Are you eligible for Disabled Person Placards or Plates in California?
An authorized medical provider has to verify your impaired mobility and eligibility requirements. Specifics that vary from the general eligibility guidelines on the home page include:
- Your mobility is severely disabled because of a disease or disorder
- You’re restricted by lung disease, specifically with a forced expiratory volume (FEV) for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than 1 liter or your arterial oxygen tension is less than 60mm/hg at rest
- You’re missing or loss the use of one or both hands
- You have a significant impairment, are missing or loss the use of one or both legs
- You have vision issues, such as low vision or blindness
Your doctor will also have to provide detailed descriptions of your disabling conditions when noted on the application.
What is the California application process for Disabled Person Parking Permits and Plates?
You can get the Application for Disabled Person Placard or Plates (Form REF 195) by going to your local California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Office or printing the document online.
There is no fee for a permanent parking placards and license plates, but there is a $6 fee for a temporary parking placards.
You and your certified physician just need to complete and sign the application with all necessary information. Once you finish the application, you can either bring it in to your nearest DMV Office or mail it to:
- DMV Placard
PO Box 932345
Sacramento, CA 94232-3450
It is suggested that if you bring it in to a California DMV Field Office that you should make an appointment beforehand. You can make the appointment by calling 1-800-777-0133.
How long are Handicap Parking Placards and Plates Valid in California?
Depending on the handicap parking permit, temporary or permanent, the time range and renewal policies varies.
- Temporary Placards:
Valid for up to 6 months or date specified by your doctor
Can’t be renewed more than 6 consecutive times - Permanent Placards and Plates:
Valid for 2 years and expires on June 30
Conveniently for permanent placards, the DMV will automatically mail your new placard and identification to your address listed and doesn’t require recertification.
If your placard gets lost, stolen or mutilated, you may complete the Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Documents (Form REG 156) and mail completed application to:
- DMV Placard
PO Box 942869
Sacramento, CA 94269-0001
Are there California Disabled Veteran Plates?
Disabled Veteran License Plates are available for one vehicle of any California resident veteran. Your disabling condition needs to be 100% service-connected as certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs or military service that discharged you.
You just need to complete the Disabled Veteran Certification on the Miscellaneous Certifications (Form REG 256A) and specify that you’re medically eligible because of at least one of the following:
- You can’t move without aid from an assistive device
- You’ve lost or lost the use of one or more limbs
- You’re permanently blind
For disabled veterans, there is no payment of registration and license fees to obtain the disabled veteran license plate.
After you receive and complete the military documents and application, you may either deliver the application to your local DMV Field Office or mail to the DMV at:
- Special Processing Unit, MS D238
PO Box 932345
Sacramento, CA 94232-0001
After experiencing the benefits of the Disabled Veteran Plate, you just need to renew the plate when specified. Likewise, you can appreciate the benefits of Social Security Disability after filing a disability claim.
Can I report Handicap Parking Abuse?
There are instances, regrettably, where Handicap Parking spaces, permits, and, even, placards are taken advantage of by those who don’t have a mobile impairment.
If you happen to see someone easily moving from an empty vehicle in a Handicap space, there’s a possibility they shouldn’t park there. Notify authorities and/or property owners as soon as you observe a driver abusing a handicapped parking space.
Remember that it’s illegal to:
- Alter a placard or placard identification card
- Provide false information to receive a disabled person placard or plate
- Allow someone to use your placard, if you’re not in vehicle
- Forge a doctor’s signature
- Possess or display counterfeit placards
- To possess more than one permanent placard
If you commit any of the previous actions, you could receive fines, imprisonment and/or civil penalties.
Where are the California DMV Field Offices located?
California DMV Field Offices are distributed throughout the state and they offer a variety of services, including vehicle and disability permits, registration and title transactions, and license plate renewals, among other things.
If you would like more information, feel free to visit the California Department of Motor Vehicles website or call 1-800-777-0133.
