DFW Disabled Veteran Parking: Plates, Lots, and 90-Day Limit

DFW Airport waives parking fees for vehicles displaying Disabled Veteran license plates from any U.S. state, and the waiver covers every airport-operated lot except Valet. Eligible veterans can park in Terminal, Express, or Remote lots at no charge for up to 90 consecutive days. The eligibility rules are simple. The entry and exit steps are where people get tripped up.¹

Which Plates Qualify

Two categories of plates qualify, and the rules for each are different.

Disabled Veteran Plates From Any State

If your vehicle displays Disabled Veteran plates, DFW waives the parking fee no matter which state issued them. The plate must indicate on its face that the owner is a disabled veteran of the U.S. armed forces.¹ The airport’s policy is broader than Texas state law here: the statutory parking-meter exemption for most plate types is limited to Texas-registered vehicles.²

Texas Military Specialty Plates

Texas Transportation Code Section 681.008 also exempts vehicles carrying a range of Texas-issued military specialty plates from parking fees at government-operated facilities. That includes plates for Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Prisoner of War, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Defense Superior Service Medal, and World War II veteran recipients, among others.³²

For these Texas specialty plates, the qualifying veteran must be driving the vehicle or riding as a passenger. The benefit doesn’t transfer to a family member driving alone on a non-DV plate.²

What Doesn’t Qualify

The plates must be physically on the vehicle when you park. Dealer temporary tags, cardboard tags, and paper tags are ineligible, even if your qualifying plates have been issued but not yet mounted.¹

Which Lots Are Covered

The waiver applies to every DFW parking facility except Valet. That means Terminal Parking (closest to the gates), Express Parking North and South, and Remote Parking North and South are all free with a qualifying plate.¹⁴ Valet runs $45 per day and is not included.⁵

Entering the Lot

Pull a ticket at the entry plaza. Use the “Ticket Only” lane on the right side rather than a TollTag lane.⁶

If your vehicle has an NTTA TollTag, disable it for DFW Airport use at least 48 hours before your trip by calling NTTA at 972-818-6882. If you don’t, the system reads your TollTag at entry and charges your account when you leave, bypassing the waiver entirely.¹ This is where most veterans get charged by mistake. The TollTag will not detect your plate type. Pulling a ticket or disabling the tag is not optional.

Exiting the Lot

When you return, drive to any exit lane and press the intercom button. A specialist at the DFW Airport Support Center verifies your qualifying license plate through the camera system and raises the gate remotely. You don’t need to find a manned booth or a specific lane.¹

Pre-Register Before Your First Trip

DFW recommends that veterans with qualifying plates register with the parking office before parking for the first time. Registration helps the Support Center verify your plate faster at the exit gate, which matters during busy travel periods. Register by calling 972-973-8040 or emailing prkpri@dfwairport.com. It’s optional, not required.¹

The 90-Day Limit

DFW caps consecutive parking at 90 days for every vehicle, including those with qualifying military plates. Vehicles parked longer are towed off-airport.⁶ The DFW military parking page does not describe an extension process for long deployments or extended medical travel.¹ If your trip will run close to that limit, call the parking office at 972-973-8040 before you leave.

If You Get Charged by Mistake

If your TollTag wasn’t disabled or the exit gate charged you in error, request a refund through DFW’s customer portal at customerservice.dfwairport.com. Select “I did not prebook parking,” enter the amount charged in the “Amount paid” field, enter the same figure in the “Amount disputed” field, and note in the comments that you have a qualifying military plate and were charged in error.⁷

Refunds to credit cards or NTTA accounts typically post within 24 to 48 hours after approval. Check refunds take 7 to 10 business days. For direct help, contact Parking Guest Relations at 972-973-3112 or finparkingrev@dfwairport.com, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.⁶

A Note on Accessible Parking Spaces

Free parking at DFW and the right to use spaces designated for persons with physical disabilities are separate benefits. Under Senate Bill 792, passed in 2021, only DV plates that include the International Symbol of Access allow unlimited parking in accessible spaces, and only when the veteran the plates were issued to is driving or riding in the vehicle.⁸ A DV plate without that symbol still qualifies for the DFW fee waiver but does not confer unlimited use of accessible spaces under state law. Veterans who need accessible parking and don’t have the symbol on their plates should contact the Texas DMV about updating their registration.

1
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. DFW Airport Parking – Military
2
State of Texas. Texas Code Transportation 681.008 – Parking Privileges: Certain Peace Officers, Veterans, and Military Award Recipients
3
State of Texas. Texas Code Transportation 504.315 – Military Specialty License Plates for Extraordinary Service
4
DFW International Airport. Prebooked Parking Online
5
DFW International Airport. Valet
6
DFW International Airport. Terminal Parking
7
DFW Airport. Customer Center Frequently Asked Questions
8
Texas Legislature. 87th Legislature SB 792 – Committee Report (Unamended) Bill Analysis