Laws and Benefits for Veterans and Military Drivers in Louisiana

The State of Louisiana offers a number of benefits and privileges to those Americans who have either served in a branch of the armed forces in the past or are currently serving in the military.

Disabled Veteran Registration and Driver's License Fee Waiver

Disabled veterans are eligible to receive a disabled veteran license plate free of charge. To qualify, you must provide the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles with Veterans Affairs documentation showing a service-related disability of at least 50%. The DV plate is free for life, although there is an $8 processing fee, except for renewals. Veterans who qualify for this plate can also request a free, permanent disabled sign that entitles you to park in spaces designated for people with disabilities.

Disabled veterans are also eligible for exemption from driver's license fees, including classes D and E, as well as CDL. To qualify for a free license, you must retire with honors and receive at least 50% service-related disability compensation from the US government. Find out more here.

Veteran driver's license badge

Louisiana veterans are eligible for a veteran's title on a driver's license or state ID. This makes it easy for you to show your veteran status to businesses and other organizations that offer military benefits without having to carry your discharge papers with you everywhere you go. To be licensed with this designation, you must be an honors discharge and be able to provide OMV with one of the qualification documents that can be downloaded here. This assignment is only charged if you choose to add it before the renewal date.

Military badges

Louisiana offers a wide selection of military license plates dedicated to various branches of the military, service medals, specific campaigns, and individual battles. Eligibility for each of these plates requires certain criteria to be met, including proof of current or past military service (honorable discharge), proof of service in a specific battle, discharge papers, or Department of Veterans Affairs records of award received.

You can view the available military numbers here, as well as calculate the cost. Fees and requirements vary. You can visit here a list of OMV offices that have military plates.

Waiver of military skills exam

This is a unique benefit for the military and veterans, established in 2011 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It consists of a provision in the "Commercial Training Permit" rule allowing states to provide qualified military personnel with the option to skip the skills test part of the CDL testing process. There are, of course, certain conditions that you must meet in order to avoid passing the skill test. This includes at least two years of experience driving heavy military vehicles and must have been completed within one year of your waiver application.

Here is a standard application provided by the federal government. Some states have their own waiver - check with your licensing agency for program information. You will still have to take the written exam, whether or not you are eligible to opt out of taking the military skills test.

Military Commercial Driver's License Act of 2012

This law allows active duty members of the armed forces to obtain a CDL even if they are outside their state of residence. If you are in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Reserve, or National Guard, you may qualify for this benefit.

Driver's License Renewal During Deployment

If you are out of state, you can ask OMV to have your license marked as a valid military license, which will allow your driver's license to remain valid for 60 days after you leave or return to the state. Contact OMV at (225).925.4195 to learn about applying this designation to your driver's license. You can also choose to have this flag applied to your license at the time of enlistment or prior to deployment.

Driver's license and vehicle registration of non-resident military personnel

Louisiana recognizes out-of-state driver's licenses and vehicle registrations for non-resident military personnel stationed in the state. This benefit also applies to dependents of non-resident military personnel who are on staff with the military personnel.

Military personnel are also exempt from tax on the use of vehicles imported into the state if they can prove that the sales tax was paid on the vehicle in one of the 50 states. You will need to provide copies of your orders and military ID, as well as a certificate of active military service provided by the commander.

Active or veteran military personnel can read more on the State Automobile Division website here, or you can use the OMV contact page if you cannot find an answer to your military question on the website.