Contact Us
license.plates@dva.wa.gov
1-800-562-2308
How to Apply
Complete the Request for Certification Letter
and
Complete the Military License Plate Application
Attach your DD1300 OR Federal VA Benefit Verification Letter showing you are a DIC recipient.
(If you do not have your DD 1300 or your benefit verification letter you can contact us at 800-562-2308 and ask to speak to the Gold Star License Plate coordinator and we will assist you)
Mail all items to:
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA)
Attn: Gold Star License Plate Certification
PO Box 41150
Olympia WA 98504-1150
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:
- Online: www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo/
- By phone: 1-866-936-8246
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:
- Renew online.
- Renew at a vehicle licensing office. (An additional service fee may apply.)
- Renew by mail, following the instructions on your vehicle renewal notice.