Registration fee
The Massachusetts HERO Act exempts disabled veterans from paying Registration fees for any/all vehicle registration(s), with the following exceptions:
- Special plate fees ARE required for special plates
- Reinstatement fees ARE required
- Title and sales tax fees ARE required
- The disabled veteran MUST be listed as one of the owners
Eligibility is based on a disability determination by the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs (USVA). Veterans will qualify for all these exemptions if the USVA determines they have a 100% disability rating or deems them unemployable due to their service-connected disability. Eligibility for disabled veteran plates remains the same.
Driver's license fee
The Massachusetts HERO Act exempts disabled veterans from paying Driver’s license transaction fees (for all license classes), with the following exceptions:
- Permit and road test fees ARE required
- Mass ID and Liquor ID fees ARE required
- Reinstatement fees ARE required
- Professional credential fees ARE required
Eligibility is based on a disability determination by the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs (USVA). Veterans will qualify for all these exemptions if the USVA determines they have a 100% disability rating or deems them unemployable due to their service-connected disability. Eligibility for disabled veteran plates remains the same.
Excise tax
Disabled veterans do not need to pay excise tax for one passenger vehicle or pick-up truck. The vehicle must be owned by the veteran and be used for non-commercial purposes.
The Massachusetts HERO Act changes how disabled veterans qualify for the excise tax exemption. Eligibility will be based on a disability determination by the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), and not the RMV’s Medical Advisory Board.
Veterans will qualify for a motor vehicle excise tax exemption if the VA determines they have a 100% disability rating or deems them unemployable due to their service-connected disability.
Disabled Veteran Plates
Disabled Veteran plates are issued only to qualified Massachusetts resident veterans who are the primary owner of a registered passenger vehicle and meet the following three conditions:
1. Qualify for permanent disabled parking privileges
2. Have a minimum of a 60% service-connected disability rating as determined by the VA and listed on the disability breakdown letter
3. One or a combination of the listed services connected disabilities totaling 60% must be conditions that affect ambulation and would qualify for disabled parking privileges. Conditions that do not affect ambulation may not be considered for this condition.
Sales tax
Per M.G.L. Chapter 64H, Section 6, disabled veterans do not need to pay sales tax for one passenger vehicle or pick-up truck. It must be owned by the veteran and used for non-commercial purposes. To be eligible, the veteran MUST obtain DV plates for the vehicle. If the veteran purchases additional vehicles, sales tax must be paid for those vehicles.
As part of the HERO Act, Purple Heart Medal recipients will be exempt from Massachusetts sales tax on purchases of vehicles if they qualify and have been approved for Disabled Veteran Plates and have a minimum of a 60% service-connected disability rating as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and listed on the disability breakdown letter. They can have either Purple Heart Plates or Disabled Veteran Plates, and one of those plates must be registered to the vehicle they get the sales tax exemption for.