Oregon Disabled Veteran Plates: Eligibility, Fees, and Transfers

Oregon disabled veteran license plates are issued by the DMV for a one-time $15 registration fee to veterans with a service-connected disability and an honorable discharge of at least 90 consecutive days. The plates are permanent, meaning no annual registration renewal, and only one set is issued per qualifying veteran. One thing they do not do: give you the right to park in disability spaces. That requires a separate permit.

Who Qualifies

ORS 805.100 sets two requirements. You must have a disability that resulted from your military service, and you must have been discharged or released under honorable conditions from the U.S. Armed Forces after serving at least 90 consecutive days. If you were discharged early because of a service-connected injury or illness, the 90-day minimum does not apply.¹

There is no minimum VA disability percentage. Any service-connected disability qualifies, so long as the VA or your branch of service will certify your status in writing.¹

Commercial vehicles are excluded. You can put the plates on a personal car or truck, but not on a vehicle used for commercial purposes. If more than one qualifying veteran lives in your household, each of you can receive a set.¹

Documents to Gather Before You Apply

Have these ready before you start, so the DMV can process everything in one pass.

Form 735-6736, the Application for Disabled Veteran Plates, downloadable from the Oregon DMV website. Do not confuse it with Form 735-265, which is for disabled person parking permits.²
A VA letter or your branch of service letter showing a service-connected disability. A DD214 that reflects this information also works.²
Form 735-268 (Application for Registration) if you already hold the title, or Form 735-226 (Application for Title and Registration) if you also need a title, with all title requirements.²
A DEQ Certificate of Compliance, if your vehicle is within the Department of Environmental Quality’s emission testing boundaries and is not exempt.²

Form 735-6736 asks for the vehicle identification number, your current plate number, and your signature. If a disability prevents you from signing, another person may sign on your behalf and add their own signature and the date.

If you need a current VA benefit letter, you can download one through the VA’s online portal after signing in to a VA.gov account. The VA calls it a Benefit Summary Letter, and it displays the address the VA has on file, so check that first.³

How to Submit the Application

You can apply by mail or in person. Mailed applications go to DMV headquarters in Salem, not to a local field office:

DMV Services
1905 Lana Ave NE
Salem, OR 97314⁴

If you would rather hand it over in person, any local DMV field office will accept the paperwork. Once the application is processed, the plates are manufactured and mailed to your address, so plan for several weeks.

Fees and Permanent Registration

The registration fee is a one-time $15 charge. Once paid, the registration is permanent, with no annual renewal.⁵ Standard plate fees and any replacement plate fees still apply. Only one set of disabled veteran plates is issued per qualifying veteran.²

Transferring the Plates to Another Vehicle

The plates belong to you, not to the vehicle. When you sell or replace a car, remove the plates first. You can then transfer them to another non-commercial vehicle you own by submitting a transfer application and paying a plate transfer fee.

Replacing Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Plates

To replace by mail, fill out Form 735-268 (Application for Registration), select the plate replacement option, and send it with the applicable fee to DMV Services, 1905 Lana Ave NE, Salem, OR 97314. You can also do it online through the DMV2U portal if you have an Oregon title in your name, or visit a local DMV field office.⁶

The Plates Do Not Grant Disability Parking Privileges

This catches people out. Oregon disabled veteran plates do not authorize parking in disability-designated spaces. Parking in a disabled person space without a qualifying placard or decal displayed can result in a fine.⁷ Oregon law lists the credentials that count as disabled person parking permits, and disabled veteran plates are not among them.⁸

If you want parking privileges too, the closest match for many disabled veterans is the Oregon Wounded Warrior placard or decal. It is a separate program with stricter eligibility: a VA service-connected disability rating of at least 50 percent, a discharge under other-than-dishonorable conditions, and an Oregon driver license, driver permit, or ID card.⁹ The application uses Form 735-265 and requires both a VA letter showing the 50-percent-or-higher rating and proof of discharge status.⁷ A Wounded Warrior placard or decal is valid for eight years and can be renewed.

You can hold both credentials on the same vehicle. Oregon law specifically allows the DMV to issue a parking placard or decal to someone who already has disabled veteran registration plates, provided the person independently qualifies for the parking permit.⁸

1
OregonLaws. Oregon Code 805.100 – Disabled Veterans
2
Oregon Department of Transportation. Application for Disabled Veteran Plates
3
Veterans Affairs. Download VA Benefit Letters
4
Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services. DMV Offices
5
Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs – License Plates
6
Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services. Vehicle Registration – Renew/Replace/Transfer
7
Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services. Disabled Person Parking Permits
8
Oregon Public Law. Oregon Code 811.602 – Disabled Person Parking Permit Content
9
Oregon Public Law. Oregon Code 811.616 – Oregon Wounded Warrior Placard Rules