To get a replacement handicap placard in Pennsylvania, file PennDOT Form MV-145A. It costs nothing, and if your original medical certification is still valid you don’t need a new doctor’s signature. Permanent placards can be replaced through PennDOT’s online portal; temporary placards must be replaced by mail.
When a Replacement Applies
A replacement is for a placard that is lost, stolen, damaged past readability, or never delivered. That’s different from renewal, which handles a permanent placard reaching its expiration date. With a replacement, the underlying authorization is still active; only the physical placard needs to be reissued.
PennDOT’s form uses a specific rule for undelivered placards. Check “Never Received” if the placard hasn’t arrived within 90 days of issuance. Once more than 90 days have passed, check “Lost” instead.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for or Renew a Persons with Disability Parking Placard
Filling Out Form MV-145A
Form MV-145A, “Person with Disability Parking Placard Application,” is the only form required.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for a Replacement Person with Disability Parking Placard Download it from PennDOT or pick one up at a driver and vehicle service center. Complete these parts:
- Replacement Request section: check “Placard,” mark the reason (Lost, Stolen, Defaced, or Never Received), and write in your previous placard number so PennDOT can locate your record.3Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application
- Section A: name and address of the person with the disability. Attach Form MV-8 if your address is out of state.3Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application
- Section E: sign the declaration.3Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application
There is no fee.3Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application
Do You Need a New Doctor’s Signature?
No, as long as your original medical certification hasn’t expired. For a lost, stolen, or damaged placard whose certification is still valid, PennDOT does not require a physician’s signature on the replacement form. A new certification is only needed if the original has lapsed.3Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application
Submitting the Application
Online (Permanent Placards Only)
PennDOT’s placard portal handles replacements for permanent placards without any mailing. You’ll need your current placard number, your date of birth, your last name, and a printer.4PennDOT. PLACARD – Login The same portal can renew a placard or update your address.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for a Replacement Person with Disability Parking Placard
By Mail
Temporary placards must go through the mail, and paper is also fine for permanent ones. Send the completed Form MV-145A to:
PennDOT, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 68268
Harrisburg, PA 17106-82683Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application
PennDOT does not publish a specific turnaround time for mailed replacements, so allow at least a few weeks.
Temporary Placard Replacements Don’t Reset the Clock
A replacement temporary placard is issued only for the time remaining on your original.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for a Replacement Person with Disability Parking Placard If a six-month placard is lost after four months, the replacement covers the last two. Temporary placards also can’t be replaced online; use the mail-in process.
If the Original Turns Up Later
Once PennDOT issues the replacement, the old placard is void, even if you find it afterward. You’re required to return the original to PennDOT because it’s no longer a valid permit.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apply for a Replacement Person with Disability Parking Placard Mail it back rather than leaving it in the glove box, since using a voided placard could cause problems at a parking enforcement stop.
False Statements on the Application
The declaration you sign in Section E carries the penalties of Pennsylvania’s unsworn falsification law. A conviction can bring up to one or two years of imprisonment and a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000.3Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Person with Disability Parking Placard Application Be accurate about why you need the replacement, and don’t request one for a placard that isn’t yours.