- The quick idea behind a disability parking placard
- Pain point to avoid Imagine this
- Pennsylvania placard types and what makes them different
- Eligibility criteria in Pennsylvania
- Who is authorized to certify a disability
- Permanent placard benefits you can expect
- How to apply in Pennsylvania
- Temporary placard process and how renewals work
- Renewing or replacing your Pennsylvania placard
- How to renew a temporary or permanent placard the right way
- Rules for using the placard in Pennsylvania
- Penalty for unauthorized use
- Forms and where to find them
- Handicap placard vs handicap tag
- Practical examples to reduce mistakes
- What about New York
- Displaying the placard when parked
- Summary
If you need a handicap parking placard for your car, this guide walks you through the steps in Pennsylvania. You’ll learn who can qualify, who can certify your disability, how temporary vs permanent placard rules work, and how to renew or replace.
The quick idea behind a disability parking placard
A parking placard is a special sign that hangs from your rear-view mirror when your vehicle is parked. It helps you park in spots reserved for people with disabilities (often marked by the international accessibility symbol).
In Pennsylvania, these disability placard rules are handled by PennDOT.
Pain point to avoid Imagine this
Imagine you show up to a building with limited parking. The only close spots are reserved, but you don’t have the correct permit or your placard isn’t displayed correctly. You waste time, stress increases, and you may miss important appointments.
So the key is to do two things right:
1. Get the correct temporary or permanent placard
2. Use it correctly every time you park
Pennsylvania placard types and what makes them different
Pennsylvania offers multiple parking options. The most common ones are:
| Placard type | Who it’s for | Main rule about when it can be used |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent Persons with Disability Parking Placard | A person with a qualifying disability | For use in any vehicle when the vehicle is being operated exclusively by or for the person with a disability (and the person is being transported) |
| Severely Disabled Veteran Placard | A veteran with 100% service-connected disability | Similar “operated by or for the person” use rule, plus special veteran status |
| Temporary Persons with Disability Parking Placard | A person with a temporary qualifying disability | For use in any vehicle when the person with the disability is being transported |
Big benefit difference in plain words
Both permanent and severely disabled veteran placards can allow parking for 60 minutes longer than local laws allow, with an exception where local rules have special traffic accommodations during morning, afternoon, and evening heavy traffic times.
Eligibility criteria in Pennsylvania
To qualify for a Pennsylvania Persons with Disabilities placard or registration plate, the applicant must be in at least one category below:
- Blind
- No full use of an arm or both arms
- Cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
- Cannot walk without a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device
- Limited by lung disease (spirometry/oxygen criteria)
- Uses portable oxygen
- Cardiac condition at severity Class III or Class IV
- Severely limited walking due to arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition
- Severe walking limitation due to arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition (this is already covered by #8 in spirit; Pennsylvania lists it as an eligibility code)
- A person in loco parentis for someone who meets 1–8
- Parent (including adoptive or foster) of a child/adult child meeting 1–8 with custody/care/control
- Spouse of someone meeting 1–8
Eligibility proof matters
Even if someone fits a category, the disability must be certified by an authorized person (explained next).
Who is authorized to certify a disability
Pennsylvania allows certification by:
- A health care provider
- Law enforcement
- A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office Administrator (for the severely disabled veteran placard)
Health care provider types allowed in Pennsylvania
A health care provider can be:
- physician
- chiropractor
- optometrist
- podiatrist
- physician’s assistant
- certified registered nurse practitioner
Providers must be licensed/certified to practice in Pennsylvania (or in a contiguous state listed by PennDOT: New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio).
What police officers can certify
Police officers may only certify certain disability codes:
- Code 1 blind
- Code 4 cannot walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace/cane/crutch/another person/prosthetic/wheelchair/assistive device
Limit: Police officers cannot certify the full range of conditions.
Permanent placard benefits you can expect
PennDOT describes key benefits for permanent placards, including:
- 60-minute longer parking than local rules allow (with heavy traffic exceptions in some places)
- When the placard is hung from the front windshield rearview mirror, the vehicle qualifies to park in areas for people with disabilities
- If a person with a qualifying disability asks, local authorities may erect sign(s) near the person’s home as close as possible
This is meant to help you find accessible parking close to where you need to go.
How to apply in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania lets you apply:
- in person (Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg), or
- by mail
In-person steps
- Bring a completed application form to the Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg
- You can receive:
- a permanent placard with a temporary ID card (if applying for permanent)
- or a temporary placard with a temporary ID card (if applying for temporary)
By-mail steps
- Mail your completed application to PennDOT Bureau of Motor Vehicles:
- PennDOT Bureau of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 68268, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8268
- You receive the permanent placard and a permanent ID card by mail (for permanent applications)
Certification requirement
To get the initial placard, the disability certification must be completed by a person allowed to certify (health care provider, law enforcement, or VA administrator, depending on placard type).
Fees
There is no fee for the placard.
