Purple Heart PlatesPurple Heart Plates are available to any person who is a recipient of the Purple Heart Award.
Purple Heart and Purple Heart Handicap license plates are issued in lieu of regular plates and may be placed on motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, semitrailers and cabin trailers.
Applicants must have a Nebraska Certificate of Title issued in their name or in the name of a trust for which they are a beneficiary, or in the event the vehicle is leased or non-resident military, the name of the applicant or trust must appear on the registration of the vehicle.
To request Purple Heart 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 been awarded a Purple Heart from the federal government.
Purple Heart Handicap license plates require dual qualification, enrollment in the Nebraska Veteran's Registry and certification of medical condition by a medical provider. Certification of medical condition is evidenced by completion of the Application for Military Handicapped License Plates. This form is used for in-office and online applications.
After enrolled in the Nebraska Veteran's Registry, you may order Purple Heart license plates online.
There is no limit to the number of motor vehicles or trailers owned or leased by the applicant that may be licensed with a Purple Heart plate. A separate application must be submitted for each Purple Heart License Plate requested.
After the application has been processed, the applicant will receive notification from the Department of Motor Vehicles advising them of the date their plate will be available at their County Treasurer's office to be registered to their vehicle. If ordered online and the email option is selected, notification will be emailed when the plate is available at your County Treasurer's Office.
Purple Heart 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 (or three characters for a Purple Heart Handicap plate). Available for 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
The $40.00 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 or message choice or request for refund after the application has been processed.
Purple Heart Alphanumeric Plate - No Fee
Purple Heart or Purple Heart Handicap available with assigned alphanumeric combination assigned by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Available for motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, semitrailers, and cabin trailers,. These plates are issued in consecutive numeric order in which the applications are received. Requests for specific numbers cannot be processed. Note: prior to January 1, 2026, the plates were issued as numeric in lieu of alphanumeric, those plates will continue to be valid (plate number changed only if plate is lost or damaged).
All appropriate registration fees and taxes apply and must be paid to the County Treasurer in the county where the vehicle is registered.
Purple Heart License Plates do not allow the registered owner to park in spaces designated for handicapped parking. Parking in a space designated for handicapped parking requires a Purple Heart Handicapped License Plate, Handicapped License Plates or a Handicapped Parking Permit.
In lieu of ordering online, a completed Purple Heart Application or Application for Military Handicapped License Plates may be submitted to:
Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
Driver and Vehicle Records Division
PO Box 94789
Lincoln, NE 68509-4789
Please allow at least 4 - 5 weeks for the plates to arrive at your County Treasurer Motor Vehicle Office.
Questions regarding Specialty Plates may be addressed by email or by phone at (402) 471-3918.
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