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SPECIAL VETERAN PLATES

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

PLATE TYPE (first year of issue)

PLATE FORMATTING

REFERENCE INFORMATION

PLATE PHOTOS & NEEDED IMAGES

UPDATES

SAMPLES AND PROTOTYPES

IS PLATE  VANITY ELIGIBLE?

FORMAT: The center of the plate shall bear a en bronze replica of the appropriate medal. The initials of each recipient shall be embossed to the left of the medal and the letters MOH (for Medal of Honor) shall be embossed to the right of the medal.  This formatting differs somewhat from that spelled out in the vehicle code.

The plate shown here was issued to Gino J. Merli for his heroic efforts in World War II.

Look up Gino Merli and read his heroic account.

All above photos were taken by John Clark

Sample

Afghanistan and Iraq Veteran (2023)

Type available 3/3/23

The department shall issue a special registration plate designating the owner as a person who is a veteran of the liberation or occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq.  Plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds

Form MV-150 (3-23)

Image added

3/5

Yes

Up to 5 characters

Air Force Cross (2012)

Type added 11/4/12.  Air Force Cross, second highest Air Force decoration for extreme heroism in combat. As of 8/30/21 only plates 2, 5, 6 & 7 have been issued.

from Tom Perri

Yes

With map outline.

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened AC suffix.

Air Medal (2023)

Type available 3/3/23

The department shall issue a special registration plate designating the owner as a recipient of the Air Medal. Plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds.

Form MV-150 (3-23)

Image added

3/5

Yes

Up to 5 characters

Blue Star Family (2023)

Type available 3/3/23

Upon application of a family member of a person who is an active duty service member in the military, including a reserve component or National Guard. Plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds.

Form MV-920 (3-23)

Image added

3/5

Yes

Up to 5 characters

Bronze Star (2012)

Type added 11/4/12

The Bronze Star Medal, unofficially the Bronze Star, is a United States decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.

from Jordan Irazabal

from Tom Perri

from Jeff Lawson

from Ryan Battin

from Jim McDevitt

Yes

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened BZ suffix.

from Arthur Levine

from Jeff Lawson

from Bruce Bufalini

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened BZ suffix. Removal of sticker well and addition of map outline.

from Jordan Irazabal

from Brendan Sherry

Removal of sticker well and addition of map outline.  This change dates back to at least 6/12/18

from Bruce Bufalini

from John Fedorchak

from Danny Schell

from Jaska Börner

Bronze Star for Valor (2012)

Type added 11/4/12.  The Bronze Star Medal, unofficially the Bronze Star, is a United States decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.

Whenever the medal is awarded by the Army and Air Force for acts of valor in combat, the "V" Device is authorized for wearing on the medal and whenever the medal is awarded by the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard for acts of valor or meritorious service in combat, the Combat "V" is authorized for wearing on the medal.

from Bruce Bufalini

from Jordan Irazabal

and Tom Perri

from Arthur Levine

from Jaska Börner

Yes

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened BV suffix.

from Arthur Levine

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened BV suffix.  No sticker well.

from Tom Perri

Removal of sticker well and addition of map outline. Format change added 2/18/18

from Ryan Battin

from Brendan Sherry

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened BV suffix.  Removal of sticker well and addition of map outline.

from Brayden Harnish

This series of Combat Action plates came about as a result of Act 109 of 2014.

Type added 11/2/14

from Nathan Krawzyk

from Bruce Bufalini

from Kyle Kuser

Yes

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened CO suffix.

from Arthur Levine

from Tom Perri

from Jeff Lesher

Without sticker well

With map outline. Added 12/8/19.

from Zach Taylor

from Jaska Börner

This series of Combat Action plates came about as a result of Act 109 of 2014.

Type added 11/2/14

from Tom Perri

and Jordan Irazabal

Yes

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened CO suffix.

from Tom Perri

Combat Action Ribbon (2014)

Type added 11/2/14

from Nick Tsilakis

from Steve Ondik

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened CO suffix.

from Jordan Irazabal

Now with map outline.  Change added 2/23/20

from Drew Steitz

from Preston Turner

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened CO suffix.  Now with map outline.

from Nick Tsilakis

from Nick Tsilakis

from Matt Ciecka

Combat Infantryman Badge (2014)

Type added 11/2/14

from Nick Tsilakis

from Jordan Irazabal

from Steve Ondik

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened CO suffix. With sticker well.

