Handicap Parking Permits: Who Can Use Them and How To Apply

Disabled parking permits allow people with eligible disabilities to park in designated parking spots to give them easier access to businesses, apartments and other buildings. However, depending on whether you have a permanent disability like lung disease or a temporary disability like a broken leg, you may need a specific type of disabled parking placard that carries different rules and requirements.

Keep reading to learn more about who qualifies for a handicap parking permit and the requirements for getting one.

On This Page

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  Who Can Qualify for a Handicap Permit?

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  What Types of Handicap Permits Are There?

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  How To Get a Handicap Parking Permit

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  FAQs

Who Can Qualify for a Handicap Permit?

A disabled parking placard is given to those with disabilities that make it more difficult to access buildings from a parking lot, usually because they have a physical handicap that makes moving difficult or another condition that makes it difficult to walk. Some conditions that can qualify you for a handicap permit may include:

• Diseases that make it hard to walk or breathe, such as arthritis, asthma or heart disease
• Loss of use or limited use of limbs
• Uses a wheelchair, crutches, cane or other assistive device to move
• Uses a portable oxygen tank to assist with breathing
• Vision issues, including poor vision at night
• Neurological impairments
• Chronic pain or fatigue
• Pain from injuries
• Recent surgery
• Cancer treatment

Eligibility criteria for a handicap permit can vary between states but will not require any specific type of car insurance or ownership of a vehicle since it can be used exclusively as a passenger in a car. However, obtaining one typically requires that a licensed physician or nurse practitioner verify your disability and you may need valid photo identification, such as a driver’s license.

What Types of Handicap Permits Are There?

Each state may differ in the types of handicap permits available and how they function, but they can typically be divided into permanent and temporary ones. Additionally, wounded veterans or those with disabilities may qualify for a handicap permit with potentially different restrictions.

Permanent Handicap Placard

A permanent placard is meant for disabled individuals with a long-term or permanent disability, such as someone with chronic conditions, visual impairment or who is paraplegic. These permits tend to last several years before requiring renewal. For example, California requires renewal for permanent placards every two years, while Nevada only requires it every 10.^[1][2]

Keep in mind that a permanent handicap placard usually must be placed hanging from your rearview mirror. Alternatively, you can get a license plate that indicates your handicap status but it may cost more than getting a handicap placard in some states like New York.^[3]

Temporary Handicap Placard

Those experiencing a temporary disability, such as a broken leg caused by a car accident, may be able to get a temporary disabled parking placard. However, temporary placards last for a much shorter duration than permanent handicap placards, which can vary by state. For example, a temporary placard is valid for 12 months in Washington and is valid for only six months in Nevada and California.^[4][1][2]

Similar to a permanent handicap placard, you should hang your temporary placard from your rearview mirror.

Disabled Veteran Placard or License Plate

A disabled veteran placard offers a different type of handicap placard for veterans or “wounded warriors” who were injured during their service. In some states, the parking benefit is displayed as a license plate for your car instead of a placard hung from your rearview mirror.

Keep in mind that each state has different regulations for disabled veteran parking privileges, with some states being more limited. For example, disabled veteran license plates allow for parking in a handicap parking space in California but not in Oregon, where you may be subject to fines for doing so unless you also have a separate designated handicap placard.^[1][5]

Some states may waive certain license or registration fees for disabled veterans with this permit, but this varies by state. Additionally, each state has different requirements for each permit and lengths of time before renewal. For example, in Wisconsin, recertification is required every four years, but in Oregon, it only needs renewal every eight years.^[5][6]

Travel Placard

Travel placards are short-duration handicap permits you can get if you already hold a permit and are traveling out of state. While handicap parking placards are typically honored nationwide, regardless of your state of origin, there may be some states where a travel placard is necessary to retain parking privileges or help you avoid additional parking fees, such as California.^[7][1] 

Additionally, if you have a permanent handicap license plate but plan on traveling to another state in a different car, you may need to get a travel placard to use handicap parking spots at your destination.

The duration of a travel placard’s validity will vary by state. For example, California offers travel placards that can be used for 30 days for residents and 90 days for nonresidents, while Oregon offers travel placards for 120 days.^[1][5]

How To Get a Handicap Parking Permit

The first step is to get your primary care provider or another licensed physician who can verify you have a qualified disability and whether you should get a temporary parking placard or a permanent one. Afterward, you’ll need to place an application with your state’s DMV, which may be completed online, via mail or in person at your local DMV.

Remember that each state may have differing rules for applying for a disabled parking placard or license plate, so ensure you check online or contact your local DMV. For example, some states may waive fees for the initial application or renewal for a disabled veteran license plate, such as California and Montana, while others may charge for the initial application or annual fees, such as South Dakota and Arizona.^[8]

Click on your state below to learn more about applying for a new placard or renewing your existing one in your state.

^{*You will need to obtain a form from your specific county’s DMV}