How Can You Get a Disabled Parking Permit in Alaska?

Due to the fact that the rules and regulations for parking permits vary by state, it may be difficult for those living in the United States to obtain a disabled parking permit. Sometimes the laws in a particular state may even differ from city to city. If you need a disabled parking permit and you reside in the state of Alaska, take the steps outlined in this simple guide to make the process easier.

Check If You Qualify

Since parking permit laws vary from state to state, Alaska has its own unique qualifications to determine who is legally allowed to receive a disabled parking permit. Before you fill out the application, ensure you are eligible based on whether you meet any of the following requirements. If any of the following apply to you, then you are eligible for a disabled parking permit in Alaska.

You are eligible for a permanent parking permit if:

  • A medical professional who examines you determines that your mobility is impaired or that you are suffering from a condition that impairs your mobility
  • You suffer from a lung disease
  • You have a heart condition
  • You must use a portable oxygen tank
  • You are an amputee
  • You must use a wheelchair, cane, crutches, Zimmer frame, or other walking aid
  • You suffer from an arthritic, orthopedic or neurological condition
  • You suffer from a chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
  • You are unable to walk for 200 meters without requiring a pause and a rest

You may be eligible for a temporary parking permit if:

  • You have a temporary mobility issue or disability
  • You have a broken limb
  • You are recovering from surgery
  • You are pregnant

Get Certified by a Physician

The biggest hurdle for most people to overcome when trying to get a disabled parking permit is obtaining the necessary paperwork. Alaskans applying for a disabled parking permit must fill out Form 861: Application for Disabled Parking Identification (available in person at the DMV or to print out online) and bring it to a qualified medical professional, who must be a physician, a nurse practitioner, a physician’s assistant, a podiatrist, or a chiropractor. After the medical professional has examined you and determined that you do indeed qualify legally for the disabled parking permit, he or she ought to fill out Part II of the application form for you.

Mail the Documents

After obtaining a medical professional’s certification, fill out the rest of the form and mail it or bring it to submit it in person to the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles office in Anchorage. The address is as follows:

State of Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles

ATTN: Disability Permit

1300 W. Benson Blvd, Suite 200

Anchorage, AK 99503

If you would also like to apply for a disabled license plate, an application must be made in person (unless your home is too remote and far from the DMV. In this case, applications by mail will be accepted).

If you are a veteran and would like to apply for a disabled veterans license plate, include a certificate of disability from the VA in your application.

Disabled parking permit placards in Alaska are provided free of charge. Handicapped license plates being obtained for the first time also do not carry any fees.

Steps to Take After Receiving a Permit

The types of disabled parking permits available in Alaska include a temporary placard (valid for six months), a permanent license plate, a permanent placard, and a permanent disabled veterans license plate. Permanent permits are valid for a duration of five years. Permits are set to expire on the last day of the month listed on the permit.

 Ensure that you have received the correct kind of disabled parking permit. If you need a permanent parking permit and have been certified to receive such from your physician but you received a temporary placard, contact the DMV to inquire as to the reason why.

To use a placard, hang it on the rearview mirror (on the front windshield) of the car with which you are travelling after parking in a handicapped location. Do not keep the placard there while the car is in motion, as it can obscure your field of vision. If your car lacks a rear view mirror, place the placard clearly and visibly on your dashboard. License plates should be affixed securely to the front and the back of your vehicle and must remain there at all times.

With your disabled parking permit, you may park in any designated handicapped spot in Alaska. You may also park in the handicapped spots of most other states, although you should check beforehand with the authorities of the state to which you are travelling to ensure that your Alaska permit will be valid in that state. Conversely, Alaska recognizes the disabled parking permits of all other states.

Renewing or Replacing Your Permit

If you need to renew your permit due to its expiration or replace your permit because you misplaced it, you must repeat the application process entirely, as if you were applying for a new permit. This includes getting certified again by a medical professional. In this regard, Alaska differs from a number of other states (which do not require a new certification by a doctor).

This Alaskan requirement makes the renewal process stricter than that of most states, but it also ensures fairness so that no one can trick the system and get a life-long permit when they are actually immobile for only a short time.

