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Valor and Service Award Plates — Registration Fee Waived on One Set

Texas waives Chapter 502 registration fees on ONE SET of plates for recipients of qualifying awards: the Bronze Star and Bronze Star with Valor, the Air Medal and Air Medal with Valor, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, Pearl Harbor Survivor and Medal of Honor plates among them. Two named plate types are EXCLUDED from the fee exemption — the Commendation Medal plate under §504.315(c) and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal plate under §504.315(q) — so holding a decoration is not by itself enough; it depends which plate.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Texas waives Chapter 502 registration fees on ONE SET of plates for recipients of qualifying awards: the Bronze Star and Bronze Star with Valor, the Air Medal and Air Medal with Valor, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, Pearl Harbor Survivor and Medal of Honor plates among them. Two named plate types are EXCLUDED from the fee exemption — the Commendation Medal plate under §504.315(c) and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal plate under §504.315(q) — so holding a decoration is not by itself enough; it depends which plate.

What it's worth: Chapter 502 registration fees waived on one set of plates

  • ONE SET of plates is exempt from Chapter 502 registration fees under §504.3015.
  • Qualifying awards include the BRONZE STAR and Bronze Star with Valor, the AIR MEDAL and Air Medal with Valor, the DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, the AIR FORCE CROSS, the DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR and MEDAL OF HONOR plates.
  • TWO PLATE TYPES ARE EXCLUDED from the fee exemption: the Commendation Medal plate at §504.315(c) and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal plate at §504.315(q).
  • So the question is not only which decoration you hold but WHICH PLATE you take.
  • No disability rating is required.
  • Additional sets beyond the first are charged normally.

Who is entitled to it

  • You served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You hold a qualifying award.
  • You register a vehicle in Texas.
  • Texas 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. 1Check which plate your award maps to, and whether that plate is one of the two excluded from the fee exemption.
  2. 2Apply through the county tax assessor-collector with evidence of the award.
  3. 3Take the exemption on the set you drive most; only one set is covered.
  4. 4If you hold more than one qualifying award, ask which plate carries the better treatment.
  5. 5Purple Heart and POW plates are separate Texas provisions with their own records — check those too.
Form
Application through your county tax assessor-collector
File with
Your county tax assessor-collector, with TxDMV
Documents you will need
dd214
Renew annually
Worth knowingThe Commendation Medal and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal plates are available but are outside the fee exemption. A recipient choosing between plates should know that before deciding.

Sources

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