Veteran Designation on Driver’s License

A veteran designation on a driver's license can help prove that you served in the military. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be a difficult task. All 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., now make veteran designations easy to obtain through your local DMV. You may visit their website or contact them by phone to learn how to get started. Read more about veteran designation on driver's licenses below.

UPDATED: Jun 8, 2021Fact Checked

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insuranc...

Full Bio →

Written by Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years

Benjamin Carr was a licensed insurance agent in Georgia and has experience in life, health, property and casualty coverage. He has worked with State Farm and other risk management firms. Benji is also a strategic writer and editor with a background in branding, marketing, and quality assurance. He has been in military newsrooms — literally on the frontline of journalism.

Full Bio →

Reviewed by Benji Carr
Former Licensed Life Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Jun 8, 2021

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about veterans. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.

Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help veterans make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with one auto insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for veterans interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.

UPDATED: Jun 8, 2021

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about veterans. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.

What is a veteran designation on a driver’s license?

A veteran designation is simply a way of making it known on your license that you are a veteran.

In the past, veterans had limited options to prove they were in the military. Some were able to get a military retiree card or a Veterans Health Identification Card from the VA, but most opted to carry their DD214.

Unfortunately, this caused some issues for the carrier. The most important was that the DD214 has their social security on it, so it put them at risk of identity theft. It also wasn’t a photo ID, so it doesn’t work for everything.

Therefore, state governments began offering a veteran designation on driver’s licenses to make it easier for veterans to prove they served in the military.

Compare quotes from the top auto insurance companies and save!

Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What can I use my veteran designation for?

You can use your veteran designation to prove that you were in the military for various reasons, such as receiving veterans’ auto insurance discounts.

However, you can not use the designation as official military ID, such as to enter a military post or receive benefits for veterans. To receive benefits, you will have to use your DD214 or other official military ID.

How can I get a veteran designation?

As of now, all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. offer veteran designation on your driver’s license.

To get your veteran designation, you can search for the requirements on your state’s DMV website. Most states will require you to bring your birth certificate or another form of identification and your DD214, DD215, or discharge paperwork.

You may also need to pay a fee to replace your old ID or get a new one altogether. Depending on your location, you may be able to visit a DMV office in person, or you may have to mail in copies of your paperwork to a different location.

You can contact your local DMV by phone with any questions.

Conclusion

A veteran designation on a driver’s license is a way of proving that you served in the military. However, it can not be used for official military ID, such as to enter a military post or receive veterans’ benefits.

All 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., offer veteran designations. You should use your state’s DMV website or contact them by phone to learn about the process.

Most likely, you will need to provide proof of identification and your DD214, DD215, or other discharge paperwork.

We’re here to help you. Enter your ZIP code below to compare auto insurance quotes today.