Illinois Handicap Placard Form VSD 62: Eligibility and How to Apply

To apply for an Illinois disability parking placard, you use Form VSD 62 from the Secretary of State. The form handles permanent placards, temporary placards, and organizational permits on a single document. You fill out your personal information, a qualifying medical professional certifies your condition, and you submit the completed form by mail or at a Driver Services facility depending on the placard type.¹

Who Qualifies

Illinois law defines a “person with disabilities” for parking purposes under 625 ILCS 5/1-159.1. A licensed medical professional must determine that you meet at least one of these conditions:²

You cannot walk without a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or help from another person.
Your forced expiratory volume (FEV1) measured by spirometry is less than one liter, or your arterial oxygen at rest is below 60 mm/Hg on room air.
You rely on a portable oxygen device.
Your heart condition is Class III or Class IV under American Heart Association standards.
An arthritic, neurological, oncological, or orthopedic condition severely limits your ability to walk.
You cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest because of any of the conditions above.
You are missing a hand or arm or have permanently lost the use of one.

You don’t need a driver’s license or a vehicle registered in your name to receive a placard. The Secretary of State can issue one to anyone with a valid Illinois ID card who meets the definition.³

Where to Get the Form

Download the PDF directly from the Illinois Secretary of State’s website and print it at home.¹ Any Secretary of State Driver Services office will also hand you a paper copy. Staff can answer basic questions about the form, but they can’t provide the medical certification you’ll need.

One note before you start: if you’re replacing a placard that was lost, stolen, or damaged, VSD 62 is the wrong form. You need Form VSD 415 instead, and the replacement fee is $10.⁴ A replacement doesn’t require a new medical certification.

Filling Out the Form

Your Personal Information

The first section asks for your full legal name, Illinois home address, and date of birth. You also need a valid Illinois driver’s license or state ID card number.¹ An out-of-state license won’t work. If you recently moved to Illinois and haven’t obtained your state ID yet, take care of that first.

Medical Professional Certification

This is where most rejections happen. A licensed medical professional checks the box identifying your qualifying condition and signs the form with their state professional license number. The form specifically asks for a state license number, not an NPI number.¹

Under Illinois law, a licensed physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or physical therapist can complete this section.³ A licensed optometrist can certify a visual disability, and a chiropractor may also sign.¹ The medical professional must also mark whether your disability is permanent or temporary.

Permanent and Temporary Placards

The medical professional’s determination of your disability duration controls which type of placard you receive. Permanent placards (blue) are issued for long-term or lifelong conditions and are valid until the expiration date printed on the placard. When they expire, you must submit a new application with fresh medical certification to receive a replacement.⁵ Permanent placards do not exempt you from parking meter fees or time limits.

Temporary placards (red) are for conditions expected to improve. A temporary placard issued by the Secretary of State lasts up to six months from the date of certification.¹ Some municipalities also issue temporary placards, but those are limited to 90 days.⁶

Where to Submit It

Where you send the form depends on the placard type. Temporary placard applications can be taken to any Secretary of State Driver Services office or mailed in. Permanent placard applications must be mailed to:¹

Secretary of State
Persons with Disabilities Placard Unit
501 S. 2nd St., Room 541
Springfield, IL 62756

Processing and mailing typically takes two to four weeks after the Secretary of State’s office receives your application. The approved placard arrives by mail at the address on your application.⁴ If you visit a Driver Services office for a temporary placard, staff can review the form on the spot, which sometimes moves faster than mailing it.

Penalties for False Applications and Misuse

The form itself warns that making a false application or misusing a placard can result in revocation of the placard, a 12-month suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and a fine of up to $1,000. A medical professional who falsely certifies a disability can face suspension or revocation of their professional license along with a fine of up to $1,000.¹

Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1301.5, specific misuse offenses carry criminal charges. Using a deceased person’s placard, altering a placard, possessing a fake or stolen placard, and manufacturing or selling fraudulent placards are Class A misdemeanors on a first offense with a minimum $1,000 fine. A second offense escalates to a Class 4 felony with a minimum $2,000 fine.⁶

1
Illinois Secretary of State. Persons with Disabilities Certification for Parking Placard
2
Illinois General Assembly. 625 ILCS 5/1-159.1 – Person with Disabilities
3
Illinois General Assembly. 625 ILCS 5/3-616
4
Illinois Secretary of State. Persons with Disabilities Parking Program FAQ
5
Illinois Secretary of State. Guide to the Parking Program for Persons With Disabilities
6
Secretary of State. Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities Law Enforcement Guide