Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual

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Section 22 of 38

Chapter 21: Special Plates

21.105 Ex-Prisoner of War (POW)

Chapter 21 Special License Plates

21.105 Ex-Prisoner of War (POW) License Plates (CVC §§ 324.5, 4001, 5101.5, 9501)

A POW is any person who, while serving as a member of the U. S. Armed Forces, as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Armed Forces as part of the U. S. Expeditionary Force, or as a U. S. citizen, was held as a POW by forces hostile to the United States during any armed conflict and is currently a resident of California.

An eligible POW is exempt from the payment of all fees, except fees for duplicates, for one passenger motor vehicle, motorcycle, or commercial motor vehicle with an unladen weight of 8,000 pounds or less, which is owned by the POW and assigned POW License Plates. The vehicle cannot be used for transportation for hire, compensation, or profit.

The fee exemption is for one vehicle only. An individual who qualifies for more than one type of fee-exempt license plate, such as POW or Disabled Veteran (DV) License Plates, cannot obtain both.

Vehicles assigned POW License Plates are assigned expiration dates and must be renewed annually.

Evidence of Eligibility—Applicants for POW License Plates must present written documentation of eligibility that indicates the applicant was held prisoner of war by forces hostile to the United States during a period of conflict. Acceptable evidence
includes:

  • A letter of verification from the National Personnel Records Center.
  • An official document marked former American POW.
  • Discharge papers declaring the bearer to be a former American POW.

The fee exemption is for one vehicle only. An individual who qualifies for more than one type of fee-exempt license plate, such as POW or Disabled Veteran (DV) License Plates, cannot obtain both.

Vehicles assigned POW License Plates are assigned expiration dates and must be renewed annually.

Evidence of Eligibility—Applicants for POW License Plates must present written documentation of eligibility that indicates the applicant was held prisoner of war by forces hostile to the United States during a period of conflict. Acceptable evidence includes:

  • A letter of verification from the National Personnel Records Center.
  • An official document marked former American POW.
  • Discharge papers declaring the bearer to be a former American POW.

Information about obtaining documentation is available on The National Archives website at www.archives.gov by searching for Standard Form 180. Applicants may also obtain written documentation of eligibility by sending a letter with their name, birthdate, service or social security number, branch of service, capture date, capturing country, and any other pertinent information to:

Modern Military Records (NWCTM)
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001

Original Personalized/Sequential License Plate Application—the following must be submitted:

  • A completed Special Recognition License Plate Application (REG 17A) form. Four specific numbers may be requested and two choices indicated.
  • Evidence of eligibility for POW License Plates.

License Plate Assignment or Reassignment—the procedures below must be followed:

  • Registration in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle to the applicant.
  • If the license plates are being retained by the surviving spouse, a Statement of Facts (REG 256) form completed by the surviving spouse stating that they are the spouse of the POW License Plate owner and wishes to retain the license plates.
  • The license plates currently assigned to the vehicle.

Family Heirlooms—A family member (limited to: parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, grandparent, stepgrandparent, sibling, or stepsibling) may keep one POW License Plate as a family heirloom upon the death of the license plate owner and surviving spouse (if any). The exemption from registration fees is not extended to family members. Additional POW License Plates will not be made for family members as heirlooms.

The following must be submitted:

  • A Statement of Facts (REG 256) form completed by the family member stating his/her relationship to the POW License Plate owner and that they will not use the license plate for registration purposes.

Retention of License Plates by Surviving Spouse—The surviving spouse of a POW License Plate owner may retain the special license plates and all license plate privileges, such as the accompanying exemption from registration fees, license plate reassignment, adding or deleting a co-owner, and replacing a lost license plate.

Surrender of License Plates—POW License Plates must be returned to DMV within 60 days of the license plate owner’s or surviving spouse’s death, as appropriate, or by the vehicle registration expiration date, whichever occurs first. If a family member chooses to retain one license plate as a heirloom, only one license plate must be surrendered.