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EX-POW Plates, Free — No Plate Fee, No Renewal Sticker Fee, Free Replacements

A former prisoner of war certified by the commissioner of veterans affairs gets EX-POW plates at no charge, on a passenger car, motorcycle or recreational motor vehicle. Renewal stickers cost nothing. A damaged plate is replaced free. The plates transfer to another vehicle the same person owns, and combined EX-POW and disability plates are available. What is NOT waived is the motor vehicle registration tax itself, so expect a bill for that — the saving is the plate and sticker fees, not the registration.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

A former prisoner of war certified by the commissioner of veterans affairs gets EX-POW plates at no charge, on a passenger car, motorcycle or recreational motor vehicle. Renewal stickers cost nothing. A damaged plate is replaced free. The plates transfer to another vehicle the same person owns, and combined EX-POW and disability plates are available. What is NOT waived is the motor vehicle registration tax itself, so expect a bill for that — the saving is the plate and sticker fees, not the registration.

What it's worth: Plates, renewal stickers and replacements all free

  • Plates are issued free of charge for a passenger automobile, motorcycle or recreational motor vehicle.
  • NO FEE for renewal stickers — the saving repeats every year.
  • FREE REPLACEMENT of damaged plates.
  • Transferable to another vehicle owned by the same person.
  • Combined EX-POW and disability plates are available.
  • THE MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION TAX STILL APPLIES. The waiver is of plate and sticker fees, not of registration tax.
  • Certification is by the commissioner of veterans affairs.

Who is entitled to it

  • You served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You were a prisoner of war.
  • Minnesota vehicle registration.

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. 1Get certified as a former prisoner of war by the commissioner of veterans affairs — that certification is what the plate turns on.
  2. 2Your County Veterans Service Officer can start the certification if you do not have it.
  3. 3Apply to Driver and Vehicle Services for the plates.
  4. 4If you also have a qualifying disability, ask for the combined EX-POW and disability plate rather than choosing between them.
  5. 5Expect to pay the registration tax. Do not assume the whole renewal bill is waived.
Form
EX-POW plate application, Driver and Vehicle Services
File with
Driver and Vehicle Services, Department of Public Safety
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingThe same POW certification also opens the free state park permit under Minn. Stat. 85.053. Get it once and use it twice.

Sources

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