Disability Plates and Placards in Washington DC
SUMMARY: D.C. Disability License Plates & Placards
If you are a D.C. resident and you have a disability, you may be eligible for a disability parking placard or license plate issued by the Washington, D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (D.C. DMV). Disability parking permit information, including how to apply for a placard or license plate, how to renew handicap parking permits, and how to replace a placard or license plate, is listed below.
D.C. Disability Permit Types & Rules
The D.C. DMV issues several types of disability placards and plates.
To be eligible for any handicap parking permit, you must have a qualifying disability certified by a medical professional.
The available placards and plates for disability parking are:
- Temporary placards lasting 1 week.
- Temporary placards.
- Long-term placards.
- Long-term disability license plates.
D.C. Visitors with Disabilities
If you are visiting D.C. from another state, you do not have to obtain a local disability placard or plate. Washington, D.C. will recognize placards and plates from all other states.
If you don't have a disability permit from your home state, you can apply for a temporary placard valid for up to 1 week. See “Apply for Disabled Placards/Plates" below.
Disability Parking Regulations
Washington, D.C. placards and plates enable you to:
- Park in disabled parking places.
- Park for 2 times the posted time limit in any metered spaces for free.
You CANNOT park in places where parking is prohibited or the space is reserved for special vehicles.
Only you can use the handicap placard or license plate issued to you.
Apply for Disabled Placards & Plates
You can apply for a disability placard or license plate from the D.C. DMV either:
- By mail.
- By fax.
OR
- In person.
First, complete the appropriate application:
- Disability Parking Placard and/or Tags Application (Form DMV-MF-DPLP-01) for temporary placards, permanent placards, and license plates.
- Requires medical certification.
NOTE: If you use a wheelchair or are missing a lower limb, you will not need medical certification as long as you apply in person.
- Requires medical certification.
- The One-Week Temporary Disability Parking Permit Application (Form DMV-ODPPA -01) for temporary placards lasting 1 week.
- DOES NOT require medical certification.
Next, include payment for fees, if applicable:
- Placards: Free.
- License plate: $10.
Finally, submit your application either:
- By mail to:
P.O. Box 90120
Washington, D.C. 20090
- By fax to (202) 673-9908.
OR
- In person at a Washington, D.C. DMV office.
Renew a Washington, D.C. Disability Permit
Disability placards and license plates are valid for varying periods of time:
- Short-term disability placards: Valid for up to 1 week.
- These CANNOT be renewed within 1 year.
- Temporary disability placards: Valid for up to 8 years based on medical certification.
- Long-term disability placards: Valid for up to 8 years (expires when your driver's license or ID expires).
- Disability license plates: Valid for the length of your vehicle registration.
Temporary and long-term parking placards can be renewed up to 60 days before they expire by:
- Completing a new Disability Parking Placard and/or Tags Application (Form DMV-MF-DPLP-01).
- Submitting the application:
- By mail to the address on the form.
- By fax to (202) 673-9908.
OR
- In person at a D.C. DMV service center.
You must renew your handicap license plate by:
- Renewing your vehicle registration.
AND
- Submitting a Disability Parking Placard and/or Tags Application (Form DMV-MF-DPLP-01).
Replace a Disability Placard/Plate in D.C.
If your disability placard or license plate is lost, stolen, or damaged, contact the Washington, D.C. DMV at (202) 737-4404 for information about requesting a replacement.
You can also find information about replacing a license plate on our Replacing a Lost Registration in Washington, D.C. page.