Removal of sticker well and addition of map outline. Format change added 11/19/17

from Tom Perri

from Jordan Irazabal

from Jonathan Ortman

Personalized, up to 5 characters, no sticker well and has map outline.

from Jeff Lawson

from Arthur Levine

This series of Combat Action plates came about as a result of Act 109 of 2014.

Type added 11/2/14

Yes

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened CO suffix.

from Nick Tsilakis

On visitPA base with screened image, P/H and Tag Line.  First spotted 11/17/04.

from Nick Tsilakis

from Nick Tsilakis

from Nick Tsilakis

from Devan Ciemiewicz

from Jordan Irazabal

from Jordan Irazabal

from Ryan Battin

from Tom Perri

and Jordan Irazabal

from Nick Tsilakis

via Tom Perri

Yes

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.

from Chuck Harrington

from Arthur Levine

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted, with map outline.

from Kat Keegan

No sticker well.

from Tim Martin

With map outline.

from Matt Ciecka

Combat Wounded Veteran Motorcycle (Purple Heart) (2019)

Type available 2/21/19.

Form MV-150

Image needed

Personalized, up to 4 characters permitted.

Disabled Veteran (1977)

FORMAT 1: DV-0000 to DV-9999, then DV-10000 to DV-21999

PENNSYLVANIA on top; DISABLED VETERAN on bottom, condensed legend font, 2 sticker wells on top left and right.

from Worthpoint

from Preston Turner

from Tom Firth

from Darren Bianco

from Worthpoint

from Worthpoint

Stacked prefix, PENNSYLVANIA on bottom; DISABLED VETERAN on top, wide legend font, sticker well bottom left.

from Tom Perri

and Jordan Irazabal

from Ryan Battin

from Nick Tsilakis

from Jordan Irazabal

from Ryan Battin

FORMAT 8: From DV-79000 and are issued in pairs.  This provision dates from 12/2014.

Vehicle owners who have equipment on the rear of the vehicle for carrying a wheelchair or personal assistive device are authorized to be issued two plates since the assistive device and carrier may block visibility of the vehicle mounted plate.

While these plates have their own unique number series and are issued in pairs, the plates have the DV prefix flat screened as well as PENNSYLVANIA in dark blue on top and DISABLED VETERAN in red on bottom.

from Bruce Bufalini

from Nick Tsilakis

from Nick Tsilakis

FORMAT 9: DV- 0

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened DV- prefix. The plates have the DV prefix flat screened as well as PENNSYLVANIA in dark blue on top and DISABLED VETERAN in red on bottom.

from Brian Craig

from Bruce Bufalini

from Steve Ondik

FORMAT 9A: DV-36750 to at least DV-37596. Flat screened DV- prefix, plus PENNSYLVANIA in dark blue on top and DISABLED VETERAN in red on bottom.  Sticker well upper left.

from Brandon Sowers

from Nick Tsilakis

from Bruce Bufalini

FORMAT 9B: From between DV-37597 and DV-37629

Same as Format 9A but sticker well has been removed.

from Tom Perri

from Tom Perri

from Bruce Bufalini

from Jordan Irazabal

FORMAT 9C: Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened DV- prefix. The plates have the DV prefix flat screened as well as PENNSYLVANIA in dark blue on top and DISABLED VETERAN in red on bottom.  Sticker well has been removed.

from Arthur Levine

from Jeff Lawson

Disabled Veteran, Severe Disability (1986)

The plate to the right is a bit of a mystery.  The plate is obviously old, yet the number series is way too high for Disabled Veteran.  My first guess is that it is an early issue of Severely Disabled Veteran. 

The plate to the right is another example of the plate above.  While this one is not current it is a better image and offers some indication of vintage.

