Transportation Code § 504.202

Sec. 504.202. VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) A person entitled to specialty license plates under this section may register, for the person's own use, one vehicle without payment of any fee paid for or at the time of registration except the fee for the license plates. Registration under this section is valid for one year. (b) A veteran of the United States armed forces is entitled to register, for the person's own use, motor vehicles under this section if: (1) the person has suffered, as a result of military service: (A) at least a 50 percent service-connected disability; or (B) a 40 percent service-connected disability because of the amputation of a lower extremity; (2) the person receives compensation from the United States because of the disability; and (3) the motor vehicle: (A) is owned by the person; and (B) has a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds or less or is a motor home. (b-1) A person described by Subsection (b) who is eligible to receive license plates under Section 504.201 may elect to receive license plates under this section that include the symbol described by Section 504.201(f). The initial application for license plates under this subsection must be accompanied by: (1) the written statement required by Section 504.201(d), unless the applicant is an organization described by Subsection (b-2); and (2) any other information required for an application under this section. (b-2) An organization that registers a motor vehicle under Subsection (c) may elect to receive license plates under Subsection (b-1) if the vehicle regularly transports veterans who are eligible to receive license plates under Subsection (b-1). The department shall adopt rules prescribing satisfactory proof of eligibility under this subsection. (c) An organization may register a motor vehicle under this section if: (1) the vehicle is used exclusively to transport veterans of the United States armed forces who have suffered, as a result of military service, a service-connected disability; and (2) the veterans are not charged for the transportation. (d) A statement by the veterans county service officer of the county in which a vehicle described by Subsection (c) is registered or by the Department of Veterans Affairs that a vehicle is used exclusively to transport veterans with disabilities without charge is satisfactory proof of eligibility for an organization. (e) Other than license plates issued under Subsection (h), license plates issued under this section must include: (1) the letters "DV" on the plate if the plate is issued for a vehicle other than a motorcycle; and (2) the words "Disabled Veteran" and "U.S. Armed Forces" at the bottom of each license plate. (e-1) Other than license plates issued under Subsection (h), license plates issued under this section may include, on request: (1) the emblem of the veteran's branch of service; or (2) one emblem from another license plate to which the person is entitled under Section 504.307, 504.308, 504.309, 504.310(b), 504.311, 504.312, 504.313, 504.3135, 504.314, 504.315, 504.316, 504.3161, 504.318, 504.319, 504.320, 504.323, 504.325, 504.327, 504.328, 504.330, 504.331, 504.332, 504.333, 504.334, 504.335, 504.336, 504.337, 504.338, 504.339, or 504.340. (f) The fee for the first set of license plates is $3. There is no fee for each additional set of license plates. (g) A person who receives license plates under Subsection (b-1) may receive a disabled parking placard under Section 681.004 for each set of license plates. (h) A person entitled to license plates under this section may elect to receive license plates issued under Chapter 502 under the same conditions for the issuance of license plates under this section. (i) A license plate with the letters "DV" may be personalized with up to four characters. (j) A person entitled to license plates under this section may instead use, for a vehicle that meets the requirements of Section 504.501 or 504.502, disabled veteran license plates issued by this state that: (1) are embossed with an alphanumeric pattern; (2) are of a plate design that was issued in the same year as the model year of the vehicle; (3) are approved for use by the department; and (4) include the symbol described by Section 504.201(f), if the person satisfies the requirements for the issuance of license plates under Subsection (b-1) and elects to include the symbol on the plates. (k) A reference in law to license plates issued under Subsection (b-1) includes disabled veteran license plates described by Subsection (j)(4). Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1320, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., 3rd C.S., ch. 8, Sec. 5.09, eff. Jan. 11, 2004. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 98 (H.B. 2105), Sec. 1, eff. May 15, 2007. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 617 (H.B. 965), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 965 (H.B. 3593), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 460 (S.B. 1755), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1296 (H.B. 2357), Sec. 178, eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 7 (S.B. 530), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 223 (H.B. 120), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1135 (H.B. 2741), Sec. 77, eff. June 14, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 708 (H.B. 1128), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2016. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 716 (H.B. 1273), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 18.001, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 968 (S.B. 2075), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1084 (H.B. 3521), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1085 (H.B. 3567), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 67 (S.B. 225), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 186 (H.B. 2039), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 876 (H.B. 3068), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 18 (H.B. 1081), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 92 (S.B. 792), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2022. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 130 (H.B. 3401), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 326 (H.B. 1936), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 915 (H.B. 3607), Sec. 20.004, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 385 (H.B. 282), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 506 (H.B. 2503), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 4595), Sec. 24.002(21), eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1050 (S.B. 280), Sec. 2, eff. June 18, 2023. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 204 (H.B. 1620), Sec. 22.002(16), eff. September 1, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1086 (H.B. 3815), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.