Gold Star Parent plates

Gold Star Parent license plates are available to parents of United States armed forces members who have died while in the service, or as a result of their service. To qualify, you must be certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs as one of the following:

• Birth mother or birth father
• Stepmother or stepfather
• Mother or father through adoption
• Other adult who fulfilled the parental role, such as foster parent, kinship care provider, or caretaker relative. (Additional documentation required.)

How to apply

1. Request a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying you are a qualifying parent of a member of the United States armed services.
2. Take the letter from Department of Veterans Affairs, a copy of your vehicle registration, and a check or money order for the fees to a vehicle licensing office.
3. OR
4. Mail them to:
   
   Vehicle Licensing
   Department of Licensing
   PO Box 9909
   Olympia, WA 98507-8500

NOTE: To find out exactly what the fees will be for your vehicle, please contact a vehicle licensing office near you.

How to renew

There are no special requirements for renewing your Gold Star Parent license plates. To renew, pay all licensing fees and:

• Renew online.
• Renew in person at a vehicle licensing office.
• Renew through the mail by following the instructions on your vehicle renewal notice.

Personalize your plates

For an additional fee, you may get personalized plates with a Gold Star Parent background design. For more information, see Personalized plates with a special background design.