Unknown format

Yes, as configured in Format 3C below

PENNSYLVANIA on top and DISABLED VETERAN on bottom.

reverse color purple

both from Bob Connison

from Clayton Moore

DISABLES VETERAN on top and PENNSYLVANIA on bottom.

from Brendan Sherry

from Jordan Irazabal

Flat screened PENNSYLVANIA on top and DISABLED VETERAN on bottom, wheelchair & stacked DV.  Sticker well upper left.  First seen around 6/2013.

from Ryan Battin

from Ryan Battin

from Ryan Battin

from Ryan Battin

from Tom Perri

This provision dates from 12/2014. Vehicle owners who have a device on the rear of the vehicle for carrying a wheelchair or personal assistive device are authorized to be issued two plates since the assistive device and carrier may block visibility of the vehicle mounted plate.

both above from Preston Turner via Tom Perri

both above from

Mike Alfonse

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.  Sticker well upper left.

from Ryan Battin

from Tom Perri

from Ron Lunn

from Bill Stephens

from Jordan Irazabal

from Brendan Sherry

from Jordan Irazabal

The D/V99000 series is reserved for dual plate applications. 

Flat screened PENNSYLVANIA on top and DISABLED VETERAN on bottom, wheelchair & stacked DV.  Sticker well has been removed.  First seen early 2017.

from Jordan Irazabal

from Ryan Battin

from Bruce Bufalini

from Bruce Bufalini

from Jaska Börner

from Bruce Bufalini

D/V98410

from Tom Perri

from Bruce Bufalini

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.  Sticker well has been removed. 

from Arthur Levine

from Nick Tsilakis

from Jordan Irazabal

from Bruce Bufalini

First seen 10/2021.  Now on visitPA (family of plates) base with map outline, flat screened DV and wheelchair symbol on right, DISABLED VETERAN in red along bottom..

from Jonathan Sternthal

from Bill Ceravola

from Brandon Sowers

from Matt Ciecka

See formatting above.  Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened DV and wheelchair symbol in suffix position.  First seen 10/2021

from Matt Ciecka

from John Clark

New style sticker.  Unknown if this sticker can be used on any motorcycle plate.

new style

Yes

00055 and 00061.

Type added 11/4/12

from Bill Ceravola

from Tom Perri

and Jordan Irazabal

from Jaska Börner

Yes

Type added 11/4/12

from Nick Tsilakis

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened FC suffix.

Type added 11/4/12

Image needed

Yes

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened CO suffix.

Expeditionary Forces Veteran (1995)

Base is white, EF stacked prefix, followed by 4 digit serial number followed by VETERAN stacked to the right all in blue, Expeditionary Forces along top in red, PENNSYLVANIA along bottom, and border all in red.  Sticker well lower left.  

Narrow separation between the prefix and the numbers. Changeover points are approximate.

from Colin M.

from Jordan Irazabal

from Clayton Moore

HOLD

Same as above except wide separation between the prefix and the numbers. Changeover points are approximate.

from Jordan Irazabal

from Heather Butera-Howel

Same as above except narrow separation between the prefix and the numbers. Changeover points are approximate

from Zachary Bent

from Tom Perri

from Tom Perri

Reid Williamson

thru Jordan Irazabal

from Jordan Irazabal

from Tom Perri

New design 3/9/14.  Same colors, all features are now flat screened except 4 digit number.

from Tom Perri

from Brendan Sherry

New design 12/14.  VisitPA base, Expeditionary Forces medal on left, stacked EF prefix.  Only 4 digit serial number is embossed.  Bottom legend reads Expeditionary Forces Veteran.

from Ryan Battin

from Steve Ondik

Yes 

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.

from Bruce Bufalini

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.  No sticker well & no map outline.

from Nick Tsilakis

from Jordan Irazabal

from Bruce Bufalini

No sticker well & no map outline.

from Bruce Bufalini

from Brandon Sowers

With map outline.

