To park in a handicap parking space in Missouri
, drivers must display a disabled placard in their rearview mirror. Disabled placards are issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). 
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To park in a disabled space anywhere in Missouri, you’ll need one of two disabled parking placards:
A temporary placard, which lasts no more than 180 days
A permanent placard, for someone with a permanent physical condition
Missouri does not offer specialized disabled license plates, so rearview mirror placards are your only option.
Both the temporary and permanent placard will display the International Symbol of Access (ISA), which is easily recognized as the stick figure in a wheelchair. This very same symbol will be used to label designated handicap spaces.
But don’t let the symbol mislead you—Missouri disabled parking placards are not exclusive to wheelchair users. Below is the list of conditions that qualify for a temporary or permanent placard in the Show-Me State.
Who’s eligible for a disabled parking placard?
To be eligible for a disabled parking placard, you must have a licensed physician, chiropractor, podiatrist, physician's assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, physical therapist, or optometrist complete the Physician’s Statement for Disabled Persons Placard, attesting that you have a qualifying physical disability.
The State of Missouri defines “physical disability” as follows:
The person cannot ambulate or walk 50 feet without stopping to rest due to a severe and disabling arthritic, neurological, orthopedic condition, or other severe and disabling condition.
The person cannot ambulate or walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or another assistive device.
The person is restricted by a respiratory or another disease to such an extent that the person’s forced respiratory expiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
The person uses portable oxygen.
The person has a cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to the standards set by the American Heart Association.
The person is blind as defined in Section 8.700, RSMo.
This means that you may qualify even if you’re using a temporary mobility aid—for example, if you’re on crutches while recovering from knee surgery.
How to apply
Applying for a disabled parking placard through Missouri’s DMV is fairly straightforward, but the process is slightly different depending on whether you’re interested in obtaining a permanent or temporary placard.
If you’re applying for a temporary placard, here are the steps:
Complete an Application for Disabled Person Placard (Form 2769
)and have a qualifying medical professional complete a Physician’s Statement for Disabled Person’s Placard (Form 1776
). These forms can be printed from your computer or obtained at any Missouri license office. Once the forms are completed, submit them at any Missouri license office, by mail, or by phone at 573-751-1957 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Pay the $2 fee for a Temporary Disabled Placard.
Your card will expire according to the established period of the disability, which will be stated on the Physician's Statement for Disabled Person’s Placard. This period cannot exceed 180 days.
If you’re applying for a permanent placard, you’ll also need to submit Form 2769 and Form 1776. There is no application fee for permanent cards, and the placard expires on September 30 the fourth year from which the placard was issued.
Aside from individuals, agencies who provide transportation for disabled persons may also apply for a permanent disabled parking placard. In lieu of 1776, such agencies must submit a statement on business letterhead (signed by an officer of the agency) that states that the agency transports physically disabled persons.
Renewing a disabled parking placard
If your temporary disability extends beyond 180 days, you’ll need to complete an entirely new application (and submit another $2 fee) for a new placard. Keep in mind that temporary placards may only be renewed once for a second period that cannot exceed 180 days.
People who hold permanent disabled parking placards will be mailed a renewal notice once every four years. You may also utilize the department's Renewal Requirements Inquiry System to update information regarding your renewal.
To renew your permanent placard, a new Physician’s Statement (Form 1776) is required every eight years. Only those over the age of 75 and disabled veterans are exempt from submitting these materials.
Key Takeaway To apply for a permanent or temporary disabled parking placard in Missouri, you’ll typically need to submit two forms: an application and a statement from your physician.
Guidelines for veterans with disabilities
For veterans with disabilities in Missouri, the guidelines are slightly less strict. When applying for an initial permanent disabled parking placard, disabled veterans still have to submit Form 1776. However, disabled veterans are exempt from submitting this form every eight years for renewal.
Key Takeaway Disabled veterans are exempt from resubmitting Form 1776 when renewing their disabled parking placards.
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