Everything You Need to Know

• Parking Accommodations
• Disability Placard Use When Traveling Out-of-State
• Van Accessible Parking Spaces
• Exclusions to Accommodations
• Request placard and plate
• Conditions (codes) for Special Parking Placards and Registration Plate
• Certification under Maryland Law
• Temporary Disabilities
• Fees
• How to Apply for a Disability Placard or Plate
• Stolen Placards and Plate
• Permanent Placard Renewals
• Did not Receive Renewal Notice
• Placard Validation Dates
• Displaying the Placard and Plate
• Who Plate May be Issued To
• Return Placards and Plate When No Longer Required
• Disabled American Veteran Plate
• Personalized Plate for People with Disabilities
• Use with Rental Cars
• Penalties for Misuse

The MVA Ensures Safety, Convenience and Mobility for All Motorists with Disabilities

Maryland citizens with disabilities are eligible for parking accommodations:

Drivers with disabilities who qualify for special parking placards and registration plates have several accommodations available to them:

• You’re exempt from paying parking meter fees in Maryland if the parking meters do not meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and can park for up to twice the maximum allowable time shown on the meter (not to exceed four hours). Please note: Areas outside of Maryland, including the District of Columbia, have different parking meter exemption laws. Please check with their local government to obtain parking meter exemption information.
• Maryland’s registration plates and placards for individuals with disabilities display the wheelchair symbol and are recognized nationwide.

Note:  The American's with Disabilities Act does not prevent payment of parking meter fees by an individual with a disability.  Therefore, you should verify requirements of feeding parking meters and the time limit allowed in the jurisdiction you are visiting.

[TOP]

Van Accessible Parking Spaces

Some disability spaces are marked "van accessible." These spaces are designed with extra wide access aisles (eight feet wide) to accommodate vans with lifts and minivans with ramps, which require more space.  Drivers with a disability placard or plate who do not have these special vehicles, should park in regular disability spaces first and only park in van accessible spaces if all other disability spaces are filled.

May I use my disability placard or plate when traveling in other states?

Yes, all States must recognize removable disability placards, temporary disability placards and special license plates which have been issued by authorities of other states for the purpose of identifying vehicle(s) permitted to utilize parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities. Although States must recognize disability placards, temporary disability placards and special license plates to utilize parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities, you may not be entitled to free-metered parking.

[TOP]

Exclusions to Accommodations

Accommodations for motorists with disabilities do not apply to zones where stopping, standing, or parking is prohibited to all vehicles, and spaces which are reserved for special types of vehicles.

Accommodations are not available where there is a local ordinance prohibiting any parking during heavy traffic periods such as morning, afternoon or evening rush hours, or where parking is clearly a traffic hazard.

Always check specific posted signs before you park, since you cannot disregard zones prohibiting all vehicles.

[TOP]

I have several vehicles; how can I apply for a disability placard to use when travelling in each vehicle I own?

An individual may request disability placard(s) or plate as follows:

• One disability placard only, or
• One disability plate only, or
• One disability plate and one disability placard, or
• Two disability placards.

You may choose either one-disability placard or disability plate, or one plate and one placard or two placards.  Placards are designed to easily move from one vehicle to another, whether it's a vehicle you own personally or a vehicle you're riding in owned by another.

[TOP]

Conditions for Special Parking Placards or Registration Plates

1. Has lung disease to such an extent that forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter, or arterial oxygen tension (pO2) is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
2. Has cardiovascular disease limitations classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to the standards set by the American Heart Association.
3. Is unable to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.
4. Is unable to walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, or other assistance device.
5. Requires a wheelchair for mobility.
6. Has lost an arm, hand, foot, or leg. See Note (D) “Certification Under Maryland Law.”
7. Has lost the use of an arm, hand, foot, or leg.
8. Has a permanent disability that adversely impacts the ambulatory ability of the applicant and which is so severe that the person would endure a hardship or be subject to a risk or injury if the privileges accorded a person from whom a vehicle is specially registered were denied.
9. Has a permanent impairment of both eyes so that: 1) The central vision acuity is 20/200 or less in the better eye, with corrective glasses, or 2) There is a field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees in the better eye. See Note (C) “Certification Under Maryland Law”.
10. Temporary Placard (red)
    Disability is not permanent but would substantially impair the person’s mobility or limit or impair the person’s ability to walk for at least three weeks, and is so severe that the person would endure a hardship or be subject to risk of injury if the Temporary Placard were denied.

 [TOP]

Certification under Maryland Law

Maryland Law specifies that only licensed physicians, licensed nurse practitioners, chiropractors, optometrists or podiatrists can certify to the particular conditions listed. You, your dependent, or any person who depends on you for transportation may be certified as having a disability under the ten conditions listed.

[TOP]

Temporary Disabilities

If you have a temporary disability that’s expected to last at least three weeks, you may apply for a temporary parking placard. It must be certified by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, optometrist, podiatrist or chiropractor. This placard may be valid for up to six months.

[TOP]

Fees

[TOP]

How do I apply for a disability placard or plates?

