Parking Placards and Plates for Virginians with Disabilities
DMV offers parking placards and plates for customers with temporary or permanent disabilities that limit or impair their mobility. They are also available to customers with a condition that creates a safety concern while walking (examples are Alzheimer's disease, blindness or developmental amentia).
These placards and plates entitle the holder to park in special parking spaces reserved for individuals with disabilities. Institutions and organizations that operate special vehicles equipped to carry persons with disabilities may also obtain parking placards and plates entitling them to special parking privileges.
The holder of the placard must be the driver or a passenger in the vehicle. In addition, the placard holder is required to carry the Disabled Parking Placard Identification Card that is issued with the placard and to present it to a law enforcement officer upon request.
Obtaining or Renewing a Disabled Placard or Plate
To obtain a disabled parking placard or plate, please refer to Applying for a Disabled Parking Placard or License Plate. You can find out how to renew your plate or placard by reviewing Renewing a Disabled Parking Placard or License Plate.
Placement of the Placard
The placard must hang from the rearview mirror when the vehicle is in a disabled parking space.
Privacy for Placard Holders
The name, birthdate and gender of the placard holder are not displayed on temporary and permanent placards issued after July 1, 2010. If you hold a temporary or permanent placard issued before July 1, 2010, you may use removable tape to cover your name and birthdate on your placard. You must remove the tape if requested by law enforcement.
Proper Use of Disabled Parking Placards or License Plates
Virginia’s disabled parking placards and plates display the International Symbol of Access and are valid in all 50 states and other countries. Disabled parking privileges allow you to park in any parking space designated for a disabled person and park for up to four hours in metered or time-restricted spaces without paying a fee (unless prohibited by the locality). Placards and plates do not allow you to disobey state or local parking regulations.
It is a serious misuse of placards and plates for the disabled when someone other than the person with a disability uses the placard or plate to park in a space reserved for people with disabilities. The person to whom the placard or plates was issued must be traveling in the vehicle in order to use these spaces. A conviction of this offense could result in fines of up to $500 and/or the revocation of your disabled parking privileges, requiring you to surrender your placard or plates.
Returning the Placard:
The placard must be returned:
- when you are applying for a new placard,
- when it expires, or
- when it is no longer needed by the disabled person.
Additional Information
Descriptions of Disabled Parking Placards and Plates
Rights and Privileges
Questions
