To apply for a handicap parking placard or plate in Alabama, download Form MVR 32-6-230 from the Alabama Department of Revenue website or pick it up at your county licensing office, have a licensed physician, certified registered nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife complete the medical certification, and bring the finished form to your county Probate Judge or License Commissioner. Placards are free. The whole process is handled at the county level.
Who Qualifies
Alabama ties eligibility to one question: does your condition limit your ability to walk? Your certifier must confirm that at least one of the following applies to you:1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 32, Chapter 6, Article 2, Division 10, Section 32-6-230 – Definitions
- You cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.
- You cannot walk without a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or help from another person.
- Your forced respiratory expiratory volume for one second is less than one liter, or your arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
- You use portable oxygen.
- Your cardiac condition is classified as Class III or Class IV under American Heart Association standards.
- You are severely limited in your ability to walk due to an orthopedic, neurological, or arthritic condition.
The same criteria apply whether the disability is long-term or temporary. A temporary disability is one expected to last no more than six months.
What’s on the Form
MVR 32-6-230 has two parts. The applicant section asks for your full legal name, your driver’s license or non-driver ID number, the issuing state, and the ID’s expiration date. If an organization that transports individuals with disabilities is applying, it supplies a Federal Employer Identification Number in place of a personal ID. The form does not ask for a Social Security number.2Alabama Department of Revenue. MVR 32-6-230 – Application for Disability Access Parking Credentials
The medical certification section must be filled out by a licensed physician, certified registered nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife. The provider checks the qualifying condition, marks the disability as permanent or temporary, and signs with their medical license number. They affirm these statements under penalty of perjury, so plan the appointment with enough time for them to read and complete the form carefully.
One wording detail worth knowing: Alabama’s statute defines “licensed physician” as a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy, while the form itself expands the pool of eligible certifiers to include nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 32, Chapter 6, Article 2, Division 10, Section 32-6-230 – Definitions
Where to File and What to Bring
Take the completed form to your local county licensing official. In some counties that’s the Probate Judge’s office; in others it’s the License Commissioner. Bring a valid state-issued ID or driver’s license so staff can match it against your application.
The licensing official reviews the form to confirm it has been properly completed. If something is missing or unclear, they may send you back for corrections before processing. Placards are typically issued on the spot once the application is approved.3Alabama Administrative Code. Alabama Administrative Code 810-5-1-.225 – Disability Access Parking Credentials
Which Credential You’ll Receive
Alabama issues three types of credentials. What you get depends on what the medical certification shows and what you ask for.
Permanent Removable Windshield Placard
If your disability is long-term, you qualify for a removable windshield placard valid for five years. Applicants with permanent disabilities can receive up to two placards per person, or one placard and one license plate decal. The placard hangs from the rearview mirror while parked and must be removed while driving.3Alabama Administrative Code. Alabama Administrative Code 810-5-1-.225 – Disability Access Parking Credentials
Temporary Removable Windshield Placard
If you’re recovering from surgery, healing from an injury, or dealing with a short-term condition that limits your ability to walk, you can get a temporary placard. Temporary placards are valid for up to six months and cannot be renewed beyond that period. If the condition turns out to be permanent, you’ll need to file a fresh application with new medical certification.2Alabama Department of Revenue. MVR 32-6-230 – Application for Disability Access Parking Credentials
Disability Access License Plate Decal
Instead of a placard, or in addition to one, you can apply for a disability access license plate decal that stays on the vehicle. The upside is that you don’t have to remember to hang or remove anything. The tradeoff is that the credential stays with the car, not with you, so it only helps when you’re driving that specific vehicle. Organizations that transport individuals with disabilities are also eligible for plate decals.
Cost
Alabama does not charge a fee for permanent or temporary removable windshield placards. Disability access license plate decals are subject to standard vehicle registration fees as provided by law.3Alabama Administrative Code. Alabama Administrative Code 810-5-1-.225 – Disability Access Parking Credentials
Renewal
Permanent placards and disability license plates follow a five-year renewal cycle. When your renewal comes up, visit the county licensing office during your designated renewal month. Alabama began enforcing scheduled renewal months in January 2012, so your renewal timing is tied to when your credential was originally issued.4Madison County, AL. Disability Access Parking Information
Temporary placards do not renew. They expire at the end of the six-month period listed on the medical certification. If a qualifying condition continues past that window, start a new application with updated medical documentation.