The California Veterans License Plate Program provided county veteran services offices statewide with nearly a $750,000 in additional resources last year that was used to reach out to veterans and educate them about the benefits and services available to them.

The program offers specially-designed plates to California veterans and to those who want to honor them.

In 2012, the sale of “Veteran” and “Honoring Veterans” plates generated more than $734,000, nearly $56,000 more than the year before.

Since its inception in 1995, the program has generated more than $8 million. That money helps support a network of 58 county veteran services offices statewide.

“The money generated by the license plate program provides much-needed support for the county veterans services offices which is where the rubber meets the road for veterans who want to claim the benefits they’ve earned through military service,” said CalVet Secretary Peter J. Gravett. “The CVSOs answer all manner of benefit-related questions for veterans and their families and help them navigate the complex and often frustrating benefit application processes.”

California Veteran License Plates are made possible through a partnership between the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

These specialty plates can be customized with the armed forces or veterans service organization logo or emblem of choice.

State and federal veterans benefits, available to everyone honorably discharged from the U.S. military, include disability compensation and pension payments, healthcare, money for education and training, housing, home loans, and many others.  

The CVSOs are trained, accredited professionals located in each county who help veterans and their families access those benefits. By law, this service is provided at no cost to the veterans.

To learn more or order a specialty license plate, visit the DMV web site at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/online/elp/elp.htm .

To find the County Veterans Service Offices in your area, go to www.cacvso.org and click on “Contact Us.”