New Mexico offers one of the more generous disabled veteran plate benefits in the country — up to two completely free plates for veterans with a 50 percent or higher service-connected disability rating. However, the application process is mail-only. There is no walk-in counter where you hand over your DD-214 and walk out with plates.
Here is exactly how the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) handles disabled veteran plates, what you are entitled to, and how to avoid the most common application rejections.
Who Qualifies for New Mexico Disabled Veteran Tags?
Under New Mexico law, the disabled veteran plate is available to an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. armed forces who submits proof that they were 50 percent or more disabled while serving.
The financial benefit is significant: qualifying veterans receive up to two free Disabled Veteran plates (waiving both plate and standard registration fees), usable on up to two vehicles, including motorcycles.
The “Mix and Match” Benefit for Multiple Military Plates
New Mexico offers several no-fee Military Service special plates, including Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, Ex-Prisoner of War, and Disabled Veteran. If you qualify for more than one of these categories, state law allows you to mix and match your two free plates in any combination.
Example: A veteran who qualifies for both Purple Heart and Disabled Veteran plates can choose to put a free Purple Heart plate on their truck and a free Disabled Veteran plate on their car.
Note: Need more than two plates? Thanks to a 2023 legislative update, veterans can now purchase additional Disabled Veteran plates beyond the two free ones, provided they pay standard plate and registration fees for the extra vehicles.
How to Apply for a New Mexico Disabled Veteran License Plate (Form MVD-10353)
1. Confirm Your Vehicle Is Titled and Registered in NM
Only passenger vehicles and light trucks under 26,000 pounds qualify for a Military Service special plate. The vehicle must already be titled and registered in New Mexico in your name. If your vehicle isn’t yet registered in New Mexico, you will need to take it to a local MVD field office for inspection, titling, and registration first.
2. Gather Your Required Documents
New Mexico’s MVD requires, in every case:
- A copy of your DD-214.
- Your honorable discharge certificate.
- An award letter or other VA/service-branch documentation confirming your disability rating percentage (50% or higher).
- A copy of your current New Mexico Certificate of Registration, if the vehicle is already registered. (Never send original documents, as the MVD will not return them).
3. Complete Form MVD-10353
This is the Application for Military Service Special Plate, and it covers Disabled Veteran plates along with several other categories. Select the Disabled Veteran option.
4. Add the Wheelchair (ISA) Symbol (If Applicable)
A 50 percent VA rating qualifies you for the DV plate, but it does not automatically add the International Symbol of Accessibility (the wheelchair insignia). To get the wheelchair symbol printed on your veteran plate — which is what legally signals handicapped parking eligibility — you must also submit Form MVD-10383 (Certificate of Eligibility for Parking Placard for Mobility Impaired Individuals).
This requires a medical professional’s certification of a severe mobility limitation, which is entirely distinct from your VA disability percentage letter. If your disability is not primarily mobility-related, you simply receive the standard Disabled Veteran plate without the wheelchair symbol.
5. Mail Your Completed Application
New Mexico does not process this specific plate application at local field offices. Mail your completed Form MVD-10353 (and Form MVD-10383 if requesting the ISA), along with your supporting copies, to:
Motor Vehicle Division — Vehicle Services Bureau P.O. Box 1028 Santa Fe, NM 87504-1028
Because this is a central mail-in process, build in extra time. Expect it to take a few weeks from submission to plate issuance.
Renewing Your New Mexico “Permanent” Disabled Veteran Plate
Disabled Veteran plates display the word “PERMANENT” in the lower right corner instead of an annual validation sticker, reflecting their no-fee, no-annual-renewal status for your first two vehicles.
If the plate holder passes away, the plate becomes invalid and must be replaced with a regular plate by the surviving family members — except for Ex-Prisoner of War plates, which a surviving spouse may apply to keep.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Application for Military Service Special Plate (Form MVD-10353) must be mailed to the MVD Vehicle Services Bureau in Santa Fe. Local field offices handle standard vehicle titling and registration, but not this specific veteran plate application.
Qualifying veterans with a 50 percent or higher service-connected disability rating may receive up to two free Disabled Veteran plates. Additional plates can be requested, but standard registration fees will apply to any plates beyond the first two.
No. The wheelchair (ISA) insignia requires separate medical proof that you meet New Mexico’s significant mobility limitation standard. You must submit Form MVD-10383 signed by a physician in addition to your VA disability letter.
If you are unsure if your paperwork is correct, the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (NMDVS) has Veterans Service Officers who can review your documents before you submit them. Utilizing this free service can prevent a multi-week mailing delay if you happen to be missing a signature or form.
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