Background: The Department of Licensing (DOL) issues special vehicle license plates that may be used in lieu of standard license plates. Some special license plates are sponsored by a governmental or nonprofit organization and are available to all Washington residents for an additional fee that is due annually upon vehicle registration renewal. Other special license plates are available to individuals who meet certain requirements. Two such special license plates are the Disabled American Veteran license plate and the Former Prisoner of War license plate.

To qualify for a Disabled American Veteran license plate or a Former Prisoner of War license plate, a veteran as defined by state law must be recorded as the registered owner of the motor vehicle on which the Disabled American Veteran or Former Prisoner of War license plates will be displayed, and:

provide certification from the Veterans Administration (VA) or the military service from which the veteran was discharged that the veteran has a service-connected disability rating;
have lost the use of both hands or one foot;
have been captured and incarcerated by an enemy of the United States during a period of war with the United States and have received a Prisoner of War medal;
have become blind in both eyes as a result of military service; or
be rated by the VA or the military service from which the veteran was discharged and be receiving service-connected compensation at the 100 percent rate that is expected to exist for more than one year.

DOL may periodically verify the 100 percent rating of the registered vehicle owner.

Disabled American Veteran license plates and Former Prisoner of War license plates are issued for one personal use vehicle without the payment of any vehicle license fees, license plate fees, or excise taxes, effectively making them permanent license plates. Additionally, in lieu of Disabled American Veteran license plates or Former Prisoner of War license plates, a qualifying veteran may apply for a standard issue license plate or any qualifying special license plate and receive the full benefit of the vehicle license fee and excise tax exemption provided for the Disabled American Veteran and Former Prisoner of War license plates.

Disabled American Veteran license plates and Former Prisoner of War license plates may be transferred from one motor vehicle to another motor vehicle owned by the veteran upon application to DOL, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director of DOL. Any unauthorized use of a Disabled American Veteran license plate or a Former Prisoner of War license plate is a gross misdemeanor.

The VA generally determines compensation for disabled veterans based on the percentage of service-connected disability rating. The disability rating is based on evidence provided to the VA by the veteran, the results of an exam performed by a VA medical professional, and other information that may be obtained by the VA. If a veteran has two or more separate service-related disabilities, they may be aggregated to calculate a final total percentage rating. In addition, the VA may consider the individual unemployability of the veteran to increase the percentage of compensation beyond the service-connected disability rating up to 100 percent.