Indiana’s handicap parking laws let people with a qualifying disability get a placard or license plate from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, require the credential to be used only when the person with the disability is actually in the vehicle, and impose civil fines of at least $100 (or criminal penalties for fraudulent placards) on anyone who misuses a reserved accessible space. The rules come from Indiana Code 9-18.5-8 for placards and plates and Indiana Code 5-16-9 for how reserved spaces are enforced.
Who Qualifies for a Placard or Plate
A licensed Indiana healthcare provider has to certify one of these conditions before the BMV will issue a permanent placard:
- A permanent physical disability that requires a wheelchair, walker, braces, or crutches.
- Permanent loss of the use of one or both legs.
- A permanent and severe mobility limitation caused by a lung or heart condition, arthritis, or an orthopedic or neurological impairment.
- Permanent blindness or visual impairment, certified by an Indiana-licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist.
- Eligibility for, or issuance of, a disabled Hoosier veteran license plate.
Temporary placards cover the same categories when the condition is expected to improve rather than being permanent.1Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-18.5-8-4 – Permanent Parking Placard
The providers authorized to sign the certification are physicians (including military and VA medical officers), chiropractors, podiatrists, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants, each holding a valid and unrestricted Indiana license.1Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 9-18.5-8-4 – Permanent Parking Placard
Corporations, partnerships, and other entities authorized by the state to transport people with physical disabilities can also receive placards for their vehicles.
Types of Placards and Plates
Permanent Placards
A permanent placard has no fixed expiration date in Indiana. It stays valid until a healthcare provider certifies that the disability is no longer permanent. Drivers who moved from other states often assume there is a set renewal cycle; there isn’t one here.2Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Disability Parking Placards and Plates
Temporary Placards
A temporary placard expires on the date the healthcare provider writes on the application or one year from issuance, whichever comes first. The provider sets the expected recovery timeline, so the length varies by patient.2Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Disability Parking Placards and Plates
Disability License Plates
A disability license plate works as a built-in alternative to hanging a placard. Indiana issues them for passenger vehicles, trucks under 11,000 pounds declared gross weight, mini-trucks, and motorcycles. Because a plate is attached to the vehicle, it suits someone who always drives the same car; a placard, by contrast, moves between vehicles.
Company Placards
Placards issued to organizations that transport people with disabilities expire on January 1 of the fourth year after the year of issuance. If the company ceases operations, the placard is invalid immediately.2Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Disability Parking Placards and Plates
How to Apply
Fill out State Form 42070, the Application for Disability License Plate or Parking Placard. It has two parts: your personal information and a medical certification your healthcare provider completes and signs. The provider marks whether the disability is temporary or permanent and, for temporary cases, the expected duration.2Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Disability Parking Placards and Plates
You can hand the completed form in at any BMV branch or mail it to the address on the form. The BMV publishes a separate checklist with step-by-step mailing instructions and the enclosures you need to include.3Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Disability License Plate and Parking Placard Application Checklist
Fees are straightforward. A permanent placard is free. A temporary placard costs $5. Switching from your current plate to a disability license plate costs $9.50. Standard vehicle registration charges apply separately.3Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Disability License Plate and Parking Placard Application Checklist
If your placard is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, the BMV will issue a duplicate when you submit an application.
Rules for Using the Placard
When you park in a reserved accessible space, hang the placard on the dashboard. If the vehicle already carries a disability license plate or disabled veteran plate, you don’t need to display the placard separately.
Here is the rule that catches people off guard. Indiana law makes it an infraction to park in a reserved accessible space using a valid placard or plate when you are not actually transporting the person with the disability at that time.4Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 5-16-9-5 – State and Local Administration A spouse or adult child can’t borrow the placard to get a closer spot at the store while the qualifying person stays home. The placard follows the person, not the car.
Penalties for Violations
The penalty depends on what you did:
- Parking in a reserved accessible space without displaying a valid placard or plate is a Class C infraction.
- Knowingly parking in a reserved space while displaying a placard that neither you nor your passenger is entitled to use is a Class C infraction.
- Parking in a reserved space with a legitimate placard or plate but without actually transporting a person with a disability is a Class C infraction.
- Displaying a placard or plate that was never properly issued under Indiana law or another state’s law is a Class C misdemeanor, which is a criminal charge rather than a civil one.
For the infraction categories, Indiana sets a minimum civil judgment of $100, higher than the default minimum for other Class C infractions. The maximum is $500.4Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 5-16-9-5 – State and Local Administration
The Class C misdemeanor for a fraudulent placard carries up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. An infraction stays on the civil side of your record; a misdemeanor creates a criminal record.4Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 5-16-9-5 – State and Local Administration
Where the Rules Apply
Indiana’s accessible parking rules cover reserved spaces on both public and private property. The parking lot at a shopping center, restaurant, or medical office is not exempt, and law enforcement can issue citations in a private lot the same way they would on a public street.5Justia Law. Indiana Code 5-16-9 – Parking Facilities for Persons With Physical Disabilities
Indiana also allows trained volunteers to issue complaints and summonses for accessible parking violations, though on private property a volunteer needs the law enforcement agency to obtain permission from the property owner or manager first.5Justia Law. Indiana Code 5-16-9 – Parking Facilities for Persons With Physical Disabilities
A Note for Property Owners
The rules above govern drivers and placard holders. If you own or manage a lot, separate federal Americans with Disabilities Act standards set how many accessible spaces the lot must have, their dimensions, and the required signage.6ADA.gov. Accessible Parking Spaces Those design requirements sit outside Indiana’s placard and enforcement statutes.