How to Renew Your Handicap Placard in Florida

To renew a handicap placard in Florida, submit a completed Form HSMV 83039 with a fresh medical certification signed within the last 12 months, along with your Florida driver license or state ID. Permanent placards renew every four years on your birthday at no cost; temporary placards renew for up to six months and carry a $15 fee.¹

When to Renew

Permanent placards expire on your birthday every four years. FLHSMV mails a renewal notice before the expiration date, so watch for it as your birthday approaches in the expiration year.²

Temporary placards are valid for up to six months, with the exact duration set by your certifying authority based on how long your impairment is expected to last. If you still need a placard after that, you can apply for another temporary permit. As long as the new application is filed within 12 months of the original issue date, there is no additional fee.³

The Medical Certification Requirement

Every renewal in Florida requires a new medical certification. A certifying authority must complete and sign the physician’s section of Form HSMV 83039 within the 12 months before you submit your application. This applies to both permanent and temporary placards, and there is no exception for repeat renewals of the same condition.¹

Florida recognizes the following as certifying authorities:

Physicians licensed under Chapter 458 (medical), Chapter 459 (osteopathic), or Chapter 460 (chiropractic)
Podiatric physicians licensed under Chapter 461
Optometrists licensed under Chapter 463, for sight-related disabilities only
Advanced practice registered nurses licensed under Chapter 464, operating under a licensed physician’s protocol
Physician assistants licensed under Chapter 458 or Chapter 459
Out-of-state physicians with equivalent licensure, who must submit documentation of their license and confirm they know Florida’s eligibility guidelines

Whoever signs must include their license number and the state where the license was issued.¹

Filling Out Form HSMV 83039

The form is two-sided. You complete the front; your certifying authority completes the back. Download it from the FLHSMV website or pick one up at a motor vehicle service center.⁴

Enter your full legal name, mailing address, and Florida driver license or ID number exactly as they appear on your current ID. Sign the applicant section, then hand the form to your certifying authority so they can describe your qualifying condition, list their license number, and sign the reverse side.⁴

For a renewal, also include a copy of the registration for your expiring permit. If your disability makes it impossible to visit an office to get a Florida driver license or ID card, the certifying authority can note that on the form and the ID requirement is waived.⁴

If You Travel Frequently

Applicants certified as quadriplegic, or who travel often by plane, train, bus, or boat, can request a secondary permit so one placard stays with the vehicle at home while the other travels with them. Indicate frequent-traveler status on Form HSMV 83039. The secondary permit expires on the same date as the primary, regardless of when it was issued. Temporary placards do not qualify for a secondary permit.²³

Veterans With Service-Connected Disabilities

Veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the Armed Forces as permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability can skip the standard medical certification. Instead, submit a VA Form Letter 27-333 (or its equivalent) issued within the last 12 months with the renewal application.²

Where to Submit and What It Costs

You can bring the completed form and supporting documents to an FLHSMV motor vehicle service center. Many county tax collector offices also process placard applications; call your local office first to confirm. Applying in person typically means you leave with the new placard the same day.¹

Mail submissions go to the address listed on the FLHSMV website. Processing times vary with application volume, so keep a copy of everything you send, along with any payment receipt.

Renewing a permanent placard is free. A temporary placard renewal costs $15, payable by cash, check, or money order depending on the office.³

Whenever you use the placard, keep your Florida driver license or state ID with you. The placard alone is not enough, and officers can ask to see both.¹

Lost or Stolen Placards Use a Different Form

If your placard was lost, destroyed, or stolen before you could renew, replacement is a separate process. Use Form HSMV 83146 rather than the renewal form, and submit it to your county tax collector’s office or license plate agency. The replacement fee is $1, waived if you provide a police report for a stolen placard. Placards lost in the mail can be replaced free of charge if you apply within 180 days of the original issue date.⁵⁶

1
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Disabled Person Parking Permits
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Permanent Disabled Person Parking Permits
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Temporary Disabled Person Parking Permits
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Application for Disabled Person Parking Permit HSMV 83039
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Application for Replacement License Plate, Validation Decal, or Parking Permit HSMV 83146
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Florida Senate. Florida Code 320.0848 – Persons Who Have Disabilities; Issuance of Disabled Parking Permits