Disabled veterans in New Jersey can have their E-ZPass tolls waived on the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, and the Atlantic City Expressway. Two things have to be in place first: a “Disabled Vet” license plate from the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission, and an active NJ E-ZPass account linked to the vehicle that carries that plate.1New Jersey Legislature. Senate No. 3725
Who Qualifies
The statute defines a qualifying disabled veteran as a New Jersey resident who was honorably discharged from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and has been declared by the Department of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability.2Justia Law. New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 39-3-27.15 Beyond that, the vehicle itself has to meet three conditions: you own or lease it, it’s registered in New Jersey with a “Disabled Vet” plate, and it’s tied to an active NJ E-ZPass account.1New Jersey Legislature. Senate No. 3725
One point that trips people up: the exemption is written around the “Disabled Vet” plate specifically. A Purple Heart plate or other military specialty plate does not qualify under the current law. Leased vehicles do qualify, which is easy to miss in the shorter summaries of the program.1New Jersey Legislature. Senate No. 3725
Get the Disabled Vet Plate First
The plate is a hard prerequisite. You have to apply for it and be approved before you can submit a toll exemption application.3New Jersey Legislature. Assembly No. 5528 Trying to enroll with E-ZPass first is the most common reason veterans get stuck.
You apply through the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission with two documents: your DD-214 (or DD-215 if applicable) and your Award of Disability letter from the VA. You can go in person to any MVC agency with a completed SP-47 application, or mail photocopies of your proof of status along with the signed SP-47 to the MVC Special Plates Unit at P.O. Box 015, Trenton, NJ 08666-015.4State of New Jersey. Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient Placards
Applying for the Toll Exemption
Once the plate is on the vehicle and you have an active NJ E-ZPass account, you apply for the exemption itself. Both the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority are directed by statute to approve applications from veterans holding a valid Disabled Vet plate.3New Jersey Legislature. Assembly No. 5528
Enrollment runs through the NJ E-ZPass Customer Service Center. Mail correspondence goes to P.O. Box 52003, Newark, NJ 07101-8203.5E-ZPass New Jersey. E-ZPass New Jersey Customer Reference Guide The current application form and steps are not posted on the public discount listings, so contact E-ZPass NJ directly to confirm what they need. Expect to pay standard tolls until your exemption is confirmed. You can watch for a plan code update in your online E-ZPass account to see that the exemption is active.
Which Roads Are Covered
The exemption reaches the three state-operated toll roads:
- The New Jersey Turnpike (NJ Turnpike Authority)
- The Garden State Parkway (NJ Turnpike Authority)
- The Atlantic City Expressway (South Jersey Transportation Authority)1New Jersey Legislature. Senate No. 3725
The waiver runs through the electronic toll system, so the E-ZPass transponder must be in the vehicle and working when you pass the toll point.
What the Exemption Does Not Cover
Bi-state crossings are outside the program. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates the George Washington Bridge, the Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel, and the Bayonne Bridge. The Delaware River Port Authority runs the bridges between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including the Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman Bridges. Neither authority is covered by the New Jersey disabled veteran toll exemption, so you’ll pay full tolls on those crossings regardless of veteran status.
The exemption is also non-transferable. It only applies when the registered transponder is used in the specific vehicle listed on your application. Lending it to a family member or moving it into a different car does not carry the benefit.
Keeping It Active
Because the plate is what unlocks the toll benefit, letting it lapse puts the exemption at risk. Disabled veteran placards renew every three years through the MVC.4State of New Jersey. Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient Placards If you change vehicles, update both your MVC plate registration and your E-ZPass account so the two sets of records agree. Name, address, or plate changes should be pushed to E-ZPass promptly. Mismatches between the MVC, the VA, and E-ZPass are easier to head off than to unwind later; for questions on your specific enrollment, call the NJ E-ZPass Customer Service Center directly.