Car icon Military Honor Plates

Military Honor license plates are available, in lieu of regular county plates, to persons who have served, are currently serving, on active duty or in the reserves of the:

  • United States Army
  • United States Air Force
  • United States Coast Guard
  • United States Marine Corps
  • United States Army National Guard, or
  • United States Air National Guard
  • United States Navy
  • United States Army Reserve
  • United States Navy Reserve
  • United States Marine Corps Reserve
  • United States Coast Guard Reserve
  • United States Air Force Reserve

OR have been awarded one of the following Medals:

  • Afghanistan Campaign
  • Iraq Campaign
  • Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Expeditionary
  • Southwest Asia Service, or
  • Vietnam Service

To request Military Honor license plates, the applicant must be eligible for, and enrolled in, the Nebraska Veteran's Registry through the Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs and have served (with an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge/separation), or be currently serving, on active duty in the specific branch or been awarded the Medal for which a license plate is requested.

You may need to update your information in the Nebraska Veteran's Registry if you are making application for a Campaign Medal plate and you originally enrolled prior to January 1, 2021. 

There is no limit to the number of motor vehicles or trailers owned or leased by the applicant that may be licensed with a Military Honor license plate. Separate application processes are required for each Military Honor license plate requested.

Order Military Honor Plates Online

Nebraska Military Honor license plates

Step 1: Register with the Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs Military & Veterans’ Registry

Step 2: Once approved, order the new ID and/or Military Honor Plates online or visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles office

Military Honor Message Plates - $40.00*

These plates are of exclusive design and, as with regular Message plates, are produced with an available message of your choice of up to five characters. Available to motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, semitrailers and cabin trailers.

The distribution of the $40.00 fee is as follows:

  • 75% ($30.00) to the Veteran Cemetery Cash Fund
  • 25% ($10.00) to the DMV Cash Fund

Military Honor Numeric Plates - $ 5.00*

Plate with the same exclusive design as on the Military Honor Message plates, but assigned an alpha/numeric combination by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Available to motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, semitrailers and cabin trailers. These plates are issued in consecutive numeric order in the order in which the applications are received. Requests for specific numbers cannot be processed.

The distribution of the $5.00 fee is as follows:

  • 100% ($5.00) to the Veteran Cemetery Cash Fund

*The $40.00 or $5.00 fee is due at the time of initial application and must be renewed annually in the same month as the vehicle registration.

We cannot honor a change of plate and or message choice or request for refund after the application has been processed.

Please allow at least 4 - 5 weeks for the plates to arrive at your County Treasurer Motor Vehicle Office.

Apply for a Military Honor Plates

Selecting a Message

Check Message Availability Online

Be very sure that each choice listed is acceptable to you. Your first available choice will be processed. Once your application has been processed, your message choice cannot be changed.

  • Maximum of 5 characters allowed. Your message choice will be centered on the plate.
  • Alpha and numeric characters only. All alpha characters are printed in upper case. No punctuation marks or symbols such as slashes, periods, apostrophes or other such symbols are allowed.(Exception: County Message and Commercial plates available only to residents of Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy Counties and must indicate placement of hyphen.)
  • Messages that conflict with present numbering system or a valid set of plates currently registered, will not be processed. Due to the format of the Military Honor Numeric plate, messages containing three numeric and two alpha (111QQ) cannot be processed, regardless of spacing.
  • Messages determined by the DMV to express, connote or imply objectionable, obscene or offensive words or phrases will not be processed. You are required to complete the section on the application indicating the meaning of your message. Applications received without an explanation of the meaning of the message may be returned to you unprocessed.
  • Message availability may be checked on our Online Specialty Plate System by following the steps below:
    • 1. select the appropriate vehicle on the Vehicle Type screen (click “Continue”);
    • 2. select the appropriate plate by clicking on the radial button next the correct image (click "Continue");
    • 4. type in the message you wish to order; (Note: There is no guarantee when a choice shows available that it is the message you will receive.)
  • If you are submitting your application by mail, be sure to enclose a check or money order made out to the "Department of Motor Vehicles" for the fee appropriate to the plate you for which you are making application.

