Handicapped Placard in PA: Qualifying, Applying, and Renewing

To get a handicapped placard in PA, complete PennDOT Form MV-145A, have a licensed healthcare provider certify your qualifying condition on the same form, and submit it to PennDOT. There is no fee. The placard belongs to you as a person, not to a vehicle, so you can use it in any car you drive or ride in.

Who Qualifies

Under 75 Pa. C.S. § 1338, you qualify if you meet any one of the following:

Blindness
You lack full use of one or both arms
You cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
You need a brace, cane, crutch, wheelchair, prosthetic device, or another person’s assistance to walk
Lung disease where your forced expiratory volume for one second is less than one liter (measured by spirometry), or your arterial oxygen tension is below 60 mm/Hg at rest on room air
You use portable oxygen
A heart condition classified as Class III or IV under American Heart Association standards
An arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition that severely limits your ability to walk¹

A parent (including adoptive or foster), legal guardian, or spouse can apply on behalf of someone who qualifies. The qualifying person must be in the vehicle whenever the placard is used for parking.¹

The Three Placard Types

Pennsylvania issues three placards, all with the same parking privileges. What differs is how long they last and the certification you need.

Permanent placard, valid for five years, issued when a provider certifies your condition as permanent or long-term.
Temporary placard, valid for up to six months, for recoverable conditions like post-surgical rehabilitation or a broken leg.
Severely Disabled Veteran placard, for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability.

The veteran placard requires certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office Administrator in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, or from the service unit where the veteran served. Veterans can also self-certify with a legible copy of a VA letter showing a 100% service-connected disability.²

How to Apply

The application is Form MV-145A, “Person with Disability Parking Placard Application.” You fill in your personal information (name, date of birth, driver’s license or state ID number), and a healthcare provider completes the medical certification section on the same form.³

Eligible providers are physicians, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse practitioners licensed in Pennsylvania or a neighboring state (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, or Ohio). The provider can only certify disabilities within their scope of practice.²

Cost

There is no fee for any disability placard in Pennsylvania. Permanent, temporary, and replacement placards are all free.⁴

Where to Submit

You have three options:

By mail to the PennDOT Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Harrisburg. The address is printed on the form.
In person at PennDOT’s Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg. You leave with your placard and a temporary ID card, and the permanent wallet ID card arrives by mail.⁵
Through an authorized PennDOT messenger service, which will charge its own convenience fee on top of PennDOT’s zero charge.

PennDOT does not publish a guaranteed turnaround for mailed applications, so the Riverfront Office Center visit is the fastest route if you need the placard soon.

Using the Placard

Because the placard belongs to you and not to a vehicle, you can use it in any car you drive or ride in. You must be either the driver or a passenger whenever the placard is displayed for parking. Handing it to a family member to run errands while you stay home is illegal.

Hang the placard from the rearview mirror in a parked disability space so it is visible from the front and rear. If the vehicle has no rearview mirror, set it on the dashboard. Take it down before driving, because Pennsylvania law prohibits hanging objects from the mirror that obstruct the driver’s view while the vehicle is in motion.¹

PennDOT mails a wallet-size ID card with every permanent placard. Carry it as proof of authorization if law enforcement questions your use of a disability space.⁵

When a vehicle displaying a valid placard is being driven by or for the transportation of the qualifying person, the driver gets up to 60 extra minutes beyond the posted time limit at metered or time-restricted street parking. This does not apply during rush-hour restrictions where local ordinances override it.⁶

Renewing or Replacing

Permanent placards last five years. About 60 days before yours expires, PennDOT mails a renewal form. If it does not arrive, fill out a fresh MV-145A and submit it the same way you did the first time.⁵

Renewals, replacements, and address changes can also be handled through PennDOT’s online placard portal. Online is the quickest path if your placard is lost or stolen.⁵

Replacement placards are free. Complete Form MV-145A and check the replacement box. No new medical certification is required to replace a current, unexpired placard.⁷

Penalties for Misuse

Placard misuse is a summary offense in Pennsylvania, and two statutes can apply to the same incident.

Under § 1338, any violation of the placard rules, including using someone else’s placard or failing to display it properly, carries a fine of up to $100.¹

Under § 3354, using disability parking privileges when the qualifying person is not in the vehicle is a separate summary offense, with a fine between $50 and $200 plus a mandatory $50 surcharge. Parking in a disability-reserved space without any valid placard or plate falls under the same fine range and surcharge.⁶

Traveling Out of State

Pennsylvania disability placards and registration plates are recognized in all 50 states, so you do not need a separate permit when traveling. Local rules on metered parking vary, so check signage in unfamiliar cities.²

1
Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 75 1338 – Person with Disability Plate and Placard
2
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Persons with Disabilities Parking Placard and Registration Plate Eligibility Requirements
3
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application
4
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Payments and Fees
5
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for or Renew a Persons with Disability Parking Placard
6
Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 75 Chapter 33 – Rules of the Road
7
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Persons with Disability/Severely Disabled Veteran Placards/Plates and Disabled Veteran Plates Frequently Asked Questions