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Drivers Licenses or State ID Cards
by Ryan Guina
Veterans Designation
on Drivers Licenses or State ID Cards
It can
be difficult for military veterans to prove they served in the military. The
only federally issued military ID cards are military retiree
ID cards, the Veterans
Identification Card issued by the VA for eligible veterans, and
other veterans on a limited basis. Veterans who are ineligible for one of these
ID cards are often left without an official ID card that proves they served in
the military.
Some
veterans get around this by carrying around a copy of their DD form 214,
but this presents a several issues: it is not a photo ID, so many places won’t
accept it, it is bulky and difficult to carry in one’s wallet, and it has the
veteran’s Social Security number on it, which presents an identity theft risk
if it is stolen.
Thankfully,
many states are taking notice of this and are including a veterans designation
on drivers licenses and state issued ID cards. Some states, such as Virginia,
are issuing a separate photo ID that identifies veterans.
States that Offer a Veteran Designation on Drivers Licenses and
ID Cards
We have
compiled a list of states that now offer a military service or veterans
designation on drivers licenses and their state issued ID cards. These cards
can often be used for military and veterans discounts, or to
prove you served in the military. However, it’s important to note that these ID
cards are not official military ID cards in the sense that they will allow you
to enter a military post or receive military benefits. You will need to show
your DD Form 214 or other official military documents to receive military
benefits.
There
are currently 32 states that feature a veterans designation on drivers licenses
or have legislation that permit the issuance of a separate veterans ID card at
the state or county level. (Note: some of the 32 states recently passed
legislation but haven’t yet begun issuing the veterans IDs).
Legislation to add a military service designation on state
issued ID cards is currently pending in 12 states, and 8 states/districts
currently don’t have any pending legislation to add a military service or
veterans designation to drivers licenses (we are counting Puerto Rico and
Washington D.C in these figures).
Status of Veterans Designations on Drivers Licenses:
- Alabama – None
- Alaska – Pending
Legislation (HB 180)
- Arizona – Pending
Legislation
- Arkansas – Drivers
License Designation
- California – Pending
Legislation (SB 1355)
- Colorado – Drivers
License Designation (more info)
- Connecticut – Drivers
License Designation
- Delaware – Drivers
License Designation
- Florida – Drivers
License Designation
- Georgia – Drivers
License Designation
- Hawaii – Pending
(SB 2677 –
January 2012)
- Idaho – Drivers
License Designation – Passed, will go live November 2014.
- Illinois – Drivers License Designation (beginning
July 2015)
- Indiana – Drivers
License Designation
- Iowa – Drivers License Designation (starting
2013)
- Kansas – None
- Kentucky – Drivers
License Designation
- Louisiana – Drivers
License Designation
- Maine – Drivers License
Designation
- Maryland – Drivers License Designation (enacted Jan. 1, 2013)
- Massachusetts – Drivers
License Designation
- Michigan – Pending
Legislation (House Bill 4127)
- Minnesota – Drivers
License Designation
- Mississippi – Drivers
License Designation
- Missouri – Drivers License Designation
- Montana – None
- Nebraska – None
- Nevada – Pending
Proposal in 2013
- New Hampshire – Pending Legislation (HB
1629) –
Division of Motor Vehicles has until July 2014 to implement the law.
- New Jersey – Veterans ID
Cards Available at County Level (Pending Legislation at the state level: A691,
and S717)
- New Mexico – Drivers
License Designation
- New York – Drivers
License Designation
- North Carolina – Drivers
License Designation (law passed; not yet available).
- North Dakota – Drivers
License Designation
- Ohio – Drivers
License Designation
- Oklahoma – Drivers
License Designation
- Oregon – Drivers
License Designation
- Puerto Rico – Drivers License Designation
- Pennsylvania – Drivers
License Legislation (HB 2428)
- Rhode Island – Pending Legislation
- South Carolina – Drivers
License Designation
- South Dakota – Drivers License Designation
- Tennessee – Drivers
License Designation (fall 2012)
- Texas – Drivers
License Designation
- Utah – Drivers
License Designation
- Vermont – None
- Virginia – Separate Veterans ID Card
- Washington – Pending
Legislation (House Bill 2378)
- Washington D.C. – None
- West Virgina – Drivers
License Designation
- Wisconsin – Pending
Legislation
- Wyoming – None
We have done our best to link to the pending legislation if
there is any and we will do our best to update this chart as we become aware of
changes. Please feel free to contact us if you are aware of any changes to the
status on any of these states.
How to Get a Veterans Designation on Your Drivers License
If you live in a state that offers the military designation
on state issued drivers licenses and ID cards, then you will need to bring a
copy of your DD Form 214, DD Form 215, or other discharge paperwork, along with
any additional paperwork required by your state (most states require a copy of
your birth certificate, social security card, passport, or some other form of
identification). You should be able to find a specific list by contacting your
state department of motor vehicles (DMV) by phone, or by visiting their
website. Related: learn how to replace your DD Form 214
or other military records.
The military service designation is new in many states, so it
may not have been available when you last renewed your drivers license or ID
card. Virtually every state will require you pay a replacement fee if you want
to get a new card with the veterans designation before your old license has
expired. Each state has different rules and costs for this, so please contact
your state DMV in advance.
If you live in one of the states that doesn’t offer a
veterans designation on drivers licenses, then you will need to contact your
state representative and ask them to sponsor a bill to make this happen. The
good news is there is a growing trend for states to offer this feature to their
veterans, and there is very little expense in making this happen. So there is
really no reason why states shouldn’t offer their veterans the ability to show
a state recognized proof of service.
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