How to Apply for an Illinois Disability Placard: Form VSD 62 and Submission

To apply for an Illinois disability parking placard, complete Form VSD 62 (the Persons with Disabilities Certification for Parking Placard), have a licensed medical professional certify your qualifying condition on the back, and submit the form to the Illinois Secretary of State by mail or in person. There is no fee for the initial placard, and most applicants receive theirs in the mail within about two weeks.

Confirm You Qualify

Illinois law ties eligibility to specific physical conditions rather than a general assessment of need. You qualify if any one of the following applies:¹

You cannot walk without a wheelchair, walker, cane, crutch, brace, prosthetic, or help from another person.
Your forced expiratory volume measures less than one liter, or your resting arterial oxygen is below 60 mm/Hg on room air.
You use a portable oxygen device.
You have a Class III or Class IV cardiac condition under American Heart Association standards.
You have an arthritic, neurological, oncological, or orthopedic condition that severely limits walking.
You cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest because of a listed condition.
You are missing a hand or arm, or have permanently lost the use of one.

Legal blindness with limited mobility is also listed as a qualifying condition on the application form itself.²

Pick the Right Placard Type Before You Apply

You and your medical professional will indicate on Form VSD 62 whether your condition is permanent or temporary, so decide which placard fits your situation before the appointment.

Permanent Placard (Blue)

A permanent placard is for conditions not expected to improve. It is valid for four years from the date the medical professional signs the form. The blue placard lets you park in any designated accessible space, but it does not exempt you from parking meter fees or time-limited parking.²

Temporary Placard (Red)

A temporary placard covers conditions expected to improve, such as recovery from surgery or a broken leg. The Secretary of State issues it for up to six months from the physician’s signature date. Some local townships can also issue temporary placards valid for up to 90 days while a permanent application is processed.²

Meter-Exempt Placard (Yellow and Gray Stripes)

If you also need exemption from meter fees and time limits, you must separately qualify for a meter-exempt placard. Even vehicles with disability license plates must display the meter-exempt placard to avoid meter charges. The exemption does not apply to meters or signs with time limits of 30 minutes or less.

Complete Form VSD 62

Form VSD 62 is the Persons with Disabilities Certification for Parking Placard. You can download it from the Secretary of State’s website or pick one up at any Driver Services facility.³

Your Section

Fill out the first part with your full legal name, home address, and date of birth. Make sure everything matches your Illinois driver’s license or state ID. Check the box indicating whether this is a new application or a renewal.

Medical Professional’s Section

The back of the form must be completed by a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, physical therapist, optometrist, or chiropractor.² Optometrists certify vision-related disabilities, and chiropractors are generally limited to conditions affecting the lower extremities. The professional must be licensed in Illinois or a bordering state.

Your medical professional needs to check the specific qualifying condition, indicate whether the disability is permanent or temporary, sign the form, and provide their state professional license number (not an NPI number), office address, and the date. An unsigned form or a missing license number will get your application rejected. Review it before you leave the appointment.

Submit the Application

You have two options for submitting the completed VSD 62:

By mail: Secretary of State, Persons with Disabilities Placard Unit, 501 S. 2nd St., Room 541, Springfield, IL 62756.²
In person: walk-in applications for permanent placards can be processed at the Flagship Center, 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62723.²

There is no fee for the initial issuance of either a permanent or temporary placard. If you also request disability license plates, standard registration fees apply. After the state receives your application, expect your placard to arrive by mail in roughly two weeks.

Plan Ahead for Renewal

A permanent placard expires four years after the medical professional’s signature date, and a temporary placard expires at the end of its approved period (up to six months). There is no automatic renewal, and the Secretary of State will not extend an expired placard while a new application is pending, so start the renewal well before your expiration date.³

For renewals of permanent or meter-exempt placards, Illinois offers an electronic option. Your medical professional logs in to the Secretary of State’s website using their Illinois license number, last name, and the last four digits of their Social Security number, then enters your placard number and PIN from the renewal letter the state mails you, verifies your information, and submits the certification online. The electronic process is not available for new applications, temporary placards, or changes in placard type.

If your placard is lost, stolen, or damaged, file Form VSD 415 with the Secretary of State. The replacement fee is $10, waived for applicants who qualify under the Circuit Breaker program, and a stolen placard requires a police report. The replacement keeps the same expiration date as the original.⁴

1
FindLaw. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5 1-159.1 – Person With Disabilities
2
Illinois Secretary of State. Persons with Disabilities Certification for Parking Placard
3
Illinois Secretary of State. Guide to the Parking Program for Persons With Disabilities
4
Illinois Secretary of State. Application for Replacement Disability Parking Placard