Minnesota is one of the most veteran-friendly states in the country when it comes to vehicle benefits. The state offers over 20 distinctive military and veteran license plate designs.
More importantly, if you have a 100% service-connected disability, landmark legislative reforms enacted in 2024 have dramatically expanded the financial exemptions you receive at the DMV. Here is exactly how Minnesota’s veteran plates work, the new benefits you need to claim, and how to apply correctly.
Minnesota’s New 100% Disabled Veteran Benefits (2024 Law)
Before diving into the plates themselves, you need to understand the massive financial exemptions now available to severely disabled veterans. If you hold a 100% Service-Connected or TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability) rating, Minnesota provides the following:
- Free Registration on Two Vehicles: 100% SC/TDIU veterans receive entirely free motor vehicle registration, plate, and title services for up to two vehicles (passenger auto, one-ton pickup, RV, or motorcycle).
- Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Exemption: Effective July 1, 2024, when purchasing a motor vehicle, 100% SC/TDIU veterans are completely exempt from Minnesota’s 6.5% Motor Vehicle Sales Tax.
- Free Driver’s License: Veterans with a 100% permanent and total (P&T) or TDIU rating receive all standard driver’s licenses and state IDs for free.
(Note: The fee exemption covers standard registration and title fees. If you choose a personalized plate or a design that requires an annual specialty contribution, you are still responsible for those specific add-on costs).
Types of Minnesota Veteran License Plates
Minnesota offers a range of veteran plates through the Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division.
| Plate Type | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|
| Proud to Be a Veteran | Any honorably discharged veteran |
| Disabled American Veterans | Any DAV member (expanded in 2024) |
| Combat Wounded | Purple Heart recipients |
| Medal Plates | Bronze Star, Silver Star, Global War on Terrorism |
| Era-Specific Plates | Vietnam, Korean Conflict, Gulf War, WWII, Laos |
| Gold Star Family | Surviving family members of service members who died on active duty |
All standard veteran plates can be displayed on passenger vehicles, one-ton pickups, and recreational vehicles. Certain designs are also available for motorcycles.
Documents Required to Apply for Minnesota Veteran Plates
To apply at your local Deputy Registrar office, you need specific proof of your service and disability rating. Do not bring raw medical records.
- DD-214: Must show your discharge was under honorable conditions. (Active duty members can use their current military ID).
- VA Summary of Benefits Letter: Required if claiming the 100% SC/TDIU fee waivers. Download a fresh copy from your VA.gov portal dated within the past year.
- Form PS2010 (Application for Special Plates): The primary DVS form to request your specific veteran plate design.
- Vehicle Title or Current Registration: For the vehicle you are plating.
How to Apply for Minnesota Veteran License Plates
- Download your VA letter and Form PS2010
- Get your updated Summary of Benefits letter from VA.gov and fill out DVS Form PS2010 before you leave home.
- Claim your sales tax exemption (Required for 100% disabled veterans buying a new car)
- If you are purchasing a vehicle, notify the dealer before finalizing the paperwork. They have a specific drop-down selection in their processing system for 100% disabled veterans that will exclude the 6.5% state sales tax.
- Visit a Deputy Registrar Office
- Bring your DD-214, VA letter, Form PS2010, and vehicle registration to any Minnesota DVS Deputy Registrar office.
- Submit and pay applicable fees (if under 100% SC)
- If you are 100% SC/TDIU, the clerk will process your registration, title, and plate waivers for up to two vehicles. Veterans with a rating under 100% must pay the standard state registration and plate fees.
Disabled Parking Privileges
Can you add a disability symbol to your veteran plates? Yes. Minnesota allows qualifying veterans to order their veteran plates with the International Symbol of Access (wheelchair symbol) to use designated handicapped parking spaces.
However, a 100% VA rating alone does not automatically grant you handicapped parking privileges. To get the disability symbol on your plate, you must additionally complete Form PS2904 (Application for Disability Plates). This separate form requires a medical professional to sign off and certify that your disability specifically impairs your mobility.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must establish the benefit at your local Deputy Registrar office. If your VA rating is not permanent, the office will require you to bring a current VA benefits letter (dated within the past year) at each annual renewal to prove your rating has not dropped.
The sales tax exemption went into effect July 1, 2024. If you purchased a vehicle after that date, qualified for the exemption, and paid the tax anyway, you can file Form PS2511 (Claim for Motor Vehicle Refund) with the Minnesota DVS.
Yes. Gold Star Family plates are available free of charge to eligible surviving spouses and family members. Additionally, a surviving spouse of a qualifying 100% P&T veteran who receives Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) may be eligible to continue receiving the vehicle fee exclusions.
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