Drivers with Disabilities in Alaska

If you have a disability that interferes with your driving or requires special consideration in parking, you may apply for one of the several disabled person's services offered by the
Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

In order to get a disability parking permit, you'll need to submit an original Application for Disabled Parking Identification. This form must be signed by a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, podiatrist, or chiropractor licensed to practice in Alaska. Send this application to the DMV at:

• State of Alaska

• Division of Motor Vehicles

• Attn: Disability Permit

• 1300 W. Benson Blvd., Suite 200

• Anchorage, AK 99503-3600

You may also apply in person at your local DMV office.

Disability Permit Information

A disability parking permit may be issued for either temporary or permanent disabilities. A temporary permit is valid for up to six months, while a permanent permit is good for five years.

Disabled Permit or Plate Fees

There is no fee for a disabled parking permit. If you qualify, the AK DMV will issue you two copies of the hanging placards, unless you choose to get disabled identification license plates for your vehicle. Temporary disability parking permits are always issued as placards that you hang from your rear view mirror.

You will need to file an Application for Disabled Parking Identification, again, signed by a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, podiatrist, or chiropractor licensed to practice in Alaska.

If you qualify for disability plates or disabled veteran plates, you are allowed to register one vehicle with special plates, for which the vehicle registration taxes and fees will be waived. However, if you need to submit an emissions I/M certificate in order to register your vehicle, you will still be required to pay the $2 administrative fee.

License plates cannot be requested by mail unless you live in a remote part of Alaska and do not have access to a DMV office. Call (907) 269-5551 to inquire if you qualify to apply for a disabled parking permit by mail.

Disability Parking Privileges

If you have received a disabled parking placard or license plates, you may park in any parking place that has been designated as a disabled parking space. You may use your permit only with your personal vehicle and your permit can only be used if you are present in the vehicle. Also, in Alaska, if a disabled person parks at a metered parking spot, that person must put money in the parking meter.

Disabled License Plates

If you have a permanent disability and would like license plates that will identify you as a disabled driver, you may request disabled license plates rather than the disabled parking placard. An original Application for Disabled Parking Identification is required before your plates can be issued. There is no additional charge for disabled license plates.

Disabled Veteran Plates

To apply for disabled veteran license plates with parking privileges, you will need to submit the following:

• An original Application for Disabled Parking Identification

• A certificate from an agency of the United States federal government, such as the Veterans Administration, indicating you have a service-related disability.

Disabled Veteran Plates Without Parking Privileges

If you are a former member of the armed forces with a 50% or more disability rating, but do not have an impairment that affects your ability to walk, you may still qualify for disabled veteran license plates. These plates will not have the wheelchair symbol and will not identify you as allowed to use the disabled parking spaces. However, you will still qualify for the registration tax and fee waiver. You will still be liable for the I/M emissions testing fee of $2.

Obtaining a Parking Placard

If you qualify for a disabled license plate, you may also request that the AK DMV issue you a placard. That way, if you are ever transported in another person's vehicle, you will be able to take advantage of the designated disabled parking spots. Just let the AK DMV know that you would like both plates and a placard, if you would like to receive both.

Traveling Parking Placards

Alaska honors all valid parking placards and disability plates from other states. These do not, however, provide free parking at metered sites; you still must pay.

Should you sustain an injury that hampers your ability to walk while visiting the state, Alaska's DMV will allow you to apply for a temporary parking placard. You must meet all requirements, including providing a signature from a licensed Alaska physician.

To find out whether your Alaska disability license plates or placards are valid in another state while you are traveling, check our Drivers with Disabilities section for the state you will be visiting.

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