A Veteran Gold Card opens up more than DVA-funded treatment. If you live in Victoria, there are state concessions that can cut the cost of vehicle registration, public transport, council rates and more. The catch is that the most valuable ones are tiered, some need only a Gold Card, but the best require a TPI or EDA assessment. Here is what actually applies in Victoria, who qualifies, and how to claim it.
Gold Card, TPI and EDA are not the same
Many of the best Victorian veteran concessions are tied to a specific DVA assessment, not to simply holding a Gold Card. The markings that unlock the top tier are:
- TPI (Special Rate, sometimes called Totally and Permanently Incapacitated)
- EDA (Extreme Disablement Adjustment)
- War Widow or Widower
For several concessions you can also qualify with a DVA letter confirming you receive the Disability Compensation Payment at 100% of the General Rate or higher, or that you are assessed at 40 or more impairment points under MRCA. A standard Gold Card without one of these still opens real savings, but the top-tier vehicle and transport concessions require the TPI or EDA marking. Reaching a TPI or EDA assessment is a matter of getting your impairment properly assessed, which is where a claim can be worth reviewing.
Vehicle registration and TAC: tiered concessions
Victoria is unusual in offering a genuine two-tier vehicle concession through VicRoads, on one light vehicle (up to 4.5 tonnes) used for personal purposes:
- Standard Gold Card: around 50% off both the registration fee and the Transport Accident Charge (TAC).
- TPI Gold Card: 100% off the registration fee plus 50% off the TAC charge.
You can choose three, six or 12 month registration and the discount applies pro rata. Note this runs alongside, but is separate from, the state’s own Veterans Card Victoria scheme, and you cannot stack two concessions on the same vehicle. Apply through VicRoads on 13 11 71.
Motor vehicle duty (stamp duty) exemption
Veterans receiving Disability Compensation Payment at 100% of the General Rate or higher, including at the TPI, TTI, Intermediate and EDA rates, and MRCA clients assessed at 40 or more impairment points, do not pay motor vehicle duty when they buy a new or second hand vehicle. This is a Victorian concession administered through VicRoads and is separate from the federal GST exemption on a new car that eligible veterans can claim through DVA.
We cover the vehicle duty side, and how it differs state by state, in our guide to stamp duty exemptions for Gold Card holders.
Public transport: myki concessions and free travel
Victoria runs several transport tiers through Public Transport Victoria:
- Concession myki: around 50% off fares, available to eligible War Veteran and War Widow(er) Gold Card holders.
- Free-travel myki: for Gold Card holders embossed with TPI or EDA, this registered myki gives free unlimited travel on metropolitan trains, trams and buses, V/Line services and regional town buses.
- War Veteran’s Free Travel Pass: where a service-related injury significantly limits your mobility, confirmed by your treating doctor, a separate pass provides free travel.
Only the TPI/EDA free-travel myki and the War Veteran’s Free Travel Pass provide free travel, the concession myki is a discount, not free. Apply through Public Transport Victoria on 1800 800 007.
Council rates and other concessions
- Veteran Gold Card holders marked TPI, EDA, WAR WID or POW, and Pensioner Concession Card holders, may receive up to 50% off council rates up to a yearly maximum. Contact the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521.
- Gold Card holders marked TPI or WAR WID, and PCC holders, get a $50 discount on the Fire Services Property Levy on their rates notice (one per property).
- TPI veterans and PCC holders are exempt from needing a recreational fishing licence.
Rates and thresholds are set by the Victorian Government and providers and change from time to time, so treat any figure as a starting point and confirm the current amount when you apply.
A couple of things worth knowing
- Victoria also runs its own Veterans Card Victoria, applied for through Service Victoria, which is separate from the DVA Gold Card and has its own discounts. You generally cannot apply both a DVA and a Veterans Card Victoria concession to the same vehicle.
- State concession registrations do not transfer between states. If you move to Victoria, you generally need to register with each Victorian provider again.
- Concessions are tied to the individual cardholder. A spouse does not automatically receive the same concessions unless they independently hold a qualifying card.
Not sure you have the right assessment?
If you hold a Gold Card but are not TPI or EDA, you are missing the concessions that matter most, and reaching those assessments comes down to how your permanent impairment has been assessed. That is claim work, and it is exactly what we do. Our card and claim eligibility check below is a quick way to see where you might stand.
Which DVA card could you be eligible for?
Answer a few quick questions and we will point you to the card that most likely fits. This is a guide only, not a determination.
This is a general eligibility guide only and not a determination by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. It does not constitute legal, financial or medical advice. Book a free consultation for a personalised assessment.
How KSC Law can help
KSC Law was founded by veterans who have lived the system. If your Gold Card is not delivering the concessions you expected, the answer is usually in your assessment, not the concession office. Our expert team can review where your impairment sits, whether a TPI or EDA assessment is within reach, and run the claim to get you there.
The first conversation is free and there is no obligation. Call us on 07 2112 4752 or book a consultation.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Concession eligibility and amounts are set by the Victorian Government and service providers and can change. Confirm current details when you apply.