Temporary placard process and how renewals work
How temporary placards work
- A temporary placard can be issued for up to six months
- It may only be used when the qualifying person with a disability is being transported
- PennDOT states temporary placards may not be renewed
- If more time is needed after expiration, a new temporary application is required and must be certified by a licensed health care provider
- You may need to include your previous placard number on the renewal application
Health care facility participation
PennDOT has a Temporary Placard Issuance Program for Health Care Facilities.
The idea is simple:
- some approved health care providers can issue temporary placards immediately
- this means you can complete the process in one visit
- the goal is to reduce delays for caregivers and patients needing accessible parking quickly
Renewing or replacing your Pennsylvania placard
PennDOT typically mails a renewal form about 60 days before expiration.
Renewing
You can renew online or request changes (like an address change) online.
If renewal paperwork didn’t arrive
PennDOT instructs you to use:
- Form MV-145A for renewal when needed
When requesting replacement, you must include your previous placard number and complete the correct sections (A and E).
How to renew a temporary or permanent placard the right way
Here’s the difference in Pennsylvania rules:
| Placard type | Can it be renewed? | What you must do when time runs out |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent | Yes (renew through PennDOT process) | Follow the mailed renewal instructions or use the renewal form if you didn’t receive it |
| Temporary | No | Submit a new temporary application with updated certification by a licensed health care provider |
Rules for using the placard in Pennsylvania
PennDOT emphasizes the correct use:
- The placard should only be displayed when the car is parked in a special disability spot
- It does not allow parking where parking is not allowed
- The placard should hang from the front windshield rearview mirror (when parked)
- Placards are made to last about five years but should be stored safely when not in use
- If the placard is no longer needed and it’s still valid, return it to PennDOT
- If the placard has expired, it can be destroyed (no return required)
Where to display it
When parked:
- hang from the rearview mirror inside the car
Penalty for unauthorized use
PennDOT describes enforcement like this:
- Unauthorized use is a summary offense
- Upon conviction, the penalty can be a fine of up to $100
This is why using a placard only when rules are met matters.
Forms and where to find them
PennDOT lists key disability form documents, including:
- MV-145A Person With Disability Parking Placard Application (PDF)
- MV-145 Application for Person with a Disability or Hearing Impaired Registration Plate or Motorcycle Plate (PDF)
- MV-180 Assignment of PennDOT Request for Temporary Persons with Disability Parking Placards (PDF)
- MV-145P Application for Enrollment/Change in Temporary Placard Program for Health Care Facilities (PDF)
These forms are used for different parts of the placard and related programs.
Handicap placard vs handicap tag
Different states use different words, but the simple rule is:
- A placard is a sign you hang from the rear-view mirror
- A tag often refers to a sticker or a license-plate-related identifier (some places use “tag” differently)
Pennsylvania uses the placard concept directly.
Practical examples to reduce mistakes
Example 1: You apply for a permanent placard
If your disability is expected to be long-term:
- get the permanent placard
- use it only when you (the qualifying person) are being transported
- hang it from the rearview mirror when parked
Example 2: You need a temporary placard after surgery
If mobility will improve within months:
- apply for the temporary placard
- remember it’s for up to six months
- since it cannot be renewed, plan on a new application if you still qualify after expiration
Example 3: A caregiver transports you
Because Pennsylvania placards can be used when the vehicle is being operated by or for the person with a disability:
- the caregiver should only display the placard during the trip when the disabled person is being transported
What about New York
The search phrase asks broadly for how to get a “handicap sign,” so it’s common to wonder about New York too.
How New York issues permits
In New York, the state DMV does not issue handicapped parking permits. Applicants contact the city, town, or village clerk to find the local issuing agency.
Who is eligible in New York
Applicants must live in New York and provide proof of a qualifying disability that is permanent in nature and affects mobility (examples include portable oxygen use, legal blindness, inability to walk 200 feet, certain heart/lung conditions, severe arthritis/neurological/orthopedic limitation, and more).
Temporary permits in New York
Temporary permits are valid for up to six months, and require proof of disability similar to permanent permits.
Fees in New York
Permits are issued free of charge.
Documentation
New York accepts certification completed on required medical sections by doctors/optometrists/podiatrists (with limits noted for podiatrists), or statements from licensed professionals describing the disability and mobility impact.
Displaying the placard when parked
A clear checklist helps:
When parked in a disability spot
Hang the placard from the rear-view mirror
When driving
Do not keep it displayed for parking-only use
Pennsylvania guidance centers on the mirror-hung placement when parked.
Summary
To get a handicap sign for your car in Pennsylvania, you apply for a Persons with Disability Parking Placard, have your disability certified by an authorized person, choose the correct temporary or permanent type, and then use the placard only in the correct parking situations. Temporary placards last up to six months and require a new certified application after expiration, while permanent placards follow PennDOT’s renewal process. Unauthorized use can lead to a fine of up to $100.