How to Complete and Submit Indiana State Form 32584 for Veteran License Plates

Indiana State Form 32584 is the Certification of Eligibility for Veteran License Plates. You use it to apply for one of three plates through the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA): the Disabled Hoosier Veteran (DHV) plate, the Purple Heart plate, or the Ex-POW plate. Fill out the single-page form, attach the documents that prove you qualify, mail or deliver it to IDVA in Indianapolis, and once IDVA approves the certification, take it to any Indiana BMV branch to get the plate. The form is a free download from the IDVA website at in.gov/dva.¹

Which Plates Form 32584 Covers

Indiana offers more than 20 military-themed plates, but Form 32584 applies to only three of them.² If you want a different veteran plate, you need a different form.

Disabled Hoosier Veteran Plate

Under IC 9-18.5-5-1, you qualify for the DHV plate if your military service resulted in any of the following:³

Loss of sight in both eyes, or permanent vision impairment in both eyes severe enough to qualify for service-connected compensation.
Loss of one or both feet, or permanent loss of use of one or both feet.
Loss of one or both hands, or permanent loss of use of one or both hands.
A VA disability rating for a physical condition that prevents you from walking without pain or difficulty.
A VA disability rating of at least 50% with service-related compensation, where at least 60% of that rating is tied to a mobility disability.

Purple Heart Plate

You qualify if you received the Purple Heart decoration. Under IC 9-18.5-6, an un-remarried surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient also qualifies, though a surviving spouse cannot get the disability-modified version of the plate.³

Ex-POW Plate

Any former prisoner of war qualifies. Under IC 9-18.5-4-1, the BMV may also issue one or more Ex-POW plates to the surviving spouse of a deceased former prisoner of war.³

How to Fill Out the Form

Form 32584 is a single page. Enter the following:¹

Your full legal name as it appears on your military and VA records.
Your current address, city, state, and ZIP code.
Your Social Security Number.
Your VA Claim Number, only if it differs from your SSN. Otherwise leave it blank.
A telephone number where IDVA can reach you.
A check next to each plate you are requesting. You can request more than one if you qualify.
Your signature and the date. No notarization is required.

Documents You Need to Attach

IDVA will not process the application without proof of eligibility for each plate you check.¹

For the DHV plate, attach your VA Disability Award letter. It must list each individual condition and the percentage assigned to each. If IDVA cannot determine the severity of your condition from the letter, they may request a separate letter from your VA doctor confirming that your disability affects your mobility.
For the Purple Heart plate, attach documentation of the award, typically your DD-214 showing the Purple Heart or a copy of the award citation.
For the Ex-POW plate, attach documentation confirming your status as a former prisoner of war.

If you no longer have a paper copy of your award letter, you can download a VA Benefit Summary Letter through va.gov/records. Send copies rather than originals when you can, because IDVA does not guarantee returning original documents.

Where to Send the Form

Mail or hand-deliver the completed form and your supporting documents to IDVA:¹

Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs
777 North Meridian Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46204

The form does not state a processing timeline. IDVA’s general phone number is 317-232-3910 if you want to check on your application or ask a question before submitting.⁴

What Happens After IDVA Approves You

IDVA reviews your paperwork and, if you qualify, issues a certification. Bring that approved Form 32584 to any Indiana BMV branch to receive your plate.² The plate can go on a passenger vehicle, a motorcycle (displayed on the rear), a recreational vehicle, or a truck with a declared gross weight of 11,000 pounds or less.

One important limitation: vehicles with veteran plates that require additional forms cannot be renewed online. Every renewal has to happen in person at a BMV branch.²

Cost and Metered Parking

The DHV, Purple Heart, and Ex-POW plates themselves are free. You still pay standard registration fees and applicable taxes based on your vehicle and county.⁵ A personalized version of any of these plates costs an additional $45.²

All three plates also come with a statewide metered parking benefit. If you display a DHV, Purple Heart, or Ex-POW plate, you can park at any legal metered space in Indiana without paying the meter, and you cannot be ticketed for exceeding the posted time limit.¹ A few limits apply:

You cannot park in a metered space that has been designated a no-parking zone.
The privilege is for the eligible veteran only, not for others driving the vehicle.
Other states may not recognize the benefit.
The plate alone does not authorize handicap parking. You need to display the universal handicap emblem separately.

Surviving Spouse Rules

Surviving spouses qualify differently depending on the plate. An un-remarried surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient qualifies for the Purple Heart plate.³ The surviving spouse of a deceased former prisoner of war may receive one or more Ex-POW plates.⁶ The DHV statute has no surviving spouse provision; only the veteran who personally meets the disability criteria can hold that plate.

When Form 32584 Is Not the Right Form

Form 32584 covers only the DHV, Purple Heart, and Ex-POW plates. Other Indiana military plates use different applications. The Gold Star Family plate uses State Form 54181, and certain disability plates use State Form 42070.² Hoosier Veteran branch plates, National Guard, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Armed Forces Expeditionary, Army Medal of Honor, and Support Our Troops each follow their own process. Confirm on the BMV’s military license plates page which form applies before you file anything.

1
Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. State Form 32584 – Certification of Eligibility for Veteran License Plates
2
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Indiana Military License Plates
3
Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. DVA – Veteran License Plates
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Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. DVA – Contact Us
5
MyAirForceBenefits. Indiana Military and Veterans Benefits
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Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. DVA – Motor Vehicle License Plates, Licenses and Waivers