What Does A Gold Star Mean On A License Plate?

People customize their vehicle's license plates in so many different ways, and it goes beyond just having your plate number be something kind of funny. While states have a standard plate design, each one offers dozens — if not hundreds — of plate designs to choose from that vary in color and layout. There are plates supporting local sports teams, universities, and even charities, while others add a more nostalgic aesthetic to their plate. Browsing through all the designs, you'll also see some featuring a gold star. It's location on the plate varies from state to state, but it's an important distinction to have for many people.

You will find the gold star license plate among the military license plates, which easily has the most robust selection of any category. These plates belong to people closely related to a member of the military who died in action, thus being awarded the gold star posthumously. This way, the family can always honor that person anytime they're out on the road. Along with the star, these plates will often have the phrase "Gold Star" followed by either "Family," "Spouse," "Mother," or "Father" on it as well.

Most personalized license plates require an extra fee, but in the case of gold star plates, this also varies state by state. For instance, Texas doesn't charge you a fee for the plate background itself, but if you want to customize the actual plate number, that'll cost you $40 per year. In Arizona, it's a $25 upfront fee for any military plate and an additional $25 per year for renewal. If you want to know how much your plate will cost, check with your state's DMV.

Not everyone is eligible to get a gold star license plate for their vehicle. If that were the case, some people would be able to signify stolen valor for free or just a small fee, which isn't something anybody wants. Because of this, states require you to go through an application process to see if you qualify for a gold star plate.

First, you need documents proving the death of the service member. In Alabama, this would be something like an Overseas Death Certificate or a Report of Casualty. On one of those documents, the person getting the license plate should be listed as the next of kin. This will make the process much simpler. However, if that person isn't listed on them as next of kin, they can still submit a notarized affidavit from the Alabama Department of Veterans' Affairs to confirm their relation. 

The person getting the plate must also be some form of immediate family. This could mean a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent, and this includes foster and half-relations as well. Friends and unwed romantic partners are ineligible.

The exact specifics for the documentation required may vary state to state, but this is generally the information you need to provide. While you can order most personalized license plates online, this isn't the case with these. You'll likely have to go to your local DMV with the required documentation to apply for a gold star license plate, though some states allot you to submit by mail. Just remember, when you get this new plate to honor your fallen family member, don't throw out your old one.