GOLD STAR FAMILY LICENSE PLATES

[See Example Gold Star Family License Plate]

[Download Gold Star Family License Plate Application]
[Check Message Availability]

Gold Star Family License plates are available, in lieu of regular license plates, to families of persons who have died while in good standing on active duty in the military service of the United States.

To be eligible for Gold Star Family plates the applicant must be:

• A surviving spouse - whether remarried or not
• An ancestor - including a stepparent
• A descendent - including a stepchild
• A foster parent or a person in loco parentis
• A sibling

There is no limit to the number of vehicles owned by an eligible family member that may be registered with Gold Star plates.

Gold Star Message Plates ........................................................................... $40.00* These plates are of exclusive design and, as with regular Message plates, are produced with an available message of your choice. Available to motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, semitrailers and cabin trailers.

Gold Star Numeric Plates ............................................................................. $ 5.00* Plate with the same exclusive design as on the Gold Star Message plates, but numbered and issued in consecutive numeric order. Available to motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, semitrailers and cabin trailers. These plates are issued in consecutive numeric order in the order in which the applications are received. Requests for specific numbers cannot be processed.

*$40.00 or $5.00 fee is due at the time of initial application and must be renewed annually. The plates are renewed in the month of the vehicle's registration renewal.
 

COMPLETING A GOLD STAR PLATE APPLICATION

Before you submit your application for a Gold Star Message or Gold Star Numeric plate, please be sure that you have a Nebraska Certificate of Title in your name on the vehicle. If the vehicle is leased your leasing company must have a Nebraska Certificate of Title in their name on the vehicle. Applicants who are non-resident military must submit a copy of the vehicle’s registration and your name must appear on that registration. The most common reason for an application to be rejected is the applicant has not obtained the appropriate Nebraska title or included appropriate proof of lease or non-resident military ownership.

Registered Owner Information Section:

• Name(s)of the registered owner(s)of the vehicle
• Address (city and zip code)
• Email Address
• Daytime phone number where the applicant can be reached during regular business hours (8:00 am to 5:00 pm CT).

Vehicle Information Section:

• Vehicle Identification Number (please be very sure that this number is correct)
• Vehicle Make (i.e. Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan,Toyota,etc)
• Vehicle Year
• County in Nebraska in which the vehicle is currently titled/registered
• County number designation (i.e. 1 – Douglas, 2 – Lancaster, 3 – Gage, etc.)
• Title number
• Current license plate number
• Indicate whether or not the vehicle is leased. If leased, indicate name of leasing company.

Plate Type Section:

• Indicate on your application by checking the appropriate box the type of plate for which you are applying (i.e. Gold Star Numeric or Gold Star Message plate).

 

SELECTING A MESSAGE

Be very sure that each choice listed is acceptable to you. Your first available choice will be processed. Once your application has been processed, your message choice cannot be changed.

• Maximum of 5 characters allowed. The number of spaces allowed includes characters and spaces.

• Alpha and numeric characters only. All alpha characters are printed in upper case. No punctuation marks or symbols such as slashes, periods, apostrophes or other such symbols are allowed. Messages will be centered on the plate unless otherwise indicated.

• Messages that conflict with present numbering system or a valid set of plates currently registered will not be processed.

• Messages determined by the DMV to express, connote or imply objectionable, obscene or offensive words or phrases will be rejected, or if already issued, recalled and cancelled. The meaning of the message must be indicated on the application or the application will be returned unprocessed.

• Message availability may be checked on our Check Message Availability by following the steps below:
  • Select the appropriate vehicle on the Vehicle Type screen (click “Continue”)
  • Select the "Message" plate from the drop down menu on the Plate Preview screen
    (Please Note: Current Nebraska license plate graphic will appear for the message availability check. This is not the graphic that will appear on your plate. Your plate will have Gold Star graphic.)
  • Type in the message that you wish (click on “Check Availability)
    (Please Note: There is no guarantee when a choice shows available that it is the message you will receive.)

• If you are submitting your application by mail, be sure to enclose a check or money order made payable to the Department of Motor Vehicles in the appropriate amount - $5.00 for Gold Star Numeric plates and $40.00 for a Gold Star Message plates.

We cannot honor a change of choice or request for refund after the application has been processed. A $30.00 processing fee will be added to all returned checks.

SIGNATURE

Once you have completed the application and if applicable your message choices, you must sign and date the application in the space indicated. Your signature is required as affirmation that you are eligible for a Gold Star Family License Plate. Applications received without a signature will be returned unprocessed. (Please Note: Gold Star Family License Plates may not be ordered online because the applicant's signature affirming eligibility is required before the application can be approved and processed.)

Applications, along with the appropriate fee, may be submitted in person or by mail to:

Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
Driver and Vehicle Records Division
301 Centennial Mall South
PO Box 94789
Lincoln, NE 68509-4789

After the message has been approved and the application processed, an approval letter will be sent to you by U.S. Postal Service first class mail. The approval letter will indicate the approved message or number assigned, the date the plates will be available at your County Treasurer’s office for you to register to your vehicle and your County Treasurer’s telephone number to verify the Treasurer has received the plates. Current plates and registration must be surrendered when the Gold Star plates are registered. Additional fees for production of the license plates and new registration will be charged. You should allow 3 to 4 weeks for the plates to arrive at your County Treasurer’s office.

Current plates and registration must be surrendered when the Gold Star plates are registered. Additional fees for production of the license plates and new registration will be charged by the County Treasurer.

Questions regarding Gold Star Family License Plates maybe addressed to E-Mail or by contacting this office at 402.471.3918.

This page last revised 12/22/2009