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Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, Ex-POW and Disabled Veteran Plates — First Set Free, and Free City Parking

Iowa issues the first numbered set of Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, Ex-POW and Disabled Veteran plates at NO CHARGE. Additional sets are $25, personalised ones $25 for the first and $50 for additional. A $5 annual validation fee goes to the Veterans Licence Fee Fund and ordinary registration still applies. Since 1 July 2022, a vehicle displaying these plates PARKS FREE at city meters — which is worth more, over a year, than the plates cost.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Iowa issues the first numbered set of Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, Ex-POW and Disabled Veteran plates at NO CHARGE. Additional sets are $25, personalised ones $25 for the first and $50 for additional. A $5 annual validation fee goes to the Veterans Licence Fee Fund and ordinary registration still applies. Since 1 July 2022, a vehicle displaying these plates PARKS FREE at city meters — which is worth more, over a year, than the plates cost.

What it's worth: First numbered set free — and free parking at city meters since July 2022

  • The FIRST numbered set is issued at no charge. Additional sets are $25; personalised plates are $25 for the first and $50 for additional.
  • A $5 annual validation fee goes to the Veterans Licence Fee Fund, and ordinary registration still applies. So the plates are not entirely costless.
  • SINCE 1 JULY 2022, a vehicle displaying these Iowa veterans plates parks FREE at city meters. Over a year that is worth considerably more than the plates.
  • The Medal of Honor, Ex-POW and Disabled Veteran plates receive the same treatment as the Purple Heart plate, which is the one the department documents in most detail.
  • Official government or military documentation of the award or status is required.
  • The rule above tests the Purple Heart and disability routes; the Medal of Honor and Ex-POW routes are not testable against Iowa's current questions but qualify equally.

Who is entitled to it

  • You served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You are on one of the routes to these plates.
  • You were awarded the Purple Heart.
  • You have a VA service-connected disability.
  • You register a vehicle in Iowa.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Apply to the Motor Vehicle Division with official documentation of the award or status.
  2. 2Ask for the FIRST numbered set — it is free, and additional or personalised sets are not.
  3. 3Ask about the metered parking privilege. Since 1 July 2022 these plates park free at city meters, and that is worth more annually than the plates themselves.
  4. 4Budget the $5 annual validation fee and ordinary registration. The plates are free; the year is not.
  5. 5Medal of Honor and Ex-POW holders get the same treatment — apply on those routes even though this page cannot test them.
Form
Iowa DOT special plate application
File with
Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
Documents you will need
dd214
Annual
Claimed once a year.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.