To get a handicap parking placard for your car, you fill out your state DMV’s disability parking application, have a qualifying medical provider certify that you have a condition limiting your ability to walk, and submit the completed form to the DMV in person, by mail, or online. Most permanent placards are issued at no charge. Timing runs from same-day at a walk-in counter to several weeks by mail.
Do You Qualify
Every state sets its own list, but the lists overlap heavily. The core question is whether a medical condition significantly limits your ability to walk. A doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner (and in some states a chiropractor, podiatrist, or optometrist for conditions within their scope) has to certify that you meet at least one qualifying criterion.
The conditions that commonly qualify include:
- You cannot walk without a cane, crutch, brace, walker, wheelchair, prosthetic device, or another person’s help.
- You cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.
- Severely restricted breathing, use of portable oxygen, or a forced expiratory volume below one liter.
- A cardiac condition rated Class III or IV under American Heart Association standards.
- Neurological or orthopedic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, severe arthritis, or spinal cord injury that substantially limit walking.
- Legal blindness, or visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in your better eye with corrective lenses.
- Loss of, or loss of use of, one or both legs or hands.
Some states also recognize foot disorders, temporary post-surgical conditions, and other debilitating conditions that limit walking without fitting neatly into the categories above. If your doctor believes your condition substantially impairs your ability to get from a parking space to a building entrance, you likely qualify. Ask.
Placard or Disability License Plate
The application will ask you which you want. A placard hangs from your rearview mirror and moves with you between vehicles, so it works whether you drive yourself or get rides. Placards come in two flavors: temporary (usually red, valid up to six months, for conditions expected to improve) and permanent (usually blue, valid two to four years depending on the state).
A disability license plate is bolted to one specific vehicle. It makes sense if you drive yourself in the same car every day, because there’s nothing to remember to hang and nothing to lose. The trade-off is that the plate stays with the car, not with you, and in many states you can only put disability plates on a vehicle you own or lease.
Veterans with a service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs may qualify for special disabled veteran plates. Rules and fees vary by state, but veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or who have lost the use of a limb often receive them at no cost.
Step 1: Get the Medical Certification
This is the piece that matters most. Without a signed medical section, your DMV will reject the form outright.
Start by downloading your state’s application from the DMV website. Every state’s form has a medical section your provider fills out, asking for your diagnosis, how it affects your mobility, and whether the condition is temporary or permanent. Your provider also has to include their license number and contact information, because the DMV may follow up to verify.
A growing number of states accept telehealth evaluations for this certification, which can save you an in-person visit if your provider already knows your medical history. Check your state’s application instructions first though, because some still require a wet-ink signature on the original form rather than a scanned or digital copy.
If you already see a doctor for the qualifying condition, this step is usually quick and can happen at an existing appointment. If you need to book a visit specifically for the form, say so when you schedule it so the office allots enough time.
Step 2: Fill Out the Applicant Section
Your part of the form is straightforward: name, address, date of birth, signature. Make sure the name and address match your driver’s license or state ID exactly. Small discrepancies, like a middle initial on one document but not the other, or an old address, are the most common reason applications come back.
Step 3: Submit the Application
Once both sections are complete, you have three ways to turn it in.
In person at a DMV office. Often the fastest route. Some offices issue temporary placards on the spot, which matters if you need one urgently after surgery.
By mail. Send the completed application to the address printed on the form, include any required fee by check or money order, and use a trackable mailing method. Keep a copy of everything you send.
Online. A number of states now offer online submission. You typically upload the signed medical certification as a scanned document. California, for example, runs a full online portal for placard applications.
What It Costs
Most states issue permanent disability placards at no charge. Temporary placards are more likely to carry a small processing fee, usually in the $5 to $20 range. Disability license plates involve standard vehicle registration fees. Your biggest out-of-pocket cost is often the doctor’s visit for the certification, especially if your insurance doesn’t fully cover it. Confirm your state’s fee schedule on the DMV website before you apply.
How Long It Takes
Processing depends on how you submit and where you live. Walk-in applicants sometimes leave with a placard the same day. Mailed applications generally take a few weeks. If you need a permit fast, after surgery or a new injury, going in person is your best bet.
Displaying and Using the Placard
When you park in an accessible space, hang the placard from your rearview mirror with the permit number facing forward, visible through the windshield. Take it down before you drive, because a dangling placard blocks part of your view and every state requires this.
The permit belongs to you, not your car. It’s only valid when you are actually in the vehicle, either driving or being dropped off and picked up. A spouse, friend, or caregiver cannot use your placard to park in an accessible space while running their own errands without you. That is the single most common form of placard misuse, enforcement officers watch for it, and fines typically start at $250 and can exceed $1,000 for a first offense.
Renewing or Replacing It
Permanent placards expire on a set cycle, typically every two to four years depending on the state. Your DMV will usually send a renewal notice before the expiration date. Renewal generally requires a new application and a fresh medical certification confirming that your condition still qualifies. Some states allow renewal by mail or online; others require an in-person visit.
Temporary placards can’t usually be renewed more than a handful of times in succession. If your condition hasn’t improved after repeated temporary permits, your doctor can certify you for a permanent placard instead.
If your placard is lost, stolen, or damaged, contact your DMV for a replacement. Most states don’t require a new medical certification for a simple replacement, just your placard identification number and possibly a small fee. Some states ask you to file a police report for a stolen placard, since it can be misused by whoever took it.