(1) A person who is a totally disabled veteran with an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces may apply to the secretary of state if he or she owns a private passenger motor vehicle, and the secretary of state may issue a special registration plate inscribed with special identification numbers preceded by the letters "DV" and the words "disabled veteran" inscribed beneath the registration number.

    (2) Application for the special registration plate must be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, must not require a service fee under section 804, and must be accompanied by proof that the applicant was honorably discharged from the armed services and either 1 of the following:

    (a) That the applicant has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected total or permanent total disability rating for compensation.

    (b) That the applicant has been determined to have a service-connected total or permanent total disability rating and is receiving disability retirement pay from a branch of the uniformed armed services.

    (3) A special registration issued under this section is exempt from payment of the tax provided in section 801.

    (4) The special registration plate expires on the birthday of the disabled veteran in a year in which new plates are issued by the secretary of state. Application for renewal of the special registration plate must not require a service fee under section 804. The applicant is not required to furnish the proof provided in subsection (2) for renewal.

    (5) The surviving spouse of a person who is a totally disabled veteran with an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces may use a special registration plate issued under this section after the death of the totally disabled veteran and may renew a special registration plate issued under this section after the death of the totally disabled veteran in the same manner as provided under this section for a totally disabled veteran. If applicable, a surviving spouse shall apply for registration of the vehicle upon which he or she wishes to place the disabled veteran plate before using or renewing the plate as described in this section.

    (6) The secretary of state may issue to a disabled person who has been issued a special registration plate under this section a tab for persons with disabilities. The tab for persons with disabilities must be an adhesive tab displaying the international wheelchair symbol or a reasonable facsimile of that symbol. The tab for persons with disabilities may be attached only to the special registration plate issued to the disabled person under this section.

    (7) An application for a tab for persons with disabilities must be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall require the same proof that the applicant is a disabled person as is required for issuance of a permanent windshield placard under section 675. If the surviving spouse of a totally disabled veteran is a disabled person, he or she may apply to the secretary of state for a tab for persons with disabilities in the same manner as provided for a totally disabled veteran under this subsection.

    (8) The tab for persons with disabilities must be issued free of charge.

    (9) When a disabled person who has been issued a tab for persons with disabilities renews his or her special registration plate under this section, the secretary of state shall issue a new tab for persons with disabilities to the disabled person, free of charge. The disabled person shall not be required to again furnish the proof required under subsection (7).

    (10) The use of the special registration plate or a tab for persons with disabilities issued under this section on a motor vehicle other than the motor vehicle for which the special registration plate is issued, or by a person who does not qualify under this section, is a misdemeanor.

    (11) As used in this section, "private passenger motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is personally owned by the disabled veteran and is used for the primary purpose of transporting the disabled veteran and family members of the disabled veteran, but does not include a motor home.