To apply for a Pennsylvania disability parking placard, use Form MV-145A from PennDOT. Download it from the Driver and Vehicle Services website or pick up a paper copy at any regional Driver and Vehicle Services Center, complete your portion, have a healthcare provider certify your qualifying condition, and submit the form by mail or in person.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for or Renew a Persons with Disability Parking Placard The placard is free.
Do You Qualify
Pennsylvania law lists specific conditions that qualify you for a placard. You only need to meet one. Under 75 Pa. C.S. ยง 1338, the qualifying conditions are:2Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 75 – Section 1338
- Blindness
- You do not have full use of one or both arms
- You cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
- You cannot walk without a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or another person’s help
- Forced expiratory volume less than one liter per second, or arterial oxygen tension below 60 mm/Hg on room air at rest
- You use portable oxygen
- Cardiac functional limitations classified as Class III or Class IV under American Heart Association standards
- An arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition that severely limits your ability to walk
Parents, foster parents, legal guardians, and spouses who have custody or care of a person meeting any of these criteria can also apply on that person’s behalf.3Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Persons with Disabilities Parking Placards and Registration Plates – Section: Eligibility Requirements
How to Fill Out Form MV-145A
Section A: Your Information
Enter your name, address, date of birth, and either your Pennsylvania driver’s license number or state-issued photo ID number. The name and address must match what PennDOT has on file.4Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application – Form MV-145A Check the box for the type of placard you need: permanent, temporary, or replacement.
Section B: Healthcare Provider Certification
A healthcare provider identifies which qualifying condition applies, signs to certify the diagnosis, and includes their medical license number. Pennsylvania accepts certification from physicians, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse practitioners, each within their scope of practice.3Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Persons with Disabilities Parking Placards and Registration Plates – Section: Eligibility Requirements A podiatrist can certify a foot or ankle condition, for example, but not a cardiac issue.
The provider does not have to be licensed in Pennsylvania. Providers licensed in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, or Ohio can also sign the form.4Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application – Form MV-145A
Section C: Police Officer Certification
A police officer can certify your condition in place of a healthcare provider, but only for two situations: blindness, or not having full use of one or both legs.4Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application – Form MV-145A For any other qualifying condition, you need a provider signature in Section B. If Section B is filled in, skip Section C.
Signature
Sign and date the form. That completes the application for most individual applicants.
Which Placard to Request
Pennsylvania issues three types, and Form MV-145A covers all of them.
A permanent placard is for long-term or lifelong conditions. It lasts five years, and PennDOT mails a renewal form about 60 days before it expires.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for or Renew a Persons with Disability Parking Placard
A temporary placard covers conditions expected to improve, such as recovery from surgery or a serious fracture. It can be issued for up to six months and cannot be extended. If you still need one after it expires, submit a brand-new application with a fresh healthcare provider certification.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for or Renew a Persons with Disability Parking Placard
A severely disabled veteran placard is available to veterans with a 100% service-connected disability. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh can certify your disability, or you can self-certify by attaching a legible copy of your Letter of Promulgation, Awards Letter, Single Notification Letter, or Summary of Benefits Letter showing a 100% service-connected rating.5Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Persons with Disabilities Parking Placards and Registration Plates
Where to Send the Form
Mail the completed form to:
PennDOT
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 68268
Harrisburg, PA 17106-82681Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for or Renew a Persons with Disability Parking Placard
If you need the placard right away, bring the completed form to PennDOT’s Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg. You will receive a permanent placard on the spot, along with a temporary wallet-size ID card to use until the permanent ID arrives in the mail.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for or Renew a Persons with Disability Parking Placard
There is no fee for the placard, permanent or temporary.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for or Renew a Persons with Disability Parking Placard For a lost or stolen placard, use the same MV-145A, check the replacement box, and include your previous placard number.
Renewing a Permanent Placard
About 60 days before your permanent placard expires, PennDOT mails a renewal form to the address on file. You can also renew online or update your address through PennDOT’s website.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for or Renew a Persons with Disability Parking Placard If the renewal form never arrives, complete a fresh MV-145A, check the renewal box, and include your old placard number. Temporary placards have no renewal path; you start over with a new application.
Displaying the Placard and Avoiding Fines
Hang the placard from your rearview mirror only when you are parked in a space reserved for people with disabilities. If your vehicle has no rearview mirror, place it on the dashboard so it is visible from the front and rear.2Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 75 – Section 1338
Remove the placard before you drive. Pennsylvania’s windshield obstruction law prohibits hanging objects from the rearview mirror while the vehicle is in motion if they obstruct your view.6New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Pennsylvania Code Title 75 – Section 4524 Keep it in the glove box, center console, or above the sun visor until you park.
Placard holders get a 60-minute grace period beyond posted parking time limits. A two-hour meter becomes three hours. You still have to pay the meter. Some municipalities offer broader privileges through local ordinances, so check the rules where you park.
Someone else can drive your vehicle when the placard is inside, but they cannot use a disability parking space unless they are transporting you. Using a placard you are not entitled to, or parking in a disability space without one, is a summary offense carrying a fine of up to $100, and the vehicle may be towed if the space is posted with a towing warning.2Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code Title 75 – Section 1338