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by Ryan Guina
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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:
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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