Added 2/21/21

^E/_F3334

with map outline

from Mike Alfonse

from Bruce Bufalini

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.  No sticker well & with map outline.

from Matt Ciecka

from John Clark

Gold Star Family (2006)

Type added 10/8/06

Plate was released early November 2006.

from Jordan Irazabal

from Bill Ceravola

from Steve Ondik

from Matt Ciecka

Yes

Personalized, up to 4 characters permitted.

from Tom Perri

from Jeff Lawson

With map outline replacing sticker well.

from Bill Stephens

Personalized, up to 4 characters permitted.  With map outline replacing sticker well.

from Eric Conner

Type added 7/2010.

from John Clark

from Johnny Di Pasquale

from Tom Perri

from Ryan Battin

from Jerry McCoy

from Jordan Irazabal

from Brandon Sowers

Yes

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened CO suffix.

from Matt Boyer

 Korean War Veteran (1993)

Plate appears to have been discontinued during 2020.

from Matt Ciecka

from Jeff Lawson

from Devan Ciemiewicz

from Jeff Lawson

^K/V02953

from Matt Ciecka

No

Legion of Merit (2019)

Type available 2/21/2019. 

Form MV-150

from Nick Tsilakis

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened LM suffix.

 Navy Cross (2012)

Type added 11/4/12

from Fred Monahan

from Tom Perri &

Jordan Irazabal

Yes

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened CO suffix.

 Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran (2005)

reserve issue

from Nick Tsilakis

Yes

general issue

Type added 7/17/05, moved to active 9/18/05

from Nick Tsilakis

from Ryan Battin

from Michael Sherry

from Jaska Börner

from Tom Perri

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.

from Bruce Bufalini

from Jeff Lawson

Map outline in place of sticker well.

from Jaska Börner

Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran (2005)

reserve issue

from Bruce Bufalini

from Nick Tsilakis

from Eric Conner

Yes

general issue

Type added 7/17/05, moved to active 9/18/05

from Nick Tsilakis

from Ian Emmett

from Brendan Sherry

from Jordan Irazabal

from Steve Ondik

from Jordan Irazabal

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.

from Ian Emmett

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.  With map outline, 1/27/19.

from Ian Emmett

from Preston Turner

general issue

No sticker well 12/8/19

from Jordan Irazabal

general issue

With map outline, 3/28/21.

with map

05217^I/F

from Bruce Bufalini

from Brandon Sowers

 PA National Guard (2018)

Type added 3/4/2018.  Plates in use by mid-may 2018.  Plates active by 5/20/18.

Image needed

Yes

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.

from Nathan Krawzyk

 Pearl Harbor Survivor (1990)

Plate legend:

December 7, 1941

Pearl HarborSurvivor

Pennsylvania

from Tom Perri

from Allen Minch

No

The plate with the P/H/S000 format is an unknown/unverified format.

from Michael Wiener

Persian Gulf War Veteran (1993)

This early edition was made with the logo inverted.

upright logo, plus some earlier plates that were replaced.

from Jeff Hinkle

from Brent W. Thompson

from Ryan Battin

Now on visitPA base, July 2015. South West Asia Service Medal on plate.

from Bruce Bufalini

from Nick Tsilakis

from Jonathan Ortman

Yes

.  With map outline.

from John Fedorchak

from Tom Perri

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.  With map outline.

from Arthur Levine

from Jordan Irazabal

Presidential Service Badge (2019)

Type available 2/21/2019

Form MV-150

from Jordan Irazabal

Yes

Up to 5 characters permitted with flat screened PB suffix.

from Arthur Levine

 Prisoner of War (1982)

FORMAT 1: POW-000 to POW-999, two sticker wells at top.  There may have been a run of these plates with the placement of PENNSYLVANIA and PRISONER OF WAR reversed.

from Steve Ondik

from Drewski

from Devan Ciemiewicz

Note: Sample images do not necessarily correspond to the various formats.

FORMAT 2: 000-POW to 999-POW, two sticker wells.

from Michael Wiener

FORMAT 3: POW-A00 to POW-V67 or beyond.

FORMAT 4: POW-V68 or above   New design 8/11/13.

from Donald Harman

from Bruce Bufalini

Yes

Purple Heart, go to Combat Wounded Veteran

Silver Star (2012)

Type added 11/4/12

from David Dohan

from Tom Perri

from Jaska Börner

from Bruce Bufalini

Yes

Up to 5 characters permitted, now with map outline.

from John Fedorchak

Now with map outline, 11/24/19.

from Nick Tsilakis

from Nick Tsilakis

Soldier’s Medal (2019)

Type available 2/21/2019

Form MV-150

Image needed

Yes

Up to 5 characters permitted with flat screened SM suffix.

