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Gold Star Plate

Contact Us

How to Apply

  1. Request a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying you are eligible for a Gold Star License Plate.
  2. Take the letter from Department of Veterans Affairs, a Military License Plate Application, a copy of your vehicle registration, and any applicable fees to a vehicle licensing office.
    OR
    Mail them to:
    Vehicle Licensing
    Department of Licensing
    PO Box 9909
    Olympia, WA 98507-8500

Gold Star Parents, Spouses, Children, and Siblings may qualify for a Gold Star License Plate under RCW 46.18.245

These plates honor parents, spouses, children, and siblings of military men and women who lost their lives in service to our Country. 

Requirements

To qualify for Gold Star license plates, you must be certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs as being 1 of the following to a United States armed forces member who died while in the service, or as a result of their service:

  • Widow or widower (If the servicemember died as a result of their service, please include verification such as eligibility for DIC, or other documentation which identifies a service connected disability as the cause of death. Call 1-800-562-2308 if you have questions or need assistance.)
  • Birth mother or birth father
  • Stepmother or stepfather
  • Mother or father through adoption (Additional documentation required.)
  • Adult who fulfilled the parental role, such as foster parent, kinship care provider, or caretaker relative. (Additional documentation required.)
  • Biological child
  • Adopted child
  • Sibling

Fees

As of October 1, 2020

 

Gold Star Widow/Widower

Parent/Step parent

Gold Star

Children/Siblings

Fees Fee charged? Fee charged?
License Plate Fee No No
$30 Annual Registration Fee No Yes
Service/Filing Fees - $13.25 No Yes
Weight Fees  No Yes
Personalized Plate Fee Yes Yes
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) No Yes
Local TBD No Yes
# of Vehicles Eligible for fee exemption 1*  

*A qualified widow, a widower, a biological parent, an adoptive parent, a stepparent, or an adult in loco parentis or foster parent applicant may purchase additional Gold Star license plates without payment of any license plate fees, but the applicant must pay all other fees and taxes required by law for registering the motor vehicle.

*Gold Star Widows and widowers may choose instead to receive a standard license plate or any other qualifying special license plate.

Personalized Plates

You may get personalized plates with a Gold Star background design for an additional fee:

  • Additional $52. (Must be renewed annually at $42).

For details and how to apply, see Personalized plates with a special background design.

Remember to update your Good To Go! account

If you have a Good To Go! electronic tolling pass, be sure to update the license plate number and contact information on your account if you get a new special plate. You can update your account with the Department of Transportation:

How to Apply

Request a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying you are eligible for a Gold Star License Plate.

Take the letter from Department of Veterans Affairs, a Military License Plate Application, a copy of your vehicle registration, and any applicable fees to a vehicle licensing office.

OR

Mail them to:
Vehicle Licensing
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9909
Olympia, WA 98507-8500

How to renew

There are no special requirements for renewing Gold Star Parent license plates. You can: