4.45.08 Veterans' Plates

Policy

Veterans' licence plates are issued to Alberta residents who are veterans. The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL), Alberta/NWT Command (the Legion) has the exclusive responsibility of determining eligibility.

An Application for a Veterans' Licence Plate can be obtained from:

Alberta/NWT Command Veterans’ Plate
The Royal Canadian Legion
2020 15th Street NW
Calgary, Alberta T2M 3N8

The application form and an information sheet are also available through the Legion's website.

The client must present the approved original application form to a registry agent (no photocopies or faxes).

  • The application must be completed in full, including a stamp from the Legion.
    • Upon approval from the Legion, registry agents will be able to issue veterans' licence plate(s) to an individual client file or a joint client file.

A registry agent must:

  • Make a photocopy of the approved Application for a Veterans' Licence Plate for imaging.
    • The original application must be returned to the client.
  • Update the client's file with the veteran attribute.

Clients applying for their second or subsequent veterans' licence plate (including the veterans' motorcycle plate) are not required to reproduce the original approved Veterans' application as the MOVES client file will already display the veteran attribute.

Upon notification from the Legion that a client no longer meets the eligibility criteria for Veterans' plates, Alberta Registries will notify the client to return the Veterans' licence plate and exchange to the appropriate licence plate class. The client will be charged the applicable licence plate exchange fee unless the service is a renewal.

Veterans’ licence plates can only be issued to vehicles registered in a 3-pass, 2-58, 3-nmc or Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) (five call letters only, six call letters cannot be accommodated) registration plate class. A client must meet all registration requirements for the licence plate class in which the vehicle is registered:

Note:
Alberta residents who have been approved by the RCL Alberta/NWT Command may obtain Veterans' licence plates for each vehicle or motorcycle registered in their name that they own or lease and that are registered in the 2-58, 3-pass, 3-nmc or Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) (five call letters only) registration plate class. If the vehicle has more than one owner or lessee, at least one of the owners or lessees must be approved for the veterans' plate.

The following vehicle types are not eligible for Veterans’ licence plates:

  • Commercial vehicles (except vehicles registered in the 2-58 plate class).
  • Trailers. 
  • Off highway vehicles.

Veterans' Motorcycle Licence Plates

A veterans' motorcycle licence plate will be issued at no extra cost to a client when the licence plate exchange service is completed at the time of a vehicle registration renewal; normal registration fees will apply.

Note:
Motorcycle Veterans' plates will not be issued in the series starting with VA and VE as these resemble Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) Plates.

Veterans' Personalized Plates

A client may order Veterans’ personalized plates for:

  • 2 - 58 and 3-pass registration plate classes.
    • Minimum of one character and/or a maximum of 5 characters.
  • Amateur Radio Operator's (HAM) call signs.
    • Five characters only.
      • Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) call signs consisting of six characters cannot be altered to accommodate a veterans' licence plate which only allows a maximum of five characters.
  • 3-nmc registration plate class.
    • Minimum of one character and/or a maximum of four characters.
      • Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) call signs consist of five or six characters, therefore they cannot be altered to accommodate a veterans' motorcycle licence plate which only allows a maximum of four characters.

Note: 
If there is an existing personalized licence plate on the MOVES system, that configuration cannot be reused.  An existing personalized plate cannot be exchanged for a veterans' plate. See 4.45.04 Personalized Plates  and 4.45.06 Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) Plates for processing information.

Disabled Sticker for Veterans’ Licence Plates

 Disabled stickers for Veterans’ licence plates are available from Motor Vehicles for clients who have been approved for Veterans' licence plates and who qualify for the Parking Placard Program.

 A registry agent must:

  • Ensure the client has been issued a Veterans’ licence plate.
  • Ensure there is a disabled attribute on the client file.
  • Forward the disabled sticker request to Motor Vehicles.

Death of a Veteran

When a surviving family member has been bequeathed the vehicle but has not been approved by the Legion because they do not meet the eligibility requirements for a veterans’ plate, the Veterans' licence plate may be retained only as a memento.  The client must purchase a new licence plate or transfer the newly acquired vehicle to an existing licence plate with valid registration in their name. A Vehicle Ownership Correction (VOC) is not permitted.

Joint Registration

If a member in a joint registration passes away, and the surviving member is also a veteran who has been approved by the Legion and their client file has been updated with the veteran attribute, a VOC may be processed at no charge (government fee and registry agent service fee) transferring the vehicle registration to the surviving joint client member. See 4.00.01 Vehicle Ownership, Creation and Registration Documents  and 4.55.08 Vehicle Ownership Correction (VOC).    

If a surviving member in a joint registration does not meet the eligibility requirements for a veterans’ plate and has not been approved by the Legion, the Veterans' licence plate may be retained only as a memento. A registry agent must process at no charge (government fee and registry agent service fee):

Registry Agent Service Fee Reimbursement

Alberta Registries will reimburse the registry agent service charge for the above no charge plate exchange services. Registry agents must submit their service fee reimbursement request to Motor Vehicles along with a photocopy of the no charge plate exchange application.

For reimbursement information, see 1.10.17 Registry Agent Service Fee Reimbursement.

Note: 
Motor Vehicles approval is not required for the above no charge services.  A registry agent must indicate the reason for the no charge on the document(s) sent for imaging.

Registration Requirements

Veterans’ Attribute (veteran)

A registry agent must update the client’s file with the veteran attribute.

The client must present an original Application for a Veterans' licence Plate (no photocopies or faxes).

  • The application must be completed in full, including a stamp from the Legion.
  • The registry agent must take a photocopy of the application for imaging.
    • The original application must be returned to the client.

A client must:

Registration Terms and Fees

Registration terms and fees:

Note:
A Veterans' licence plate will be issued at no extra cost to the approved client when the licence plate exchange service is completed at the time of a vehicle registration renewal. If the licence plate exchange service is not completed at renewal time the client will be charged the applicable exchange fee.

Imaging

The signed application form and all supporting documents must be sent to for imaging; see the appropriate sub-section in 1.15 Imaging.


Date Originally Issued: Feb 15, 2005
Date Last Revised: Jun 11, 2025