Conclusion

This simple guide provides step-by-step instructions for receiving your disabled parking permit in Alaska. As you can see, the process in Alaska is simple, fair, well-designed, and relatively efficient. In order to use your disabled parking permit correctly, remember to display it visibly at all times when parked in a handicapped spot, and mark your calendar for the date of your permit expiration so you are reminded to visit the doctor to get certified again if you need to do so.

What Are the Requirements for Obtaining a Disabled Parking Permit in Alaska?

Nowadays, it is not too difficult to find a handicapped parking space at your local supermarket or shopping mall. But to keep ourselves from taking handicapped spots for granted, we must consider the history of handicapped parking and realize that laws in the United States necessitating the availability of handicapped spaces did not come into being until about fifty or sixty years ago. Indeed, laws governing universal, nationwide handicapped parking were not set in stone until 1990 with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you are one of the tens of millions of Americans who suffer from a physical disability or impairment of mobility, you can be grateful to the civil rights activists who fought for that precious parking space to be made available to you. But how exactly do you exercise your right to a handicapped spot? You must apply for and receive a disabled parking permit in order to park in that hard-won handicapped space.

If you need a disabled parking permit for the state of Alaska, the following guide provides a simple overview of the rules and procedures for obtaining a disabled parking permit.

Qualifications for Disability in Alaska

The following list of qualifications for disability are relevant to the state of Alaska. Before you apply for a disabled parking permit, check to see if any of the conditions below is applicable to you.

You qualify for a permanent disabled parking permit if:

  • A licensed physician deems your mobility to be impaired or certifies that you suffer from a condition which hinders your mobility
  • One or more of your limbs has been amputated
  • You cannot walk without using a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, Zimmer frame, wheelchair, or other assistive device
  • You have a chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
  • You have a cardiac condition classified as either Class III or Class IV according to the standards set by the American Heart Association
  • You have severe lung disease
  • You are wholly dependent on portable oxygen
  • Your mobility is severely limited due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition
  • You are unable to walk 200 feet or more without assistance or stopping and resting
  • You have lung disease with forced expiratory volume (FEV) in 1 second is less than 1 liter or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest

You may qualify for a temporary disabled parking permit if:

  • You have a temporary mobility issue or are temporarily disabled
  • You are pregnant
  • Your bone is broken badly
  • You are in a state of recovery after surgery

First Steps: Obtain the Form and Visit a Medical Professional

So, after consulting the above list, you are quite sure that you qualify for a disabled parking permit. Unfortunately, the state of Alaska will not simply take your word for it. What you need to do now is to print out online (or get in person from the DMV) a copy of Form 861: Application for Disabled Parking Identification. Book an appointment with your medical practitioner and fill out the first part of the form.

A qualified medical professional in the eyes of the state of Alaska is one who is licensed to practice in Alaska. This may include the likes of a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, podiatrist, nurse practitioner, or chiropractor.

The medical professional will examine you, and if he or she considers you to meet the qualifications, he or she will certify you by filling out the second part of Form 861 for you.

Send the Form to the DMV

If you are applying for handicapped license plates, you must go to the DMV in person to submit your application. The only exception to this is if you live too far away for your trip to the DMV to be safe or practical. In such a case, the DMV will accept a mailed-in application.

Also, veterans who want to apply for veterans disabled plates have to include the Veterans’ Affairs disability certification along with their application form.

No fees must be paid in Alaska if you are applying for plates for the first time or for a placard.

All that remains is for you to bring your certified application in person to the DMV in Anchorage or to mail it to the following address:

State of Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles

ATTN: Disability Permit

1300 W. Benson Blvd, Suite 200

Anchorage, AK 99503

Different Kinds of Permits

Alaska provides a number of different forms of disabled parking permits. The permanent permits last five years, while the temporary permits last six months, and all permits are valid until the last day of the month stated on the parking permit. The different permits available are the temporary placard, the permanent placard, the permanent license plate, and the permanent disabled veterans license plate. 

