Utah Form TC-842 is the disability certification application you submit to the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles to receive a disabled person license plate or parking placard. The form has three sections: your personal information, an optional certification for care facilities, and a disability certification that your medical provider completes. Once Sections 1 and 3 are signed, you can bring the form to any Utah DMV office or mail it to the Motor Vehicle Division in Salt Lake City.
Who Qualifies
Utah bases eligibility on functional limitations rather than a specific diagnosis. Your medical provider certifies on the form that you meet at least one of these conditions:1Utah State Tax Commission. Utah Form TC-842 – Disability Certification
- 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.
- You have lung disease with forced expiratory volume under one liter per second (by spirometry), or arterial oxygen tension below 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
- You depend on portable oxygen.
- You have a Class III or Class IV cardiac condition under American Heart Association standards.
- You have an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition that severely limits walking.
The provider also marks whether the disability is permanent or temporary. A temporary condition qualifies only for a temporary placard, which is valid for up to six months and cannot be renewed, though you can submit a new TC-842 with fresh certification if the condition continues.2Utah Division of Motor Vehicles. Disabled Plates and Placards
Plate, Placard, or Both
Decide what you want before you submit, because the form covers both. Disabled plates stay with a vehicle and can go on as many vehicles as you own, but they only help when you are in that particular car. A placard hangs from the rearview mirror of whatever vehicle is transporting you, so it travels with you. If you have at least one disabled plate, you qualify for one placard; without any plates, you can get up to two.
Paper placards are free. Durable-material placards cost $2.50 each, with a two-placard limit. Permanent placards issued after July 1, 2024, do not expire.2Utah Division of Motor Vehicles. Disabled Plates and Placards
Filling Out the Form
Download the current version from the Utah State Tax Commission at files.tax.utah.gov. Most individual applicants only need Sections 1 and 3.
Section 1: Your Information
Enter your full legal name, date of birth, mailing address, and driver license number, then sign the authorization that lets your medical provider release disability-related information to the DMV. If someone else is completing the form on your behalf, their name and relationship to you go in this section as well.1Utah State Tax Commission. Utah Form TC-842 – Disability Certification
Section 2: Care Facility Certification
Skip this if you are applying for yourself. Section 2 is only for organizations that routinely transport people with disabilities, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and transit services. An authorized representative certifies that the facility is seeking plates or placards primarily to transport qualifying individuals in its care.1Utah State Tax Commission. Utah Form TC-842 – Disability Certification
Section 3: Medical Provider Certification
You do not fill out Section 3 yourself. Bring the form to a doctor, physician assistant, physical therapist, or nurse practitioner. The provider checks the qualifying condition, marks the disability as permanent or temporary, writes the expected end date for a temporary condition (no more than six months out), and signs with their printed name, license number, and date.1Utah State Tax Commission. Utah Form TC-842 – Disability Certification
One practical note: some clinics prefer to see the form before your appointment so they can confirm the clinical thresholds (the spirometry numbers and cardiac classification, for example). Dropping off a blank form or faxing it ahead often saves a second visit.
Submitting the Form
With Sections 1 and 3 completed and signed, you have three ways to turn it in:
- In person at any Utah DMV office. In most cases you walk out with a paper placard the same day. Plates are mailed separately.
- By regular mail to Motor Vehicle Division (DMV) Mail and Correspondence, PO Box 30412, Salt Lake City, UT 84130.
- By certified mail or courier (FedEx, UPS) to the physical address: Utah State Tax Commission, Motor Vehicle Division (DMV), Vehicle Compliance Services, 210 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84116.
If you want a disabled plate, you can also start the order through the Utah Motor Vehicle Portal at mvp.tax.utah.gov, but you still need to submit the completed TC-842 as supporting documentation.3Utah Division of Motor Vehicles. Disabled Person Plate Mailed plate orders can be tracked with the License Plate Status tool on the DMV website.2Utah Division of Motor Vehicles. Disabled Plates and Placards
Replacing or Renewing
Paper placards, temporary or permanent, are replaced at no charge. Durable permanent placards cost $2.50 to replace. You can request a replacement at any DMV office, by email to dmv@utah.gov, or by written request to the PO Box 30412 address, with a check payable to the Utah State Tax Commission for durable placards.2Utah Division of Motor Vehicles. Disabled Plates and Placards
Replacing a permanent placard does not require a new medical certification. You only need a fresh TC-842 with a new provider signature when you are applying for a new temporary placard after a previous one has expired.
One boundary worth knowing before you park: the plate or placard may only be used when the qualifying person is actually in the vehicle. Using it otherwise is a class C misdemeanor and can lead the DMV to revoke the credential.4Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-1a-4145Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-1a-1306