• Request an application for “Maryland Parking Placards/License Plates for Individuals with a Disability” – form number VR-210 – by calling the MVA at any of the numbers listed below, visiting your local MVA full-service and express office (for placards only) location, or downloading it from the MVA web site.
• • Call MVA’s Fax on Demand System at 410-424-3050 and request Catalogue #15
  • Call MVA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-950-1MVA(1682)
  • Call MVA’s Customer Service Center from out-of-state at 1-301-729-4550
  • TTY for the hearing impaired at 1-800-492-4575
  • Visit any MVA branch office (excluding Oakland)
• Complete all applicable sections of the form. Be sure to identify whether you are applying for a placard or plate by checking the appropriate box at the top. The individual with the disability must sign and date the application. If requesting a plate, complete Section D of the application. A disability plate may only be issued to a vehicle titled in the name of the individual with a disability or to a vehicle that has been leased to an individual with a disability.
• Have your doctor complete the Disability Certification Information section of the application. This section does not have to be completed if you are self-certifying.
• Visit your local MVA office (except Oakland) to receive your placard or plate in person. Or mail the completed form along with the appropriate fees to the MVA, Disability Unit, Room 202, 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, Maryland, 21062. Do not mail cash.
  Note:  Only full service MVA office locations issue disability plates.

[TOP]

My placard or plate was lost/stolen, how do I get another one?

• Report the lost/stolen placard or plate to the local law enforcement agency.
• Obtain the police report number from the local law enforcement agency.
• Fill out the application for “Maryland Parking Placards/License Plates for Individuals with a Disability” – form number VR-210. Include the police report number and the reporting jurisdiction. Visit your local MVA full-service to receive your substitute placard or plate, at any express office (except Oakland) for replacement placards, in person or mail the completed form along with the appropriate fees to the MVA, Disability Unit, Room 202, 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, Maryland, 21062. Do not mail cash.  Note:  The Oakland office does not issue placards.

[TOP]

Permanent Placard Renewals

• You will receive a renewal notice in the mail prior to the expiration of your placard.
• Renewal of a disability placard or plate is easier than ever, you simply verify the information on the renewal notice noting any change of address or mailing address.  Sign and date the application, then return it to the MVA, Disability Unit, Room 202, 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21062.

 [TOP]

What if I did not Receive a Renewal Notice?

If you do not receive a renewal notice please call MVA's Customer Service Center at:

• Call MVA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-950-1MVA(1682)
• Call MVA's Customer Service Center from out-of-state at 1-301-729-4550
• TTY for the hearing impaired:  1-800-492-4575
• Visit any MVA office (except Oakland) for a placard renewal notice and renew during your visit.
• Visit any MVA full service office for a disability plate renewal notice and renew during your visit.

Note:  Renewal notices automatically generate six weeks prior to the expiration date of the disability placard and/or plate.  Flagged records will not receive a renewal notice.  The flag must be cleared prior to renewal  When a renewal does not generate due to a flagging violation, a flag letter is sent alerting the individual that action must be taken to clear the violation prior to renewal.

[TOP]

Placard Validation Dates

A placard for persons with a disability is valid for four years. The temporary placard may be valid for anywhere from three weeks up to six months. Registration stickers must be applied to plates every two years.

[TOP]

Displaying the Placard and Plates

Placards must be hung on the inside rearview mirror. If the vehicle does not have an inside mirror, or the inside mirror is not visible from the rear, you may display the placard on top of the dashboard on the driver’s side.  Please make sure the placard side displayed shows the expiration date of the disability placard.

Note: You must remove all hanging placards from the rearview mirror while your vehicle is in motion.

You must always have your copy of the medical certification in your possession whenever you use the placard or plates. This certification must be presented to law enforcement upon request.

[TOP]

A Registration Plate May Be Issued To:

• Passenger vehicle
• Multi-purpose vehicle
• Trucks up to one ton
• Motorcycles
• School Buses
• Passenger buses

[TOP]

Return Placards and Plate When No Longer Required

If you no longer require the disability placard or plate issued to you, you must return them to the MVA immediately.

[TOP]

Veteran

The MVA will accept a letter from the Veterans Administration stating that you have a total (100%) disability to issue a disability license plate. You can choose a regular disability plate or a disabled veteran plate with the universal symbol.

[TOP]

Personalized Plates for People with Disabilities

The MVA issues personalized and amateur radio license plates with the universal wheelchair symbol for people with disabilities. Please contact the MVA’s Customer Service Center for more information.

[TOP]

Use with Rental Cars

You may use your disability placard wheneveryou rent a car in order to park in a disability parking space.  The individual with the disability must be in the vehicle when it is parked in the accessible parking space and they must have their disability certification card to present to any law enforcement officer upon request.

[TOP]

Penalties for Misuse of Parking Accommodations for People with Disabilities

Anyone committing fraud or misrepresenting themselves when applying for or using a parking placard for people with disabilities is subject to a fine of up to $500. If disability conditions are not met, the plate/placards may be revoked.

[TOP]