Purple Heart plates

Anyone who was issued the Purple Heart from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Merchant Marines, may be issued special license plates indicating that they were injured in one of this nation's wars or conflicts.

Requirements

To qualify, you must:

• Be a Washington resident.
• Have been wounded in combat during one of this nation's wars or conflicts.
• Have been awarded the Purple Heart and have documentation of the award, such as a DD214 or other military document.
• Be an owner, co-owner, lessee, or co-lessee of the vehicle the Purple Heart plates will be issued to.

How to apply

1. Provide a copy of your DD214 or military discharge papers indicating that you are a Purple Heart recipient.
2. Complete a Military License Plate Application.
3. Take the completed application, a copy of your military papers, and a check or money order for the fees to a vehicle licensing office.
4. OR
5. Mail them to:
   Vehicle Licensing
   Department of Licensing
   PO Box 9909
   Olympia, WA 98507-8500

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

How to renew

There are no special requirements for renewing your Purple Heart 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 Purple Heart background design. For more information, see Personalized plates with a special background design.