Starting this week, qualified North Carolina military veterans will be able to carry the designation "VETERAN" on their driver licenses and identification cards. Veteran appears in blue right above the birth date. Thanks to a law passed by the General Assembly, veterans who have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces who present their DD-214 discharge form can apply at a driver license office for the new designation.
"We are happy to have this new program underway," said state Motor Vehicles Commissioner Kelly Thomas. "If you're a vet, we hope you'll take advantage of this new opportunity to carry your record of service and your state's appreciation with you anywhere you go."
Thomas, NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata, legislative members, and representatives of the state's Veterans Affairs Office and the N.C. Retail Merchants Association kicked off the launch of the new "VETERAN" designation today at the N.C. Museum of History before an exhibit about North Carolina service members.
Military veterans requested the designation to assist them in obtaining military discounts from a wide variety of retailers and service providers without having to show their military discharge form. Putting the designation on the driver license or ID card will enable the state's veterans to show their photo ID and their veteran status at the same time. Many states are making such designations available.
Veterans who are interested in applying for the designation should take their DD-214 discharge form to their local driver license office to show they've been honorably discharged. They can request the designation be added to their license at their next renewal at no additional charge.
If they would like to add the designation at any other time, they may present the discharge form and request a duplicate license at a driver license office, which costs $10.