 

Completing a Military Honor Plate Application

Before you submit your Application for a Military Honor License plate, please be sure you are properly enrolled with the Nebraska Veteran's Registry and that you have a Nebraska Certificate of Title in your name on the vehicle. If the vehicle is leased your leasing company must have a Nebraska Certificate of Title in their name on the vehicle. Applicants who are non-resident military must submit a copy of the vehicle’s registration and your name must appear on that registration. The most common reason for an application to be rejected is the applicant has not obtained the appropriate Nebraska title or included appropriate proof of lease or non-resident military ownership.

Registered Owner Information Section:

  • Name(s)of the registered owner(s)of the vehicle
  • Address (city and zip code)
  • Email Address(optional)
  • Daytime phone number where the applicant can be reached during regular business hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm CST).
  • Signature
  • Date
  • Social Security Number (used only to verify eligibity through Veterans' Affairs)

Vehicle Information Section:

  • Vehicle Identification Number (please be very sure that this number is correct)
  • Vehicle Make (i.e. Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan,Toyota,etc)
  • Vehicle Year
  • County in Nebraska in which the vehicle is currently titled/registered
  • Current license plate number
  • Title number
  • Indicate whether or not the vehicle is leased. If leased, indicate name of leasing company.

Vehicle Type Section:

  • Indicate vehicle type (i.e. passenger, motorcycle, autocycle or trailer)

Plate Type Section:

  • Indicate on your application by checking the appropriate box the type of plate for which you are applying (i.e. Military Honor Message or Military Numeric plate - indicate plate for the appropriate branch of service).

We cannot honor a change of choice or request for refund after the application has been processed. A $30.00 processing fee will be added to all returned checks.

Applications Received Online: After the message has been approved and the application processed, an email will be sent providing you with message, or number if the plate is a numeric plate, and payment confirmation and advising you that your approval letter will be sent to you by U.S. Postal Service first class mail. The approval letter will indicate the approved message or number assigned, the date the plates will be available at your County Treasurer Motor Vehicle Office for you to register to your vehicle and your County Treasurer Motor Vehicle Office telephone number to verify your Treasurer has received the plates. Current plates and registration must be surrendered when the Military Honor plates are registered. The cost of a Military Honor License plate is due at the time of initial application and again annually in the same month as the vehicle registration. Additional fees for production of the license plates and new registration will be charged. You should allow 4 to 5 weeks for the plates to arrive at your County Treasurer Motor Vehicle Office.

Applications Received By Mail: After the message has been approved and the application processed, an approval letter will be sent to you by U.S. Postal Service first class mail. The approval letter will indicate the approved message or number assigned, the date the plates will be available at your County Treasurer Motor Vehicle Office for you to register to your vehicle and your County Treasurer Motor Vehicle Office telephone number to verify your Treasurer has received the plates. Current plates and registration must be surrendered when the Military Honor plates are registered. The cost of a Military Honor License plate is due at the time of initial application and again annually in the same month as the vehicle registration. Additional fees for production of the license plates and new registration will be charged. You should allow 4 to 5 weeks for the plates to arrive at your County Treasurer’s office.

Applications by mail should be submitted, along with the appropriate fee, to:

Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
Driver and Vehicle Records Division
301 Centennial Mall South
PO Box 94789
Lincoln, NE 68509-4789

 

Final Steps

After your application has been processed and your message plate approved (if applicable), you will receive an approval letter by U.S. Postal Service first class mail (Note: if you apply online you will receive an email confirmation prior to your approval letter). The approval letter will indicate the approved message (if applicable), and the date the plates will be available at your County Treasurer’s office for you to register to your vehicle. In addition, the letter will have your County Treasurer’s telephone number to verify the Treasurer has received the plates. You must surrender your current plates and registration when your Specialty plates are registered. The cost of a Specialty plate is due at the time of initial application and again annually in the same month as the vehicle registration. Additional fees for production of the license plates and new registration will be charged. You should allow 4 to 5 weeks for the plates to arrive at your County Treasurer’s office.

 

Questions regarding Specialty Plates may be addressed by E-Mail or phone at 402.471.3918

Veterans' Designation on Nebraska License or ID

Qualifying veterans may register to have a Veteran's designation displayed on your Nebraska license or ID card.

Learn more about adding the Veterans' Designation on your license or ID.

Nebraska drivers license sample with veteran designation