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Virginia Veteran benefits

26 benefits from Virginia for Veterans and their families, on top of what VA gives. Many need no disability rating.

Each one says who qualifies, how to apply, the official link, and the date we last checked it. Rules change, so the official page has the final word.

Free help in Virginia

Virginia Department of Veterans Services is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 804-786-0286 State agency website

A Veterans service officer (VSO) helps with VA claims and state benefits for free.

Find a service officer near you Virginia's list of local offices
Your VA disability rating
Who is it for?

26 benefits

Property tax

  • 100% P&T

    Real Property Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans

    Virginia exempts the home of a veteran rated 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total disability from real estate tax, including jointly owned property with a spouse. An unremarried surviving spouse may keep the exemption and, since July 2019, take it to a new home.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Veteran must be rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total disability and occupy the property as principal residence. Surviving spouses qualify if they do not remarry.
    How to apply
    Apply with the local Commissioner of the Revenue or assessing office, providing USDVA disability certification; denials may be appealed to the DVS Commissioner.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • 100% P&T

    Vehicle Personal Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans

    One passenger car or pickup truck owned and used primarily by a veteran rated 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total disability is exempt from local vehicle personal property tax. Jointly owned vehicles with a spouse also qualify.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or Virginia National Guard rated 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total disability by USDVA; limited to one vehicle; exemption ends at the veteran's death and does not pass to a surviving spouse.
    How to apply
    Apply with the local Commissioner of the Revenue with USDVA disability certification.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption (Line of Duty Death)

    Real property tax exemption for surviving spouses of members of armed forces who died in line of duty, covering principal place of residence.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Surviving spouse of armed forces member who died in line of duty with Line of Duty determination from U.S. Department of Defense; spouse must not remarry; must occupy property as principal place of residence.
    How to apply
    Submit application to local Commissioner of the Revenue with proof of Line of Duty determination.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Military Retirement Income Subtraction

    Virginia lets military retirees subtract up to $40,000 of military retirement pay from Virginia taxable income for tax year 2025 and later. Survivor Benefit Plan payments to a veteran's surviving spouse also qualify. The pay must be included in federal adjusted gross income.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Individuals receiving military retirement income for service in the U.S. Armed Forces, or Survivor Benefit Plan payments to a veteran's surviving spouse, to the extent the income is included in federal adjusted gross income.
    How to apply
    Claim the subtraction on Schedule ADJ when filing Virginia Form 760.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • Any rating

    Disabled Veteran License Plates and Registration Fee Waiver

    Veterans with a USDVA-certified service-connected disability can purchase special Disabled Veteran (DV) plates for a modest fee, while veterans meeting stricter loss-of-limb, blindness, or total disability criteria receive one set of plates and registration free of charge. Plates can transfer to an unremarried surviving spouse.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Any veteran with a certified service-connected disability may buy DV plates; a full fee waiver requires the veteran to have lost or lost use of a leg, arm, or hand, be blind, or be permanently and totally disabled as certified by the VA.
    How to apply
    Apply online, by mail, or in person at Virginia DMV with a VSA 10 application and USDVA certification or VSA 54 form.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • 100% P&T

    Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans

    A veteran or Virginia National Guard member with a 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability can buy one vehicle without paying Virginia's motor vehicle sales and use tax. The vehicle must be titled to the veteran or spouse and used primarily by the veteran.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). USDVA-certified 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability; covers passenger vehicles and pickup trucks with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or under; motorcycles, trailers, mopeds and autocycles are ineligible.
    How to apply
    Submit the SUT2 title documents, SUT3 Purchaser's Statement of Exemption, and a VA benefit summary letter to DMV when titling the vehicle.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Purple Heart License Plate

    Recipients of the Purple Heart can get one set of special Virginia license plates free of the standard state plate fee. Unremarried surviving spouses of Purple Heart recipients are also eligible.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must provide written evidence of having been awarded the Purple Heart; free registration applies to one vehicle owned and used personally by the applicant.
    How to apply
    Apply through Virginia DMV with proof of the Purple Heart award such as a DD214 or certificate of award.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Indicator on Driver's License or ID Card

    Virginia veterans can add the word Veteran to their driver's license or ID card as a convenient way to show proof of service, including to businesses offering veteran discounts. There is no separate fee beyond the standard license or ID cost.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Served in the active U.S. Armed Forces, or more than 180 days in the Virginia National Guard or U.S. Reserves, and received an honorable discharge; must hold or apply for a valid Virginia license, permit, or ID.
    How to apply
    Add the indicator online, by mail, or in person at DMV, and submit a veteran service proof document within 45 days.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Family License Plate

