Disabled veterans in New Jersey can get free E-ZPass tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and the Atlantic City Expressway, provided they hold a “Disabled Vet” license plate from the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission and link an active NJ E-ZPass account to the qualifying vehicle.1New Jersey Legislature. Senate No. 3725 The exemption is run by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, and once you have the plate, approval is not discretionary.2New Jersey Legislature. Assembly No. 5528
Who Qualifies
Three vehicle-tied conditions have to be met. The vehicle must be owned or leased by you, registered in New Jersey with a “Disabled Vet” plate, and tied to an active NJ E-ZPass account.1New Jersey Legislature. Senate No. 3725 Leased vehicles count, which the program descriptions often leave out.
The underlying definition of a disabled veteran comes from the Disabled Vet plate statute: a New Jersey resident honorably discharged from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces who has been declared by the Department of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability.3Justia Law. New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 39-3-27.15
One important limit: the law references the “Disabled Vet” plate specifically. A Purple Heart plate or another military specialty plate does not qualify you under the current statutory framework.1New Jersey Legislature. Senate No. 3725
Step 1: Get the Disabled Vet License Plate
The plate is a hard prerequisite. You cannot submit the toll exemption application until you have been approved for the plate.2New Jersey Legislature. Assembly No. 5528 Veterans often try to enroll in the toll program first and are told to come back once the plate is in hand.
Apply through the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission with two documents: your DD-214 (or DD-215 if applicable) and your Award of Disability letter from the VA. You can file in person at any MVC agency with a completed SP-47 form, or by mail with photocopies of your proof of status and the signed SP-47 sent to the MVC Special Plates Unit at P.O. Box 015, Trenton, NJ 08666-015.4State of New Jersey. Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient Placards
Step 2: Enroll With NJ E-ZPass
Once the plate is on the vehicle and your NJ E-ZPass account is active, apply for the toll exemption through the NJ E-ZPass Customer Service Center. Mail correspondence goes to P.O. Box 52003, Newark, NJ 07101-8203.5E-ZPass New Jersey. E-ZPass New Jersey Customer Reference Guide The exact enrollment forms are not posted on the public discount pages, so contact E-ZPass NJ directly to confirm the current procedure.
Expect to keep paying standard tolls until the exemption is confirmed. You can watch your online E-ZPass account for a plan code update showing the exemption is active. The transponder also has to be in the vehicle and working when you pass through a toll point, because the exemption runs through the electronic toll system.
Standard passenger cars sit in Class 1 along with taxis, two-axle trucks and vans, and motorcycles.6New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Vehicle Class Definitions If your vehicle falls into a higher class, confirm with E-ZPass NJ that the exemption still applies before you count on it.
Which Roads Are Not Covered
The exemption only covers the state-authority toll roads: the Turnpike, the Parkway, and the Atlantic City Expressway. Crossings run by bi-state agencies are not included. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates the George Washington Bridge, the Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel, and the Bayonne Bridge. The Delaware River Port Authority runs the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Walt Whitman Bridge, and other NJ–PA crossings. On any of those, you pay the full toll regardless of veteran status.
The benefit is also non-transferable. It applies only when the registered transponder is used in the specific vehicle on your application. Lending the transponder to a relative or moving it to a different car will not get you the free toll.
Keeping the Exemption Active
The disabled veteran placard has to be renewed every three years, and letting the plate lapse puts the toll benefit at risk.4State of New Jersey. Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient Placards Keep the vehicle registration current. If you change vehicles, update both the MVC plate registration and the E-ZPass account so the records match.
Keep your E-ZPass account details accurate too. Name, address, or plate changes should be filed promptly, because mismatches between the MVC, the VA, and E-ZPass are easier to prevent than to untangle later. For questions about enrollment status, call the NJ E-ZPass Customer Service Center directly.