit your application through the Alaska DMV’s online portal or at your nearest office.
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