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Veteran’s Indicator on Driver’s License Now Free in Massachusetts

March 1, 2017

The Registry of Motor Vehicles is now providing Massachusetts driver’s licenses and IDs with “Veteran’s Indicators” to Veterans at no cost. The “Veteran’s Indicator” is a symbol that appears on a license or ID that can be used as proof of service for Veterans to obtain benefits and services available to them as former members of the Armed Forces.

69650810 - veteran drivers license male clip-art illustration vector“Our administration is pleased to offer this service free of charge to support the courageous men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces,” Governor Charlie Baker said. “It is our hope that Veterans across the Commonwealth will choose to have a veteran’s indicator added to their Registry credentials to receive the recognition and support they duly deserve.”

WWLP-22News reported that eligible veterans had to pay $25 to have the indicator printed on their ID or license prior to Baker’s announcement in November of 2016. According to the Massachusetts Veteran Services, there are more than 365,000 veterans living in Massachusetts.

“It can be an issue for some Veterans to prove they served in the military because not all Veterans are eligible for federally issued ID cards. Thankfully, Massachusetts took notice and now includes a ‘Veteran’s Indicator’ symbol free of charge on drivers’ licenses and state issued ID cards,” said Vice President Joe Reardon. “The veteran’s indicator makes it easier for Veterans in our state to receive access to government benefits to which they are entitled as well as discounts at restaurants and retailers.”

The Military Wallet states: “Currently 49 states offer a Veterans Designation on state issued drivers licenses or ID cards. Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. also issue driver’s licenses or ID cards with a Veterans Designation.”

The state of Washington, the only state that currently does not issue an ID card with a Veterans Designation, will begin issuing the Veterans Designation ID card sometime in 2017.

The blog of mass.gov states: “The veteran designation is designed to increase awareness about available resources and benefits. With this feature, first responders will be alerted of all veterans and the Department of Veterans’ Services will notify veterans of benefits they may not have accessed. There is no cost for the veteran designation, as long as it is added during license renewal time.”

Veterans must still pay the normal renewal fees when they renew their driver’s license or Identification Card, but there is no additional fee to add the “Veteran’s Indicator.” However, if a veteran’s license or ID card is not eligible for renewal, he or she can obtain a duplicate license or ID card for no fee with the “Veteran’s Indicator,” according to MassDOT.

“The Registry of Motor Vehicles is excited about the new veteran designation, which is a free service upon license renewal,” said MassDOT RMV Registrar Rachel Kaprielian. “Veterans who have not accessed Department of Veterans’ services will find a wide of array of benefits are available.”

Veterans who wish to have the “Veteran’s Indicator” on their license or ID must bring the following with them to a RMV service center or designated AAA locations:

  • ADD-214 that indicates “Honorable” in the Character of Service box or Character of Separation box.  Only the long form (full page) DD-214 is acceptable; the short form (half page) cannot be accepted.
  • ADD-215 that indicates honorable discharge.
  • Honorable Discharge form.  This form was used during WWII and the Korean War and does not display a Character of Service box or a Character of Separation box.

Photo credit: Anton Novik/123RF.com

1 Comment

Edward G Regan

04/06/2017 at 5:00 pm

Can a relative of a person who died in the war have something put on the license indicating that they a relative of a person who died in the war? My uncle died in World War II

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