Vehicles

Retired armed services plates


Retired Air Force
Retired Air Force
Retired Army
Retired Army
Retired Coast Guard
Retired Coast Guard
Retired Marine
Retired Marine
Retired Navy
Retired Navy
Who is eligible Owners of vehicles who are recognized by the United States Armed Forces as retired from the United States Armed Services.
Requirements A copy of the official government or military document confirming retirement.
Eligible vehicles Automobiles
Multipurpose vehicles
Sport utility vehicles
Vans
Motorcycles
Trucks
Motor homes
Trailers and travel trailers
Numbered plates
  • One set at no charge
  • Second or subsequent sets at $25
  • $5 annual registration fee to the Veterans License Fee Fund at the time of renewal
  • Annual registration fee.

Note: The $5 annual validation fee will be credited to the Veterans License Fee Fund.

Plates (including personalized plates) may be purchased as a gift. Gift certificates will be mailed to the purchaser.

Personalized plates
  • One set at $25
  • Second or subsequent sets at $50
  • $5 annual registration fee to the Veterans License Fee Fund at the time of renewal
  • Annual registration renewal fee (paid to county treasurer)

Note: The $5 annual validation fee will be credited to the Veterans License Fee Fund.

Second or subsequent plates, $25 of the personalized plate fee will be credited to the Veterans License Fee Fund.

Personalized license plates may consist of up to five characters and numbers. All personalized plate choices must have at least two characters.

  • No punctuation marks are allowed.
  • No denoting a government agency (i.e., DOT).
  • No display of characters that are sexual in connotation.
  • No characters suggesting profane, obscene or inflammatory words or phrases, or those contrary to public policy.
  • No characters or words defined in dictionaries as a term of vulgarity, contempt, prejudice, hostility, insult, or racial or ethnic degradation.
  • No characters considered to be offensive.
  • No characters that conflict with the regular license numbering system.
  • Recognized as a swear word.
  • Reference to an illegal substance or criminal act.
  • Any foreign word falling in any of these categories.
  • Cannot be all numbers.
How to apply Complete the Special Plate Application form, print and mail with the fees that are due.

Vehicle & Motor Carrier Services
Iowa Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 9278
Des Moines, Iowa  50306-9278

Your plates will be sent to your county treasurer's office and staff will notify you when your plates are available. Typical processing time is 3-6 weeks. Plates must be assigned to a vehicle within 90 days or the plates will be voided and no refund issued. Your current plates must be exchanged for your new plates.

For questions

Telephone: 515-237-3110
E-mail:  dot.plates@iowadot.us

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