Steps to Take After Receiving Your Permit in the Mail

Check if you received the correct kind of permit. If you were supposed to get a permanent permit but they sent a temporary one to you, contact the DMV to see if there is a problem with your application.

When you are driving or travelling by car, carry the placard with you in a safe location. Park your car in a handicapped space, and hang your placard on the rearview mirror. In the absence of a rearview mirror, a visible display of the placard on the dashboard will suffice. Don’t forget to remove the placard once you start driving again, or it might obstruct your vision and pose a danger to you and to others. License plates ought to be screwed securely to the bumpers of the car.

You may park in a handicapped spot anywhere in Alaska, and your Alaskan disabled parking permit is valid for many other states as well. Check with the local authorities before travelling to another state to determine your permit’s validity. Alaska accepts the permits of all other states.

How to Renew or Replace Your Permit

Alaska differs from other states in that when you renew or replace your permit, you are required to visit a medical professional and get certified again. The entire Alaskan application process starts from scratch, as though you had never had a permit before.

Conclusion

Remember to hang your permit while parking and to remove it while driving, and don’t forget to get medically recertified when your permit expires. We hope this guide helped you to fully understand and take advantage of your right as a disabled person to access handicapped parking.

What Is the Easiest Way to Obtain a Disabled Parking Permit in Alaska?

Although Alaska’s disabled parking permit rules are in many cases similar to many other states in the United States, there are a few particulars which are unique to Alaska, so they may require your attention if you live in or plan to travel to this beautiful state.

If you live in Alaska and have a legitimate need for a disabled parking permit so you can use the handicapped parking spaces, take advantage of the following simple guide—it will make the whole process relatively easy and painless for you.

Who Is Allowed to Get a Disabled Parking Permit?

If any of the points on the following lists apply to you, you likely qualify for a disabled parking permit.

You are eligible for a permanent disabled parking permit if:

  • A licensed physician declares your mobility to be impaired
  • You cannot walk without the assistance of a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, Zimmer frame, wheelchair, or other assistive device
  • You have a chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
  • You have a Class III or Class IV cardiac condition
  • You are an amputee
  • You use portable oxygen
  • Your ability to walk is severely limited due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition
  • You cannot walk more than 200 feet without stopping to rest
  • You are restricted by lung disease with forced expiratory volume (FEV) in 1 second is less than 1 liter or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest

You may be eligible for a temporary disabled parking permit if:

  • You are temporarily disabled
  • You have a broken limb
  • You are recovering from surgery
  • You are pregnant

Different Permits Available in Alaska

There are a few different kinds of disabled parking permits available in Alaska. Each kind is either permanent or temporary.

  • Placard (permanent)
  • Placard (temporary)
  • License Plate (permanent)
  • Disabled Veterans License Plate (permanent)

A permanent permit is valid for five years, while a temporary permit is valid for six months. Permits expire on the final day of the month which is shown on the parking permit.

Step 1: Obtain the Application and Fill out Part 1

You have determined yourself that you qualify for the disabled parking permit. Now you need Form 861: Application for Disabled Parking. This is available online to be downloaded and printed out, or you can pick the form up in person from the DMV.

Fill out Part 1 of the application form.

Step 2: Visit Your Doctor to Get Certified

Visit a doctor or other medical professional who is licensed to practice in the state of Alaska. The medical professional will examine you. If it is his or her professional opinion that you meet the disability qualifications, the medical professional will complete Part 2 of your application form, thus granting you a certification.

Step 3: Submit the Application to the DMV

If you are applying for handicapped license plates, the DMV will only accept applications made in person. The exception to this is if you live in too remote of an area. Only in that case can you mail in your application form to the DMV.

If you are a disabled veteran and you wish to apply for disabled veteran license plates, then include with your application a certification of disability from Veterans’ Affairs.

You will pay no fees in Alaska for the application if you are applying for a placard or if it is your first time applying for license plates.

Bring your completed application to submit it in person to the Division of Motor Vehicles in Anchorage.