    Special license plate for immediate family members of service members who died in military service. Available to spouses, parents, and other qualifying family members.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Immediate family members of United States armed forces members who died in service or as result of service, including spouses, parents, siblings, and children.
    How to apply
    Submit DMV Gold Star or Next of Kin License Plate Applicant Certification Form (VSA 10A) with VSA 10 application and applicable fees to any DMV customer service center or by mail.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • 30%+

    Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License for Disabled Veterans

    Virginia resident veterans with a service-connected disability rating can buy a lifetime hunting and freshwater fishing license. It is free if rated totally and permanently disabled. It costs $50 if rated 70% or more, $75 if 50% to 69%, and $100 if 30% to 49%. The license is good for life and cannot be transferred.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 30% or higher. Virginia resident veteran with a service-connected disability rating of at least 30% from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Free for totally and permanently disabled. $50 for 70% or more. $75 for 50-69%. $100 for 30-49%.
    What you get at each level
    • reduced-cost lifetime hunting and freshwater fishing license
    • free lifetime license (requires total and permanent disability)
    How to apply
    Submit the Virginia Resident Disabled Veteran's Lifetime License application with a VA benefit letter or DWR physician's affidavit to the Department of Wildlife Resources.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Veteran Disability Passport for State Parks

    Virginia State Parks issues a free annual pass to veterans with a disability rating, covering parking, boat launch, and admission, plus a 50 percent discount on camping and other activities. Parking is also free for veterans on Veterans Day each year.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Veteran with documented disability paperwork submitted to Virginia State Parks; parking fees for veterans are specifically waived on November 11.
    How to apply
    Email the completed Veteran Disability Pass Application with disability paperwork to Virginia State Parks reservations.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Virginia National Guard Passport to State Parks

    Active members of the Virginia National Guard and their immediate family traveling together receive free entry to all Virginia state parks through the end of the calendar year. The pass is issued through the member's chain of command rather than directly by state parks.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be an active member of the Virginia National Guard; immediate family members must travel in the same vehicle to receive free entry.
    How to apply
    Obtain the pass through your Virginia National Guard chain of command and present it with a military ID at the park.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (STAP)

    STAP pays tuition grants directly to schools for eligible Virginia National Guard members pursuing higher education. Recipients must keep serving in the Guard for a period after receiving the benefit.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Member of the Virginia National Guard who has completed required initial active duty service and has at least two years remaining on his service obligation as of the last day of the term for which assistance is requested.
    How to apply
    Apply each semester through the Virginia National Guard tuition assistance portal with a signed promissory note.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • 90%+For family or survivors

    Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP)

    VMSDEP waives tuition and mandatory fees at Virginia public colleges for spouses and children of veterans rated totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent disabled, or of service members killed, missing, or captured in the line of duty. Benefits last for a set number of semesters.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 90% or higher. Spouse or child of a qualifying veteran or service member from the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or Virginia National Guard who is rated totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service, or who was killed, MIA, or a POW.
    How to apply
    Apply through the DVS myVMSDEP portal each term; DVS certifies eligibility and SCHEV/the college applies the waiver.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • No rating needed

    Private Employer Veteran Hiring Preference Authorization

    Virginia law allows any private employer to grant hiring and promotion preference to veterans or to the spouse of a disabled veteran without violating state or local equal employment opportunity laws.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to any veteran as defined in the state hiring preference law, or the spouse of a veteran with a compensable service-connected permanent and total disability.
    How to apply
    No state application is required; the law simply permits employers to adopt such a preference in their own hiring policies.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veterans Preference in State Hiring

    Veterans, surviving spouses and children of veterans killed in the line of duty, and Virginia National Guard members receive hiring preference for Commonwealth jobs when they meet the position's qualifications. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating receive additional consideration during selection.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to veterans, surviving spouses, and children under age 27 of a veteran killed in the line of duty who meet the knowledge, skill, and ability requirements for the position; National Guard preference does not apply if another applicant is a veteran or former POW, or for state-employee-only postings.
    How to apply
    Indicate veteran status when applying for Commonwealth positions through the state jobs portal; denied applicants may request the reasons for denial.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program

    V3 is a free, DVS-run training and certification program that teaches Virginia employers best practices for recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans and military spouses. Certified employers can access additional support to build veteran-friendly workplaces.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to any Virginia employer willing to complete V3 training and certification requirements, including providing a leadership letter of support.
    How to apply
    Enroll online through the DVS V3 program and complete training with a regional V3 Employer Liaison.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • Any rating

    Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Designation

    Service-disabled veteran small business owners can add an SDVOSB designation within Virginia's SWaM vendor database once DVS certifies their disability status. This designation helps them access Virginia's specialized state procurement and contracting opportunities.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Business owner must be a veteran certified by DVS as service-disabled, and must also complete SWaM certification through the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.
    How to apply
    First obtain a Service-Disabled Veteran eligibility certificate from DVS, then apply for or update SWaM certification through SBSD.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Burial in Virginia's State Veterans Cemeteries

    Virginia operates three state veterans cemeteries, in Amelia, Suffolk, and Dublin, that provide honorably discharged veterans with a gravesite, opening and closing, headstone, and perpetual care at no cost. Eligible spouses and dependent children may also be interred.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Members of the U.S. armed forces who died on active duty, or veterans discharged other than dishonorably; legal spouse and unmarried minor children under the age of 21 (or adult children permanently disabled before 21) may also be eligible; qualifying Reservists and National Guard members are included.
    How to apply
    Contact the desired state veterans cemetery administrative office directly; pre-applying before death is encouraged to confirm eligibility.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Granting Freedom Home Modification Grant

    Virginia Housing's Granting Freedom program provides grants to help disabled veterans and service members modify their homes for accessibility, such as ramps or widened doorways, after a line-of-duty injury caused a service-connected disability. Assistance amounts, rates, and funding availability change often, so confirm the program is still offered and get current terms from the agency before relying on it.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Must be a veteran or service member who sustained a line-of-duty injury resulting in a service-connected disability.
    How to apply
    Apply through Virginia Housing's military and veteran homebuyer programs.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Honor Guard Grant Program

    State grant program established to support eligible Veteran Service Organizations in providing honor guard burial details for Virginia veterans. Funds support training, transportation, food, equipment, and supplies for funeral honors.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Eligible Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) receive grants to support burial honor details for Virginia veterans.
    How to apply
    Veteran Service Organizations apply through Virginia Department of Veterans Services.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military Funeral Honors

    Department of Defense program providing military funeral service honors at Virginia state veteran cemeteries, including folding and presentation of U.S. burial flag and playing of taps.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. All veterans buried at Virginia state veteran cemeteries.
    How to apply
    Generally scheduled by funeral home on behalf of veteran's family; cemetery staff can arrange if funeral home not used.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Virginia Housing Closing Cost Assistance Grant for VA Loans

    Homebuyers using a VA-guaranteed loan through Virginia Housing can receive a closing cost assistance grant that can also go toward the VA funding fee, with no repayment required. Assistance amounts, rates, and funding availability change often, so confirm the program is still offered and get current terms from the agency before relying on it.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a qualified first-time homebuyer obtaining a Rural Housing Service or VA loan through Virginia Housing; income and other program limits apply.
    How to apply
    Apply through a Virginia Housing-approved lender when originating a VA or RHS first mortgage.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Virginia Veterans Care Centers

    DVS operates state veterans care centers offering long-term skilled nursing, dementia care, and short-term rehabilitation for Virginia veterans. Facilities are located in Richmond, Roanoke, Virginia Beach, and Warrenton.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, Virginia residency at the time of admission or at the time of entry into active-duty service, and meeting medical requirements for nursing home level of care.
    How to apply
    Contact the admissions office of the desired care center directly to begin the application process.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Money, grants and bonuses

  • No rating needed

    Virginia Veterans Services Foundation Supplemental Funding

    The Virginia Veterans Services Foundation is an independent state agency that provides supplemental funding for veteran programs and services when state and federal resources are unavailable or insufficient, supporting benefits, education, and other veteran needs.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Funding supports veteran-serving programs statewide rather than direct individual grants; specific eligibility depends on the funded program.
    How to apply
    Contact the Foundation through the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs office for information on current funding opportunities.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Other help

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Virginia Veteran and Family Support (VVFS) Program

    VVFS is a legislatively mandated DVS program that connects veterans, service members, and their families to behavioral health referrals, peer mentoring, and care coordination for PTSD, TBI, and other service-related challenges. It partners with Community Services Boards and other state and federal agencies.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to Virginia veterans of any era, Virginia National Guard and Reserve members not on active federal service, and their family members.
    How to apply
    Contact VVFS directly or through a local DVS benefits office; urgent mental health needs should call 911 or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Also check

Education only. Helping The Brave is not a government agency. Confirm details with the agency before you apply.