Maryland Handicap Placard: Eligibility, Form VR-210, and Fees

To get a Maryland handicap placard, fill out MVA Form VR-210, have a licensed medical professional certify that you meet one of the state’s qualifying conditions, and submit the completed form online, by mail, or at an MVA branch office. The placard is free. Permanent placards do not expire, and temporary placards last up to six months.

Who Qualifies

Maryland law lists nine qualifying conditions. You may be eligible if you cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest, cannot walk without an assistive device such as a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic, or help from another person, or you require a wheelchair for mobility. You also qualify if you have lost a hand, arm, foot, or leg, or have permanently lost the use of one; if you are legally blind (central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with corrective lenses, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less); if you have severe lung disease meeting specific clinical thresholds; or if you have Class III or Class IV cardiovascular disease under American Heart Association standards.¹

There is also a catch-all category for any other permanent disability that significantly affects your ability to walk and would cause hardship or risk of injury without accessible parking. Conditions like severe arthritis, neurological disorders, and orthopedic impairments can qualify under this provision even though they are not named individually.¹

A licensed physician, physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, chiropractor, optometrist, podiatrist, or physical therapist must certify your condition on the form. One exception: if you have lost a hand, arm, foot, or leg, you can self-certify that condition.²

Permanent, Temporary, or Plates

Permanent placards are blue and are for conditions that will not improve. A permanent placard in Maryland does not expire after a set number of years. It remains valid until the death of the holder, with no renewal or re-certification required.³ If you have seen other states require renewal every few years, that rule does not apply here.

Temporary placards are red and cover conditions expected to improve, such as recovery from surgery or a serious injury. Your medical professional sets the length, up to a maximum of six months. If recovery takes longer, you can apply for one additional six-month extension with a new certification.⁴

Instead of a hanging placard, you can request special disability registration plates on the same form. Plates give the same parking privileges but stay with one vehicle, while a placard moves with you between any cars you ride in.⁵

Filling Out Form VR-210

The application is MVA Form VR-210, “Application for Maryland Parking Placards/License Plates.” Download it from the MVA website or pick one up at any MVA branch.⁵

At the top of the form, check whether you want a placard, disability plates, or both. Section A asks for your full name, date of birth, driver’s license or state ID number, phone number, email, and home address. Sign and date that section yourself.³

Your medical provider completes the certification section, checking which qualifying condition applies, indicating whether the disability is permanent or temporary, and signing with their license number. For a temporary placard, they also specify how long you will need it.

How to Submit

Maryland gives you three ways to submit the application.

The MVA’s online portal is the fastest. Your physician can start the certification directly through the portal with no paper form at all. You can also fill out the paper VR-210, have your doctor complete the certification, then scan and upload it through the portal.⁶ This is what the MVA recommends.

By mail, send the completed form to: Motor Vehicle Administration, Disability Unit, 6601 Ritchie Highway N.E., Glen Burnie, Maryland 21062. Your placard will arrive by mail once approved.³

In person, you can bring the form to any MVA branch except the Oakland office, which does not process placard applications.⁷ If someone else is dropping it off for you, that person must show a state-issued ID.³

What It Costs

Nothing. Maryland issues permanent placards, temporary placards, and replacements at no charge.⁸

Replacing a Lost or Damaged Placard

If your placard is lost, stolen, or damaged, complete just Section A of Form VR-210 for a free replacement. No new medical certification is needed, and you can submit the form online, by mail, or in person like a new application.³

When You Have to Return It

Temporary placards must be returned to the MVA within five calendar days after they expire.⁴ If you no longer need a permanent placard or disability plates for any reason, you must return them to the MVA immediately. When a placard holder passes away, family members should return the placard so it cannot be misused.⁵

Using It Correctly

The placard belongs to you, not to a specific vehicle. Move it between any car, van, or truck you are riding in, whether you own it or not. Hang it from the rearview mirror only when parked in an accessible space, and take it down before driving.⁵

Using someone else’s placard when the person it was issued to is not with you is illegal. Maryland law prohibits fraud or misrepresentation in applying for or using disability parking, and the MVA can revoke the registration if eligibility requirements are not met.¹ A driver using disability plates or a placard must either have a qualifying disability or be transporting someone who does.

1
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 13-616 – Special Registration for Vehicles Owned by Individuals With Disabilities
2
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 13-616.1 – Parking Permit for a Person With a Disability
3
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Application for Maryland Parking Placards/License Plates
4
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 13-616.2 – Temporary Parking Permit
5
Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Maryland Motorists with Disabilities
6
Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Disability Parking
7
Maryland Department of Disabilities. Frequently Asked Questions
8
Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. MVA Fee Listing