Veterans across the country can have their military service printed on their driver’s license, and many have never asked for it. This Wednesday, November 11, however, is not the day to try: Veterans Day is a federal holiday, and state licensing offices in several parts of the country will be closed.
If you were planning a trip to the DMV this week, this affects you. We explain which states have confirmed closures and what a veteran designation requires, including why it doesn’t replace a REAL ID at the airport.
Which DMV offices are closing on Wednesday?
Closures are decided state by state, so check with your own agency before you leave home. These states have already posted their plans:
- Pennsylvania: PennDOT says its Driver License and Photo License Centers will be closed statewide on November 11. Private messenger centers set their own hours, so call ahead.
- North Carolina: the Veterans Day holiday appears on the NCDMV’s 2026 holiday schedule for driver license offices and license plate agencies.
- Nebraska: the state lists a statewide closure of its driver licensing offices. County treasurer offices, which handle titles and registrations, may follow a different schedule.
Many routine transactions can still be handled online when offices are shut. California’s DMV, for one, says most of its services can be done on its website or through an authorized partner, including renewals and address changes. Closures like these aren’t unusual, as Nevada drivers saw earlier this month.
What does a veteran designation do?
It is a marking on your license or state ID that shows you served. It saves you from carrying discharge papers when someone asks for proof of service, and it is optional.
There is one thing it doesn’t guarantee. Pennsylvania states plainly that the designation “does not entitle a veteran to any special consideration or discount.” Businesses decide for themselves whether to accept it for their own military offers.
It also has nothing to do with REAL ID compliance. A license can show the veteran mark and still not be accepted for domestic flights if it doesn’t meet REAL ID standards.
What do you need to add it?
The requirements vary, but the documents are similar almost everywhere. Here is how three states handle it:
- Pennsylvania: you need a DD214 or equivalent, and reserve and National Guard members can qualify. The designation itself is free, though you still pay any issuance, renewal or duplicate fee. Commercial license holders must apply by mail.
- Virginia: you need an unexpired Virginia license or ID and a document showing your branch, discharge date and status, such as a DD 214. The veteran indicator costs nothing beyond the standard license fee, and those who apply online have 45 days to submit proof.
- Texas: you need an honorable or general discharge and proof such as a DD-214 or a VA disability letter. The designation is free with an original license, a renewal or a change, while adding it on its own means paying the duplicate fee.
Texas also waives license fees for veterans with a service-related disability rating of at least 60% who meet the other requirements. That exemption does not apply to commercial licenses.
When should you go?
If your license is already up for renewal, that is the cheapest moment to add the mark, since many states only charge the normal fee. Bring your discharge document, and confirm which versions your state accepts before you make the trip.
If you are not renewing soon, check your state’s DMV website first. Some states, including Pennsylvania and Virginia, let you start the process online, so you won’t have to stand in line after the holiday.
