To get a handicap placard in SC, fill out SCDMV Form RG-007A, have a qualifying medical provider complete the certification section, and submit it with a $1 fee to any SCDMV branch or by mail to the Blythewood registration office. Once approved, the placard is mailed to your address, usually within five to ten business days.1South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. People with Disabilities
Do You Qualify
South Carolina law lists the specific conditions that make you eligible. You need at least one of them:
- You cannot walk 100 feet without stopping because of a medical condition, including increased pain.
- You cannot walk without a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or help from another person.
- You have severe lung disease, defined as a forced expiratory volume in one second below one liter (measured by spirometry) or an arterial oxygen tension below 60 mm/Hg on room air at rest.
- You depend on portable oxygen.
- You have a cardiac condition classified as Class III or IV under American Heart Association standards. If the condition improves after surgery or a transplant, you no longer qualify under this category.
- You have a neurological, arthritic, or orthopedic condition such as Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis that substantially limits your ability to walk.
- You are blind.2South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 56-3-1910 – License Plates for Handicapped Persons; Certification Forms; Duplication or Forgery
The walking threshold in the statute is 100 feet. Older guides sometimes cite 200 feet; that figure is wrong.
Choose the Right Placard or Plate
South Carolina issues three options for individuals, and which one you request on the form depends on how long your condition will last.
A permanent placard is blue, valid for up to four years, and renews on your birthday.3South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 56-3-1960 – Temporary and Permanent Parking Placards; Illegal Duplication or Forgery A temporary placard is for a qualifying condition expected to last at least four months, with the expiration date printed on the placard itself. A disability license plate is available to permanently disabled vehicle owners and gives the same parking privileges as the hanging placard, but stays attached to the vehicle.
You are limited to one placard per person.
Fill Out Form RG-007A
The form is called “Application for Placard and/or License Plate for People who have a Disability.” Download it from the SCDMV website or pick one up at any branch.1South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. People with Disabilities
You complete the top portion: full legal name, residential address, and your South Carolina driver’s license or ID number. In the transaction section, check whether this is an original, renewal, or replacement.
Your medical provider completes the certification section. The provider must be a licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, which includes nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, and certified registered nurse anesthetists. The provider identifies your specific disability and marks whether it is permanent or temporary.4South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. SCDMV Form RG-007A
Get the medical section signed before you send the form in or take it to a branch. An application without the certification will not be processed.
Submit the Form and Pay the Fee
The fee is $1, whether this is your first placard, a renewal, or a replacement. You have two ways to submit.
In Person
Take the completed form and $1 to any SCDMV branch. Branches accept cash, checks, and credit cards. The placard is not handed to you at the counter. After approval, it is mailed to your registered address within five to ten business days.1South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. People with Disabilities
By Mail
Send the completed application with a check or money order for $1 payable to SCDMV to:
SCDMV
Registration
PO Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016-00191South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. People with Disabilities
Mail takes longer than an in-person visit because of postal transit each direction. Keep a copy of the completed form until the placard arrives.
Using the Placard Legally
The placard can only be displayed when the person named on the registration certificate is driving or riding in the vehicle. Lending it to a family member so they can park closer while running your errands is illegal, and the same rule applies to disability license plates.3South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 56-3-1960 – Temporary and Permanent Parking Placards; Illegal Duplication or Forgery
Each placard comes with a registration certificate. Keep it in the vehicle whenever the placard is being used, in case an officer asks to see it. Misuse is a misdemeanor with fines starting at $500, so this is not a rule to treat casually.5South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 56-3-1970 – Unlawful Acts; Penalties; Summary Court Jurisdiction
Renewal and Replacement
Permanent placards expire after four years and renew on your birthday. Holders of permanent placards can renew online through the SCDMV website, which is the fastest route; in person and by mail work the same way as the original application, with the “Renewal” box checked and a fresh medical certification.1South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. People with Disabilities Do not keep parking in designated spaces with an expired placard; enforcement treats it the same as having no placard at all.
If your placard is lost, stolen, or destroyed, use the same Form RG-007A and check the “Replacement” box. The replacement fee is also $1, submitted at a branch or by mail.4South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. SCDMV Form RG-007A