Services for Persons With Disabilities
Customers with special needs or who require special assistance with applications or testing should notify a DMV staff member or manager upon arrival at any DMV location.
DMV offers parking permits for citizens with temporary or permanent disabilities that limit or impair their mobility. We also offer license plates for persons with permanent disabilities. These permits and plates entitle the holder to park in special parking spaces reserved for individuals with disabilities. Institutions and organizations who operate special vehicles equipped to carry persons with disabilities may also obtain parking permits entitling them to special parking privileges.
Parking permits, issued in the form of removable windshield placards and license plates, displaying the international symbol of access, provide authorization for special parking in all 50 states.
Temporary parking placards are valid for up to six months. Your licensed physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, podiatrist or chiropractor must indicate the expected length of your disability. A podiatrist or chiropractor may only certify certain conditions that limit or impair your ability to walk. For more information, refer to Parking Placards and Plates for Virginians with Disabilities.
Permanent placards are issued to citizens with a disability that- limits or impairs movement from one place to another, the ability to walk, or that creates a concern for safety while walking, as defined in Va. Code §46.2-1240, and
- has reached the maximum level of improvement and is not expected to change even with additional treatment.
Applications for permanent parking placards must be certified by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, podiatrist, or chiropractor. A podiatrist or chiropractor may only certify for certain conditions that limit or impair your ability to walk. Permanent placards are valid for five years and may be renewed without a physician's, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, podiatrist, or chiropractor's certification. They may be renewed by Internet (www.dmvNOW.com), mail, or at a DMV customer service center.
Institutional and organizational placards are valid for five years and may be renewed. No physician certification is required.
Placards should be hung from the rearview mirror while the vehicle is parked in spaces authorized for the disabled. The side that shows the placard holder's identifying information must face the rear of the vehicle. Placard holders may use removable tape to cover their name and date of birth on the placard. The placard holder will have to remove the tape if requested by law enforcement for verification. Placards must be removed from the rearview mirror while the vehicle is in motion.
License plates must bear the International Symbol of Access (ISA) in order to entitle the holder to special parking privileges. When disabled license plates are issued to a vehicle registered to multiple owners, the registration card for that vehicle will indicate which owner is disabled. When disabled plates are issued to the parent or legal guardian of a person with a disability, this will be noted on the vehicle registration card. Disabled license plates may be renewed without a physician's, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, podiatrist, or chiropractor's certification. A podiatrist or chiropractor may only certify for certain conditions that limit or impair your ability to walk.
License plates for hearing impaired drivers are available from any DMV office. No special privileges are given, but the plates help law enforcement officers recognize drivers who are hearing impaired. Hearing impaired citizens may contact DMV by teletypewriter at 1-800-272-9268.
A driver's license indicator is available for drivers who are hearing and speech impaired or who are insulin-dependant. One of these indicators is placed on the driver's license in order to identify the disability to law enforcement personnel.