Disability Plates and Placards in Wisconsin

Disability Placards & Plates in Wisconsin

Parking placards and license plates for people with disabilities are issued by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The DMV offers parking permits for both temporary and permanent disabilities. All placards or plates require medical authorization.

Wisconsin Disability Parking Permits

The WI DMV offers two types of disabled parking permits to those with qualifying disabilities:

  • Placards, if you have a temporary or permanent disability.
  • License plates, if you have a permanent disability AND you:
    • Own or lease your car.
    • Drive a company car.
      OR
    • Use your vehicle to transport a person with disabilities on a regular basis.

Visiting Wisconsin?

If you're visiting Wisconsin and need a handicap parking permit, you can either:

  • Use your placard from your home state.
    OR
  • Apply for a temporary disability parking placard. See “Apply for a Disability Placard in WI" below for more information.

Handicap Parking Rules

With your disability parking placard or license plate, you can:

  • Park in spaces reserved for disabled drivers.
  • Exceed the time limit in spaces with limits of 30 minutes or higher.
  • Park for free at meters in any municipal lot with a 30 minute or higher time limit.
  • Request full service fueling for the price of self service at stations that offer both.

You must display your parking placard from the rearview mirror of the vehicle.

Apply for a Disability Placard in WI

You can apply for a disabled placard:

  • By mail.
  • In person.

To apply for a disabled parking placard, you will need:

NOTE: Make a copy of your application and keep it with you as proof of eligibility.

Either take the above to your local WI DMV service center in person, or mail it to:

WisDOT
Special Plates Unit – DIS ID
P.O. Box 7306
Madison, WI 53707

Fees for Disabled Placards

When submitting your placard application, include payment for the applicable fees:

  • Permanent placard: Free.
  • Temporary placard: $6.
  • Service fees if applying in person:
    • $3 at WI DMV service centers.
    • Fees vary at other service providers.

Apply for Disability License Plates

If your own or lease your car, or if you use your vehicle to transport a person with disabilities on a regular basis, you can apply for disability license plates.

Disabled parking license plate applications can be made:

  • By mail.
  • In person.

To apply for a disability license plate, you must submit:

  • A completed Disabled Parking License Plates Application (Form MV2162).
  • Your doctor's authorization on the application form.
  • Your vehicle registration OR a description of your vehicle on the application.
  • Payment for fees (see below):
    • By mail: Check or money order payable to “Registration Fee Trust."
    • In person: Check,cash, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover Card.

NOTE: Make a copy of your application and keep it with you as proof of eligibility.

Once you have all of the above items, take them in person to your local WI DMV office or mail it all to:

WisDOT
Special Plates Unit – DIS ID
P.O. Box 7306
Madison, WI 53707

Disabled Veteran License Plates

WisDOT disabled veteran (VET) license plates are available if you have a permanent disability resulting from military service.

For more information, see the WisDOT disabled veteran license plate page.

Disability License Plate Fees

The fees for your disability license plate vary based on when you apply and when you are due to renew your car registration.

When submitting your application, include the registration fee IF:

  • Your car does not have a license plate.
    OR
  • Your registration will expire in the next 3 months.

If applying in person, you will also need to pay an additional service fee.

NOTE: Add a $15 fee for personalized license plates.

Renew Your Disabled Permits in WI

All disabled parking permits must be renewed. The length of validity depends on the type of placard or plate you have:

  • Temporary disabled placards: 6 months.
  • Permanent placards: 4 years.
  • License plate registration: Valid 1 year.

To renew your disability parking permit, simply reapply using the same process as an initial application, including new medical authorization.

See the sections “ Apply for a Disability Placard in WI" or “Apply for WI Disability Plates" above for more information.

In addition to disability permit renewal, you must renew your vehicle registration each year.

Replace Wisconsin Parking Permits

To replace your lost, stolen, or damaged disabled placard, you'll need to complete the application process again, including medical authorization.

See “ Apply for a Disability Placard in WI" above for more information.

For information about replacing a license plate that is lost, stolen, or damaged, see our Wisconsin Lost Registration page.

Forms

MV2162
Disabled Parking License Plates Information and Application
Application for Wisconsin disabled license plates. The DMV requires your doctor to complete form.
MV2548
Permanent Disabled Parking Identification Permit Information and Application
Apply for a permanent WI disabled parking permit through the Division of Motor Vehicles. Must be completed by your doctor.
MV2933
Temporary Disabled Parking Identification Permit
Apply for a temporary disabled parking permit from the Wisconsin DMV. Must be signed by a medical professional.
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