- Alturas
903 N West C St, Alturas, CA 96101 - Arleta
14400 Van Nuys Blvd, Arleta, CA 91331 - Arvin
317 Campus Dr, Arvin, CA 93203 - Auburn
4287 Central Ave, Fremont, CA 94536 - Bakersfield
3120 F St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
7000 Schirra Court, Bakersfield, CA 93313 - Banning
1034 W Ramsey St B, Banning, CA 92220 - Barstow
528 East Virginia Way, Barstow, CA 92311 - Bell Gardens
6801 South Garfield, Bell Gardens, CA 90201 - Bellflower
9520 East Artesia Blvd, Bellflower, CA 90706 - Bishop
1115 West Line St, Bishop, CA 93514 - Blythe
6801 South Garfield, Bell Gardens, CA 90201 - Brawley
1175 East Main Street, Brawley, CA 92227 - Capitola
4200 Capitola Road, Capitola, CA 95010 - Carmichael
5209 North Ave, Carmichael, CA 95608 - Chico
107 Parmac Road #1, Chico, CA 95926 - Chula Vista
30 N Glover Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910 - Clovis
2103 Shaw Ave, Clovis, CA 93611 - Coalinga
406 East Elm Ave, Coalinga, CA 93210 - Colusa
1025 Bridge St STE B, Colusa, CA 95932 - Compton
2111 South Santa Fe Ave, Compton, CA 90221 - Concord
2070 Diamond Blvd, Concord, CA 94520 - Corte Madera
75 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera, CA 94925 - Costa Mesa
650 W 19th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 - Crescent City
1475 Parkway Drive, Crescent City, CA 95531 - Culver City
11400 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066 - Daly City
1500 Sullivan Ave, Daly City, CA 94015 - Davis
505 Pole Line Rd, Davis, CA 95616 - Delano
631 Jefferson Street, Delano, CA 93215 - El Cajon
1450 Graves Ave, El Cajon, CA 92021 - El Centro
233 N Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243 - El Cerrito
6400 Manila Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530 - El Monte
4000 Arden Drive, El Monte, CA 91731 - Eureka
322 W 15th St, Eureka, CA 95501 - Fairfield
160 Serrano Drive, Fairfield, CA 94533 - Fall River Mills
43467 State Highway 299 E, Fall River Mills, CA 96028 - Folsom
323 E Bidwell A, Folsom, CA 95630 - Fontana
16499 Merrill Ave, Fontana, CA 92335 - Fort Bragg
410 S Franklin St, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 - Fremont
4287 Central Ave, Fremont, CA 94536 - Fresno
655 W Olive Ave, Fresno, CA 93728
6420 N Blackstone Ave, Fresno, CA 93710 - Fullerton
909 W Valencia Drive, Fullerton, CA 92832 - Garberville
6400 Manila Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530 - Gilroy
6984 Chestnut Street, Suite A, Gilroy, CA 95020 - Glendale
1335 W Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201 - Goleta
7127 Hollister Ave Ste 24/26, Goleta, CA 93117 - Grass Valley
890 Sutton Way, Grass Valley, CA 95945 - Hanford
701 W Hanford Armona Rd, Hanford, CA 93230 - Hawthorne
3700 W El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250 - Hayward
150 Jackson St, Hayward, CA 94544 - Hemet
1200 S State St, Hemet, CA 92543 - Hollister
80 N Sally St, Hollister, CA 95023 - Hollywood
803 Cole Ave, Hollywood, CA 90038 - Indio
44480 Jackson St, Indio, CA 92201 - Inglewood
621 N La Brea Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302 - Jackson
201 Clinton Rd, Jackson, CA 95642 - King City
101 East San Antonio, King City, CA 93930 - Laguna Hills
23535 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 - Lake Isabella
5520 Lake Isabella Rd G-1, Lake Isabella, CA 93240 - Lakeport
965 Parallel Drv, Lakeport, CA 95453 - Lancaster
1110 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93534 - Lincoln Park
3529 N Mission Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90031 - Lodi
1222 Pixley Parkway, Lodi, CA 95240 - Lompoc
209 W Pine Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436 - Long Beach
3700 East Willow St, Long Beach, CA 90815 - Los Angeles
3615 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90007 - Los Banos
814 West L St, Los Banos, CA 93635 - Los Gatos
600 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030 - Madera
1206 Maple St, Madera, CA 93637 - Manteca
955 Davis St, Manteca, CA 95336 - Mariposa
5264 Highway 49-North, Mariposa, CA 95338 - Mendota
655 Quince St, Mendota, CA 93640 - Merced
1313 W 12th St, Merced, CA 95340 - Modesto
124 Burney St, Modesto, CA 95354 - Montebello
424 N Wilcox Ave, Montebello, CA 90640 - Mt. Shasta
154 Morgan Way, Mt Shasta, CA 96067 - Napa
2550 Napa Valley Corp Drive, Napa, CA 94558 - Needles
1040 E Broaddway St, Needles, CA 92363 - Newhall
24427 Newhall Ave, Newhall, CA 91321 - Norco
3201 Horseless Carriage Drive, Norco, CA 92860 - Novato
936 7th St A, Novato, CA 94947 - Oakland
5300 Claremont Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
501 85th Ave, Oakland, CA 94621 - Oceanside
4005 Plaza Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056 - Oroville
775 Mitchell Ave, Oroville, CA 95965 - Oxnard
4050 Saviers Rd, Oxnard, CA 93033 - Palm Desert
74-740 Technology Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92211 - Palm Springs
950 N Farrell Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262 - Palmdale
2260 D E Palmdale, Palmdale, CA 93550 - Paradise
5921 Clark Rd, Paradise, CA 95967 - Pasadena
49 S Rosemead Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107 - Paso Robles