U.S. Air Force (Active Duty) (2017)

Type added 2/5/17

Plates active ~ 5/2017

from Preston Turner

Yes

Up to 5 characters permitted

from Brendan Sherry

U.S. Air Force Veteran (2009)

or higher.  With sticker well.  Type added 11/19/09

Yes

FORMAT 1A: Note, these plates, at least in the range shown here, are missing the words Air Force at the bottom of the logo.

from Tom Perri

from Angel Kisses

Personalized, up to 5 characters permitted.

from Arthur Levine

from Bruce Bufalini

from Jordan Irazabal

and Tom Perri

from Brendan Sherry

Up to 5 characters permitted.  No sticker well.

from Arthur Levine

FORMAT 3: From 22932^A/_F or lower .  With map outline.  Format added 10/7/18

from Bruce Bufalini

from Bruce Bufalini

from Tom Perri

from Bruce Bufalini

from Bruce Bufalini

Up to 5 characters permitted.  With map outline.

from Jonathan Ortman

U.S. Army (Active Duty) (2017)

Type added 2/5/17

Plates active ~ 5/2017

from Nick Tsilakis

from Jordan Irazabal

00068^A/D

from Bruce Bufalini

from Bruce Bufalini

Yes

Up to 5 characters permitted

U.S. Army Veteran (2009)

13700^A/_R

Type added 11/19/09

from Bill Ceravola

from Brendan Sherry

from Ryan Battin

from Tom Perri

Yes

Up to 5 characters permitted

from Nick Tsilakis

from Jeff Lawson

from Jeff Lawson

from Ron Lunn

from Arthur Levine

With map outline.  Format added 4/1/18

from Tom Perri

from Bruce Bufalini

from Jordan Irazabal

from Jordan Irazabal

from Bruce Bufalini

from Tom Perri

from John Clark

from Jaska Börner

Up to 5 characters permitted.  With map outline.

from Bruce Bufalini

from Bill Young

& Jeff Lawson

from Bill Southwick

U.S. Coast Guard (Active Duty)

Type added 2/5/17

Plates active ~ 5/2017

from Matthew Wehner

Yes

Up to 5 characters permitted

U.S. Coast Guard Veteran (2009)

Type added 11/19/09

from Jordan Irazabal

and Tom Perri

from Tom Perri

from Brendan Sherry

from Jay Embee

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened CG suffix.

with sticker well

from Nick Tsilakis

from Jeff Lawson

without sticker well

from Brendan Sherry

with map outline

from Bruce Bufalini

U.S. Marine Corps (Active Duty)

Type added 2/5/17

Plates active ~ 5/2017

from Jordan Irazabal

from Bruce Bufalini

Yes

Up to 5 characters permitted

from Devan Ciemiewicz

from Mike Alfonse

from Arthur Levine

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran (2009)

Type added 11/19/09

from Nick Tsilakis

from Brendan Sherry

from Ryan Battin

from Steve Ondik

Yes

Up to 5 characters permitted

from Arthur Levine

from Bruce Bufalini

Format added 9/2/18.  No sticker well.

from Steve Ondik

from Jordan Irazabal

from Clayton Moore

Up to 5 characters permitted.  Format added 9/2/18.  No sticker well.

from Kyle Goodhead

With map outline.

from Charles Sweitzer

from Bruce Bufalini

from Bruce Bufalini

Personalized, up to 5 characters with flat screened MA suffix.  With map outline.

from Bruce Bufalini

from Arthur Levine

U.S. Merchant Marine (2013)

Type added 4/28/13

Plates active ~ 6/2013

from Bruce Bufalini

Yes

Without sticker well

from Ed Pfaeffle

U.S. Military Airborne Units (2013)

Type added 4/28/13

from Michael Sherry

from Ryan Battin

from Bruce Bufalini

from Mike Alfonse

from Jordan Irazabal