How to Get a Florida Handicap Placard (and Who’s Eligible)

In order to use a disabled parking space in Florida, drivers must meet specific medical requirements and apply for a disabled parking permit.
Written by Kianna Walpole
Edited by R.E. Fulton
Finding accessible parking in
Florida
can be difficult for people with a disability. As a result, all states allow people with disabilities to
park in specially designated spots
. In order to obtain a disabled parking permit, you need to follow your state’s regulations and application process.
  • Drivers in Florida need a temporary or permanent parking permit to use disabled parking spaces. 
  • You’re eligible for a permit if you are unable to walk without assistance or mobility aids, use portable oxygen, are legally blind, or have an eligible arthritic, lung, neurological, or cardiac condition.
  • To get a permit, send an application form to FLHSMV. 
  • You only need to pay a fee for a temporary disabled parking permit—permanent permits are free. 

Disabled parking placards or plates in Florida

To park in a disabled space in Florida, you’ll need one of the following: 
  • A temporary parking permit 
  • A permanent placard 
All passes must display the International Symbol of Access (ISA), recognizable by its blue-and-white stick figure with a wheelchair. These must be hung from your rear-view mirror with the number visible. 
Though the ISA features an individual in a wheelchair, many medical conditions may qualify you for a disabled parking permit or identification card.
Pro Tip: While disabled drivers are often charged more in car insurance, your
civil rights as a disabled driver
are protected by the ADA—meaning no company can deny you coverage or prevent you from driving.  

Who’s eligible for a disabled parking permit in Florida?

For Florida residents to be eligible for a disabled parking permit, individuals must have impaired vision or mobility and meet the eligibility guidelines. You meet the legal definition of disability in Florida if: 
  • You are unable to walk without the use of an assistive device or the help of another person.
  • You need to use a wheelchair permanently.
  • You are restricted by lung disease.
  • You use portable oxygen.
  • You have a cardiac condition that limits your ability to function.
  • You are limited in your ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.
  • You are legally blind.
Perhaps you are in a horrible boating accident down in the Florida Keys and must use a wheelchair until your injuries heal. Since that constitutes a temporary disability affecting your mobility, you’d be eligible for a six-month disabled parking permit. This permit would allow you to access designated parking spots while rehabbing.
Permanent injuries aren’t always so obvious. If your asthma makes it difficult to cross the Publix parking lot or your vision remains impaired even with the strongest of corrective lenses, you can apply for a permanent disabled parking permit.

How to apply for a disabled parking permit

In order to apply for a disabled parking permit, you’ll need to follow these steps:
  1. Form retrieval: To begin the process, you will need to obtain an
    Application for Disabled Person Parking Permit
    (or HSMV 83039 form) from a medical physician or physician assistant. 
  2. Personal information: For the application form HSMV, you’ll be required to disclose your full registered name, date of birth, current address, P.O. box, and which type of permit you’re applying for (temporary placard or permanent parking permit).
  3. Medical signature: Next, you will need a signature from a licensed physician as a statement of certification for a handicap parking permit. This can be completed by any state-licensed medical practitioner, such as an optometrist, podiatric physician, or chiropractor, or by an out-of-state certifying practitioner, provided they submit proof of their licensure. 
  4. Document submission: Your completed form may then be submitted by mail or in-person to the
    Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
    (FLHSMV) or your county tax collector. It  must also include proof of identification and payment for any applicable fees. The identification requirement may be waived if a certifying authority  deems you unable to obtain an ID.
Permanent disability permits require no fee, but if you’re applying for a temporary permit, you’ll need to include a $15 payment with your application. 
Keep in mind: If you are applying for a temporary parking permit, your medical provider must specify the dates between which you will need it.

How to apply for a wheelchair license plate 

To obtain a wheelchair license plate, you must complete an
Application for International Wheelchair License Plate
form and submit it—along with the $28 fee—to your nearest Florida DMV with the following documents: 
  • A copy of the vehicle registration certificate
  • Florida identification card (Florida driver license or ID card)
  • Proof of insurance for your vehicle

Renewing a disabled parking placard

To renew your parking permit or wheelchair license plate, you must submit the same applicable documentation, along with your renewal notice to the Florida DMV or your local tax collector’s office.
In the case that you lose or damage your placard, you will need to complete the application process over again, and receive a doctor’s approval for issuance. 
Temporary disabled parking permits must be renewed every six months, wheelchair license plates must be renewed annually, and permanent disabled parking permits must be renewed every four years.

Guidelines for veterans with disabilities and impairments

If you are a veteran and have been certified by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs or any branch of the United States Armed Forces as being permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected injury or illness, you may issue a Department of Veteran Affairs Form Letter 27-333 in lieu of a certificate of disability when applying for a disabled parking permit. 
According to Florida Statutes, the letter must have been issued within 12 months of application. There is no fee for a permanently disabled parking permit for veterans.
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FAQs

Yes. At any turnstile meter, Florida residents with a disabled parking permit can park for free on the street for up to 4 hours, unless specified by a posted time restricted sign.
Yes. In the state of Florida, as long as the operated vehicle is carrying the permit holder, then a disabled placard can be used in any vehicle. 
If you are using a disabled placard that doesn’t belong to you, and you aren’t transporting a permit holder, you can face fines up to $1,000 or six months in jail. 
Yes. Your Florida issued disabled parking pass is generally valid in all 50 US states. However, there are some states that may have disabled individuals apply for a temporary state travel placard. 
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