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Medal of Honor and POW Plates Free of Registration Charge — and 40 More at No Extra Cost

Ohio issues plates FREE OF REGISTRATION CHARGE to Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and to former prisoners of war. Apply on form BMV 4507 with military records or VA documentation. Worth knowing alongside it: ABOUT FORTY OTHER MILITARY SPECIALTY PLATES CARRY NO EXTRA PLATE CHARGE — so a veteran who wants a service designation is not paying a specialty premium for it, even where the registration itself is not free.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Ohio issues plates FREE OF REGISTRATION CHARGE to Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and to former prisoners of war. Apply on form BMV 4507 with military records or VA documentation. Worth knowing alongside it: ABOUT FORTY OTHER MILITARY SPECIALTY PLATES CARRY NO EXTRA PLATE CHARGE — so a veteran who wants a service designation is not paying a specialty premium for it, even where the registration itself is not free.

What it's worth: Plates issued free of registration charge

  • FREE OF REGISTRATION CHARGE for Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR.
  • Apply on FORM BMV 4507 with military records or VA documentation.
  • ABOUT FORTY OTHER MILITARY SPECIALTY PLATES CARRY NO EXTRA PLATE CHARGE, though the registration itself is payable on those.
  • No disability rating is required on either free route.
  • Ohio vehicle registration is required.

Who is entitled to it

  • You served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You meet one of the routes.
  • You were held as a prisoner of war.
  • You hold the Medal of Honor.
  • Ohio 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. 1Complete form BMV 4507 and attach military records or VA documentation of the award or POW status.
  2. 2Former prisoners of war should apply even with no disability rating.
  3. 3If neither free route fits, ask about the other military designations — most carry no extra plate charge.
  4. 4Ask whether the registration exemption renews automatically or must be reclaimed each year.
  5. 5Ohio also has a disabled veteran plate under a separate provision; check which suits you.
Form
BMV 4507, with military or VA documentation
File with
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Documents you will need
dd214
Annual
Claimed once a year.
Worth knowingForty designations at no extra plate charge is unusual. In most states a service designation is a paid specialty plate.

Sources

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