If your handicap placard has expired, you have two jobs: renew it if you still qualify for accessible parking, and get the old one out of circulation by either returning it to your state’s motor vehicle agency or cutting it into pieces so it can’t be reused. Don’t leave it hanging from the mirror, and don’t leave it loose in the glove box. Using an expired placard in an accessible space is treated the same as using no placard at all.
Confirm the Expiration Date
Federal regulations require every placard to display an identification number and an expiration date on each side, so you don’t have to guess.1eCFR. 23 CFR Part 1235 – Uniform System for Parking for Persons With Disabilities Most states print the date in month-and-year format; some use a hole-punch to mark the expiration month. Look at the front face or the upper corners.
Many state agencies mail renewal notices before a placard expires, but the responsibility to track the date is yours. If yours is approaching and no notice has arrived, contact the DMV directly rather than waiting.
Renew Before It Lapses
If your disability is ongoing, renewing a permanent placard is usually straightforward, but the specifics differ from state to state. Temporary placards are capped by federal rule at six months from the date of issuance, based on a physician’s determination of how long the disability will last.1eCFR. 23 CFR Part 1235 – Uniform System for Parking for Persons With Disabilities If a temporary placard expires and you still need one, most states treat it as a new application with fresh medical documentation, not a simple renewal. If your condition has resolved, you’re done — destroy or return the placard.
Medical Certification
Some states require a new medical certification from a licensed healthcare provider at every renewal, even for permanent conditions. Others waive medical paperwork for renewals and only require it for the initial application. Check with your state agency early so you have time to schedule a doctor’s visit if one is needed. Getting caught off guard by this requirement is one of the most common reasons people end up driving around with an expired placard.
How to Submit
Most states offer online, mail, and in-person renewal. Online is usually the fastest; you’ll typically need your placard number, your name, and your date of birth. Some states include a code or QR scan on the mailed renewal notice that speeds things up. Mail-in renewals can take several weeks. Online submissions often result in a new placard arriving within two to four weeks.
Fees
Most states issue and renew permanent placards at no charge. A handful charge small administrative fees, generally under $10. Temporary placards are more likely to carry a fee, usually $5 to $15. Replacement placards for lost or damaged ones sometimes cost a few dollars even where the original is free.
Timing
Start the renewal at least 30 days before the expiration date. Most states do not offer a grace period. The moment the placard expires, it’s no longer valid, and parking in an accessible space with it can result in a ticket. Some agencies will issue a temporary placard while a renewal processes, but this isn’t universal.
Get the Old Placard Out of Circulation
Once your placard has expired and you’ve either renewed or no longer need one, don’t leave it intact in a drawer. Someone else could hang it from a mirror and park illegally.
You have two options:
- Return it to the issuing agency. Handing the placard back to your DMV or mailing it in is the cleanest method. The agency removes it from its records, and you’re done.
- Destroy it yourself. Cut it into several pieces with scissors, making sure you cut through the expiration date and the identification number so it can’t be reassembled or displayed.
A few states explicitly require you to return expired or surrendered placards rather than destroy them, so check your state’s DMV website before grabbing the scissors.
Penalties for Using an Expired Placard
An expired placard offers no legal protection, and enforcement officers specifically look for expired dates during parking checks.
Fines
Penalties vary widely, but fines for displaying an expired placard generally fall between $250 and $1,000 for a first offense. Some states add civil penalties on top of the base fine; in the strictest jurisdictions, combined penalties can exceed $1,500.
Criminal Charges
In many states, placard misuse can be charged as a misdemeanor. That category covers using a placard issued to someone else, lending your valid placard to someone who doesn’t qualify, and altering an expiration date. Misdemeanor convictions can carry up to six months in jail, community service, or probation, depending on the state and the circumstances. Repeat offenses and fraudulent applications tend to draw harsher treatment.
Vehicle and Privilege Consequences
Your vehicle can be ticketed and potentially towed from an accessible space if you’re displaying an expired or fraudulent placard. Some states also authorize revocation of future parking privileges, which means losing access to accessible parking entirely, even after you’d otherwise qualify for a new placard.
If your placard has expired, take it off the mirror and park in a regular space until the renewal comes through.
Placards From Another State
Most states honor valid disability placards issued by other states, but the key word is valid. An expired placard from your old state won’t protect you in your new one, and crossing state lines doesn’t extend its life. If you’ve relocated, contact your new state’s DMV to find out whether you can transfer your existing placard or need to apply fresh; some states require a new placard within a set period after you establish residency.