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    9 min read 7 stepsMay 8, 2026Verified May 2026

    How to Apply for a Temporary Disability Placard

    Plain-English guide for seniors recovering from surgery or injury on getting a temporary disability parking permit, with doctor forms, DMV steps.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Government & Civic
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    9 min read
    Steps
    7
    Topics covered
    disability placard
    temporary
    parking
    dmv
    seniors
    mobility
    recovery

    In this guide (7 steps):

    1. 1.Find the Right Form for Your State
    2. 2.Fill Out the Applicant Section
    3. 3.Have a Medical Professional Sign the Certification
    4. 4.Submit the Application to the DMV
    5. 5.Display the Placard Correctly
    6. 6.Renew Before the Expiration Date
    7. 7.Know Your Rights and Limits
    1

    Find the Right Form for Your State

    ~54s
    Each state has its own application form. Search your state name plus the words DMV disability placard application. The form is usually a single PDF page with two sections, one for the applicant and one for the medical certifier. Common form numbers are REG 195 in California, MV-664.1 in New York, VR-210 in Maryland, HSMV 83039 in Florida, and DPPA-2 in Pennsylvania. If you cannot find the form online, call your state DMV main line and ask for the disability parking placard application to be mailed to you. Many AARP chapters also keep printed copies. The form lists fees, processing times, and how long the placard stays valid in your state. Print two copies of the blank form before you fill anything in. So you have a backup if the first one gets lost or smudged at the doctor's office.

    Quick Tip

    Some states such as Texas and Florida allow you to fill out and submit the form online without printing anything. Look for the words Apply Online on your state DMV site.

    2

    Fill Out the Applicant Section

    ~52s
    Sit down at a flat table with a black pen, your driver's license, and your vehicle registration. Print clearly. The applicant section asks for your full legal name, your date of birth, your driver's license number, your home address, and your phone number. If you do not drive but want a placard as a passenger, write No Driver License in that box. Some states ask for the make, model, and license plate of the car you ride in most often. You can leave that blank if you ride in different cars, because the placard is not tied to a vehicle. Sign and date the bottom of the section. Do not sign the medical section. That is for your doctor. Some states require the form to be notarized, which means a notary public watches you sign. Banks and credit unions usually offer free notary service for members.

    Warning

    Use blue or black ink. Forms filled in pencil or in colored ink are routinely rejected by DMV clerks across the country.

    3

    Have a Medical Professional Sign the Certification

    ~51s
    Take the form to your doctor's office. Most family doctors will sign the medical section right there in the room. The doctor checks a box describing your condition, such as Cannot Walk 200 Feet Without Stopping to Rest, or Severely Limited in Ability to Walk Due to Arthritis, or Uses Brace, Cane, Crutch, or Other Assistive Device. The doctor writes how long the condition is expected to last, signs the form, prints their license number, and adds the medical office address and phone number. In some states, a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, podiatrist, optometrist for vision-based placards, or chiropractor can also sign. Call the office ahead of time to confirm a signer will be available, and ask whether the signing is a billable office visit or a free five-minute task during a routine appointment.

    Quick Tip

    Schedule the placard signing during a regular checkup. Many doctors complete the form free of charge during a visit you were already going to make.

    4

    Submit the Application to the DMV

    ~51s
    Most states accept the completed application three ways. You can mail it to the DMV address printed on the form, with the application fee in the form of a check or money order. You can take it to the DMV office in person, where a clerk reviews the paperwork and hands you a placard on the spot in many states. Or you can upload a scan of the form through your state DMV website if your state offers online submission. The in-person option is usually the fastest. Make an appointment online to skip the walk-in line. Most DMVs now require an appointment for placard applications. Bring your driver's license, the signed application, and the fee. Same-day placards are common in California, Texas, and Florida. Mail processing takes ten to twenty business days in most states.

    Warning

    Confirm the fee amount before you mail a check. Sending the wrong amount means the DMV returns the application without processing it, and you start over.