841 Park St, Paso Robles, CA 93446 - Petaluma
715 - J Southpoint Blvd, Petaluma, CA 94954 - Pittsburg
1399 Buchanan Rd, Pittsburg, CA 94565 - Placerville
2919 Cold Springs Rd, Placerville, CA 95667 - Pleasanton
6300 W Las Positas Blvd, Pleasanton, CA 94588 - Pomona
1600 S Garey Ave, Pomona, CA 91766 - Porterville
329 E Olive Ave, Porterville, CA 93257 - Poway
13461 Community Rd, Poway, CA 92064 - Quincy
1953 E Main St Ste 3, Quincy, CA 95971 - Rancho Cucamonga
8629 Hellman Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 - Rancho San Diego-CDL/ISC
1901 Jamacha Rd, El Cajon, CA 92019 - Red Bluff
675 Monroe St, Red Bluff, CA 96080 - Redding
2135 Civic Center Drv, Redding, CA 96001 - Redlands
1659 W Lugonia Ave, Redlands, CA 92374 - Redwood City
300 Brewster Ave, Redwood City, CA 94063 - Reedley
4375 Derrick Drive, San Diego, CA 92117 - Ridgecrest
540A Perdew Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 - Riverside
6280 Brockton Ave, Riverside, CA 92506 - Riverside East
6425 Sycamore Canyon Blvd, Riverside, CA 92507 - Rocklin
5245 South Grove, Rocklin, CA 95677 - Roseville
7200 Galilee Rd, Roseville, CA 95678 - S. Lake Tahoe
3344 B Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 - Sacramento
4700 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95820
7775 La Mancha Way, Sacramento, CA 95823 - Salinas
260 East Laurel Drv, Salinas, CA 93906 - San Andreas
745 Mountain Ranch Rd, San Andreas, CA 95249 - San Bernardino
1310 N Waterman Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92404
930 South Arrowhead Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92408 - San Clemente
2727 Via Cascadita, San Clemente, CA 92672 - San Diego
3960 Normal St, San Diego, CA 92103
4375 Derrick Drv, San Diego, CA 92117 - San Francisco
1377 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94117 - San Jose
111 W Alma Ave, San Jose, CA 95110 - San Luis Obispo
3190 S Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - San Marcos
1706 Descanso Ave, San Marcos, CA 92078 - San Mateo
425 N Amphlett Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94401 - San Pedro
1511 N Gaffey St, San Pedro, CA 90731 - San Ysidro
6111 Business Center Court, San Diego, CA 92154 - Santa Ana
1330 E First St, Santa Ana, CA 92701 - Santa Barbara
535 Castillo St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 - Santa Clara
3665 Flora Vista Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95051 - Santa Maria
523 S McClelland St, Santa Maria, CA 93454 - Santa Monica
2235 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404 - Santa Paula
250 W Harvard Blvd A, Santa Paula, CA 93060 - Santa Rosa
2570 Corby Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 - Santa Teresa
180 Martinvale Lane, San Jose, CA 95119 - Seaside
1180 Canyon Del Rey Rd, Seaside, CA 93955 - Shafter
548 Walker St, Shafter, CA 93263 - Simi Valley
3855 D - Alamo St, Simi Valley, CA 93063 - Sonora
885 Morning Star Drive, Sonora, CA 95370 - Stockton
55 South Lincoln St, Stockton, CA 95203 - Susanville
2615 Main St, Susanville, CA 96130 - Taft
165 Center St, Taft, CA 93268 - Temecula
27851 Diaz Rd, Temecula, CA 92590 - Thousand Oaks
1810 E Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 - Torrance
1785 W 220th St, Torrance, CA 90501 - Tracy
2785 Auto Plaza Drive, Tracy, CA 95304 - Truckee
11357 Donner Pass Rd Ste I, Truckee, CA 96162 - Tulare
274 E Cross Ave, Tulare, CA 93274 - Tulelake
399 Main St, Tulelake, CA 96134 - Turlock
825 E Monte Vista Ave, Turlock, CA 95382 - Twentynine Palms
3668 Adobe Rd G-J, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277 - Ukiah
542 S Orchard Ave, Ukiah, CA 95482 - Vacaville
621 Orange Drive, Vacaville, CA 95687 - Vallejo
200 Couch St, Vallejo, CA 94590 - Van Nuys
14920 Vanowen St, Van Nuys, CA 91405 - Ventura
4260 Market St, Ventura, CA 93003 - Victorville
14855 Corta Drive, Victorville, CA 92395 - Visalia
1711 East Main St, Visalia, CA 93292 - Walnut Creek
1910 N Broadway, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 - Watsonville
90 Alta Vista Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076 - Weaverville
1511 Main St, Weaverville, CA 96093 - West Covina
800 So Glendora Ave, West Covina, CA 91790 - West Hollywood
936 North Formosa Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046 - West Sacramento
2528 Evergreen Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691 - Westminster
13700 Hoover St, Westminster, CA 92683 - Whittier
9338 S Painter Ave, Whittier, CA 90605 - Willows
815 N Humboldt Ave, Willows, CA 95988 - Winnetka
20725 Sherman Way, Winnetka, CA 91306 - Woodland
825 East St 306, Woodland, CA 95695 - Yreka
1848 Fort Jones Rd, Yreka, CA 96097 - Yuba City
1570 Poole Blvd, Yuba City, CA 95993
Receiving handicap parking permits can help improve your ease of mobility and access to your various destinations. Applying and receiving Social Security Disability benefits can help ease financial strain by helping to pay for medical and other living costs. To qualify for SSD, you will need to meet a Blue Book listing and have enough work credits. To find out more about disability benefits and if you're eligible, learn more here.
