If you earned the Purple Heart, survived captivity as a prisoner of war, or received the Medal of Honor, Alabama puts a distinctive license plate on your vehicle at no charge and keeps it there for life. For former POWs and Medal of Honor recipients, the first plate also wipes out the ad valorem tax on that vehicle, which is often the biggest line on an Alabama registration bill. This is a permanent recognition benefit that renews itself every year with almost no paperwork.
What it is
Alabama authorizes distinctive permanent license plates for a list of combat decorations under Ala. Code § 32-6-250. Three of them carry the fee waiver this guide covers: the Medal of Honor plate, the former prisoner of war plate, and the Purple Heart Medal plate. The Alabama Department of Revenue administers all three, with a dedicated page for each design: Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, and Prisoner of War.
The statute's core promise is simple: "there shall be no fee or tax for the license plate," with one carve-out for Purple Heart recipients, who still pay ad valorem taxes on the vehicle. The plates are permanent, meaning the metal plate itself is not reissued every year. The statute directs that "annual renewal decals shall be provided" for the years a new plate is not issued, so you receive a decal instead of a new plate at each renewal.
The exact fee treatment differs by plate, and this is the detail most summaries get wrong:
| Plate | First plate registration fee | Ad valorem tax on first vehicle | Additional plates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medal of Honor | Exempt | Exempt | Full fees and taxes |
| Prisoner of War | Exempt | Exempt | Full fees and taxes |
| Purple Heart | Waived | Still due | Full fees and taxes |
Each row above comes straight from the Department of Revenue's plate pages and § 32-6-250. Additional plates beyond the first are allowed if you still qualify, but you pay "all license tax and registration fees, including ad valorem taxes" on those extra vehicles.
What it's worth
Alabama's standard registration fee for passenger cars and pickup trucks runs $23 to $105 per year depending on the vehicle, and motorcycles are $15. Our catalog carries this benefit at $23 per year, the standard passenger-car registration fee you stop paying, and it repeats every renewal for as long as you drive.
The worked math for a typical passenger car:
- Purple Heart recipient: the $23 registration fee is waived on your first plate every year. You still pay the ad valorem tax line at renewal.
- Former POW or Medal of Honor recipient: the $23 registration fee is waived AND the vehicle's ad valorem tax is exempt on the first plate. Because ad valorem tax is assessed on the vehicle's value, this exemption is often worth far more than the $23 registration fee, especially on a newer vehicle.
- Any of the three with a second vehicle: the extra plate carries full registration fees and ad valorem taxes, so the money lives entirely in the first plate.
The Purple Heart carve-out is the one to remember. Ala. Code § 32-6-250 waives the plate fee and tax "except Purple Heart Medal recipients shall pay ad valorem taxes on vehicles for which the distinctive plates are issued." Budget for that line at renewal if your plate is the Purple Heart design.
County licensing offices can charge small local issuance fees that vary by county, so confirm the exact out-the-door number with your county office.
Who qualifies (and who doesn't)
You qualify if both of the following are true:
- You are an Alabama resident. The statute limits all three plates to residents of the state.
- You fit one of the three categories. You received the Purple Heart Medal, you are a duly recognized former prisoner of war shown by satisfactory proof, or you received the Medal of Honor. The statute also allows issuance to the widow of a Medal of Honor recipient.
The vehicle matters too. The Department of Revenue limits these plates to private passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, motorcycles, and pleasure motor vehicles such as recreational vehicles not exceeding 12,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, registered in your name.
Surviving spouses get real protection here. Under Alabama Administrative Rule 810-5-1-.232, when a plate holder dies, the surviving spouse is "entitled to retain the distinctive permanent plate for the remainder of the spouse's lifetime or until his or her remarriage," where permitted by law. The Department of Revenue's POW plate page confirms surviving spouses may obtain and retain that plate.
Who does not qualify:
- Veterans without one of these three specific decorations or POW status. If you have a service-connected disability rating instead, look at the Alabama Disabled Veteran plate, which starts at a 10% rating.
- Non-residents, including service members stationed in Alabama who keep residency elsewhere.
- Anyone wanting to personalize the plate. The Department of Revenue states these plates may not be personalized, and the plate follows the owner rather than transferring between vehicle owners.
How to claim it
- Gather your proof. The Department of Revenue accepts one of the following for each plate: your DD214, certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or an affidavit from Veterans Affairs. Your DD214 shows Purple Heart and Medal of Honor awards; POW status can be certified by the VA.
- Go to your county licensing office. License plates in Alabama are issued by your county's license plate issuing official; which office holds that role (probate judge, license commissioner, or another county official) varies by county. Bring your proof when you register the vehicle or at your next renewal.
- Request the specific plate. Ask for the Purple Heart, Prisoner of War, or Medal of Honor distinctive plate by name and present your documentation before purchase.
- Renew with the decal each year. The plate itself is permanent. You receive an annual renewal decal, and the fee waiver (plus the ad valorem exemption for POW and MOH plates) applies automatically at each renewal on the first plate.
There is no application deadline. The plate is available at any registration or renewal, and once issued it is yours for life. If your county office is unsure about the ad valorem treatment, point them to § 32-6-250 and Administrative Rule 810-5-1-.232, or confirm directly with the Alabama Department of Revenue's motor vehicle division.
Related benefits
- Alabama's Disabled Veteran license plate waives the same registration fees for any Veteran rated 10% or higher, so many Purple Heart recipients qualify both ways.
- Alabama's Purple Heart tuition waiver is the other major state benefit tied to the same medal.
- See every Alabama benefit you qualify for in one place with the state benefits calculator.
What to do next
A free plate is the visible part of this benefit; the ad valorem exemption is where POW and Medal of Honor recipients save real money. Start your full benefits scan and we will match you against over 4,000 federal and state benefits, including every Alabama program tied to your service.