    5

    Display the Placard Correctly

    ~56s
    When you receive the placard, read the back of it carefully. The standard placement is hanging from the rearview mirror, with the side showing your name and expiration date facing the windshield. Remove the placard from the mirror once you start driving, because a placard hanging in front of you while you drive blocks part of your view and is a moving violation in some states. Keep the placard in the glove compartment when not in use, and hang it back on the mirror before you park in a handicap spot. The placard is tied to you, not the car. So you can hang it in any vehicle as long as you are inside that vehicle when it parks in the disabled spot. Family members and friends can drive you to appointments and use your placard while you are in the car, but never if you are not.

    Warning

    Using a placard when the holder is not in the car can lead to a $250 to $1,000 fine and the loss of the placard. Police departments and DMV investigators do enforce this rule.

    6

    Renew Before the Expiration Date

    ~54s
    The placard has a clear expiration date printed on the front. Mark that date on your calendar at home and set a phone reminder for thirty days before. If you still need the placard, ask your doctor at a regular appointment to sign a new application. Submit the new application the same way as the first one. In most states, you can renew up to thirty days before expiration so there is no gap. After expiration, the placard is no longer valid even if your medical condition continues. If you forgot to renew and the placard has already expired, do not use it, because the fine for an expired placard is the same as the fine for using one that was never yours. Apply for a new one and walk a little farther for a few weeks while the paperwork goes through.

    Quick Tip

    Some states allow a permanent placard for chronic conditions that will not improve. If your doctor says your condition is long-term, ask whether the permanent option is right for your situation.

    7

    Know Your Rights and Limits

    ~52s
    A handicap placard lets you park in a marked disabled space and, in most states, at expired meters for free. The placard does not let you park in a fire lane, in a loading zone, in front of a hydrant, or in a no-parking area. Always read the curb signs before you park, because city-specific rules may override the placard. If you are traveling out of state, your placard is honored in every state under federal law. Bring your driver's license with you in case a parking enforcement officer asks for ID to confirm the placard is yours. If you lose the placard, report the loss to your state DMV. Replacement placards usually require a new application and a small fee. Never buy a placard online or from a private seller. Those are stolen or counterfeit and using them is a criminal offense.

    Warning

    Counterfeit placards are sold on social media and in classified ads. Any placard not issued by a state DMV is illegal to possess.

    You Did It!

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    A temporary disability placard is a hanging tag that gives the driver permission to park in handicap-marked spots for a limited period, usually six months to a year. Every state issues one through its Department of Motor Vehicles or its equivalent agency. Seniors get temporary placards after knee surgery, hip replacements, broken legs, strokes, cancer treatment that drains energy, or any other medical event that makes walking a long distance painful or unsafe. The placard does not give the driver any other rights. It only allows parking in spaces marked with the blue wheelchair symbol or marked Reserved for Persons With Disabilities.

    The rules differ from state to state but follow the same general pattern. You fill out a one-page application from your state DMV. A doctor, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, podiatrist, optometrist, or chiropractor, depending on the state, signs the medical certification section. You take the form to the DMV in person, or mail it, or upload it through the DMV website. Some states charge a small fee, usually between $5 and $25, while others issue the placard for free. The placard arrives in two to four weeks, although same-day pickup is possible at some DMVs if you bring all the paperwork with you.

    A temporary placard looks like a small rectangular tag that hangs from your rearview mirror by a hook. The card has an expiration date printed on it, usually six months from the issue date in most states, twelve months in some. The placard is tied to the driver, not the car. So you can use it in any vehicle you ride in. Family members can drive you to appointments using your placard as long as you are in the car. Using the placard when the disabled person is not present is illegal in every state and can result in fines starting at $250.

    This guide walks you through getting the application from your state DMV, having your doctor sign the medical part, submitting the paperwork, picking up your placard, and renewing it when the time runs out. Set aside about a week from start to finish, with one office visit to your doctor and one to the DMV. Many states also offer a special license plate for permanent disability, but for short-term needs like recovery from surgery, the temporary placard is the right tool. The handicap parking spot is closer to the building entrance, almost always wider to allow door swing for a walker or wheelchair, and usually has level pavement, all of which matter during recovery.

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    disability placard
    temporary
    parking
    dmv
    seniors
    mobility
    recovery

    Official Resources

    USA.gov — Government ServicesSSA — Social SecurityBenefits.govIRS Free File

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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