Civil air patrol license plates

Civil air patrol license plate​​

​Eligibility

Civil Air Patrol license plates are available to any Wisconsin motorist who is a current or retired member of the Civil Air Patrol, a non-profit organization that is an auxiliary of the US Air Force. The applicant for Civil Air Patrol plates must be an owner or lessee of the vehicle. For more information about the Civil Air Patrol, call (608) 242-3067 or visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com​.

Vehicles that qualify:

  • automobiles
  • motor homes (annual registration only)
  • trucks
    • 4,500, 6,000 or 8,000 pounds gross weight including dual purpose farm and dual purpose motor home
    • 12,000 pounds gross weight farm truck

Things you should know:

  • A $15 issuance fee is required when non-personalized Civil Air Patrol plates are issued. WisDOT will transfer funds to the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Trust Fund. This fee may be tax deductible for certain tax filers; consult your tax advisor.
  • A $15 fee is required each year in addition to the regular annual registration fee if you choose to receive personalized Civil Air Patrol plates.
  • See below for information about other military related special license plates.

For more information, visit personalized and special plates FAQs.

How to apply:

DMV Service Centers do not issue Special or Personalized License Plates. You ​must mail in your application.

To apply for Civil Air Patrol license plates by mail, please send the following items:

  1. If the ​​vehicle you want to register with Civil Air Patrol plates is already titled/registered in your name, send:​
    • A completed Civil Air Patrol License Plate Information and Application MV2961, including the complete vehicle description
    • A copy of your Civil Air Patrol ID card showing your active or retired status
    • $15 issuance fee or $15 personalized plate fee
    • The annual registration fee if your current plates expire within the next three months ​or you have no plates
  2. If the vehicle is not titled/registered in your name, send:
    • ​​A completed Wisconsin Title & License Plates Application MV1, or MV11 for dealer sales, including all other fees due
    • A completed MV2961
    • A copy of your Civil Air Patrol ID card showing your active or retired status
    • ​​The Certificate of Title assigned to you ​by the seller
    • $15 issuance fee or $15 personalized plate fee
    • The annual registration fee if you do not have plates or your current plates expire within the next three months
  3. Make the check or money order made payable to Registration Fee Trust​.
  4. Mail with​ payment to:

    Wisconsin Department of Transportation
    Special Plates Unit
    P.O. Box 7911
    Madison WI 53707-7911​

Personalized license plates

Personalizing your Civil Air Patrol license plates is optional. A $15 personalized plate fee is required each year in addition to the regular annual registration fee. On the MV2961​, check which option you would like us to follow if your request is not available. Please allow an additional 4-6 weeks for delivery.

Visit Personalized Plate Search to find out if your choice for a personalized license plate is available. WisDOT may refuse to issue, or may recall after issuance, a request that may be offensive to good taste or decency, misleading or conflicts with any other license plate. For more information, visit personalized and special plates FAQs.

For more information:


​Special Plates Unit
Email Wisconsin DMV email service
Phone (608) 266-3041
Fax (608) 267-5106