Or:

Mail your completed application to the address below:

State of Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles

ATTN: Disability Permit

1300 W. Benson Blvd, Suite 200

Anchorage, AK 99503

Step 4: Receive and Use Your Permit

Make sure that you received the correct kind of permit. If you applied for a permanent permit but were sent a temporary permit instead, contact the DMV immediately to see if there are any problems or confusion with your application.

For license plates:

Affix the license plates firmly to the front and back bumpers of your car with screws.

For placards:

When you drive, carry the placard with you In the vehicle. When you park in a handicapped space, display the placard by hanging it from the rearview mirror (or if you don’t have a rearview mirror, by placing it prominently on the dashboard).

Remove the placard before driving. This is to prevent an obstruction citation and the obscuring of your field of vision.

You can park in any handicapped space in Alaska.

Also, your disabled parking permit from Alaska is valid for a number of other states as well. Before you travel to another state, look up the regulations at that state’s DMV website to determine the validity of your Alaska handicapped permit.

Alaska recognizes the validity of the permits of all other states.

Step 5: Renew or Replace Your Alaskan Permit When Necessary

In order to renew an expired permit or to replace a lost or stolen permit, repeat Steps 1 through 4.

Other states might allow you to renew or replace your permit without a new application and medical certification, but not Alaska. Alaska requires you to submit an entirely new application complete with a new medical certification.

Conclusion

If you are using a placard permit, please do not forget to display the placard on your front windshield when you park in a handicapped parking space, and please do not forget to remove it and stow it away safely when you start driving again!

If the expiration date of your permit is drawing near, don’t forget to book an appointment with a licensed medical professional to get a new certification.

We hope you found this step-by-step guide fairly easy to follow. Happy parking!

Who Is Qualified to Obtain a Disabled Parking Permit in Alaska?

If you suffer from either a permanent or a temporary physical disability that hinders your mobility, even the simple task of going to the grocery store to buy food may seem like a Herculean task to you. Thankfully, handicapped parking spaces (which are positioned much closer to the entrances of stores and other businesses) have been made available for people like you. You simply need a disabled parking permit in order to use the handicapped parking spaces.

But how does one obtain a disabled parking permit? Who is qualified for a permit, and what are the requirements and steps necessary to get it? Each state in the US has its own set of rules for determining who is qualified to receive a disabled parking permit. Read on to discover the simple steps you should take to get a disabled parking permit if you live in the state of Alaska.

See If You Meet the Qualifications

The rules in Alaska which dictate who is qualified to receive a disabled parking permit are similar to many other states, but there are a few qualifications specific to Alaska as well. Check the list below to see if any of the items applies to you. If so, then you most likely qualify for a disabled parking permit and can begin your application.

You qualify for a permanent disabled parking permit if:

  • A qualified Alaskan medical professional determines upon examining you that your mobility is impaired or that you suffer from a condition which hinders your mobility
  • You are unable to walk without using a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, Zimmer frame, wheelchair, or other assistive device
  • You are an amputee
  • You are dependent on a portable oxygen tank
  • You have a chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
  • You have a severe heart condition classified as either Class III or Class IV according to the standards set by the American Heart Association
  • You are restricted by lung disease
  • You are unable to walk 200 feet or more without assistance or stopping and resting
  • Your mobility is limited or impaired due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition
  • You have lung disease with forced expiratory volume (FEV) in 1 second is less than 1 liter or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest

You may qualify for a temporary disabled parking permit if:

  • You are pregnant
  • You are undergoing a period of rehabilitation after surgery
  • You have a badly broken bone
  • You are temporarily disabled or have a temporary mobility issue

Obtain a Physician’s or Medical Professional’s Certification

Perhaps the hardest and most tedious step in obtaining a disabled parking permit is filling out the requisite paperwork completely and correctly. For getting a permit in Alaska, go to the DMV and pick up Form 861: Application for Disabled Parking Identification (you can also download it from the DMV website and print it out).

Once you have the form, fill out part 1 and bring it to your doctor or qualified medical professional to get certified. A qualified medical professional must be one who is licensed to practice in the state of Alaska, such as a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, podiatrist, nurse practitioner, or chiropractor.

After you have been examined by the qualified medical professional and he or she deems you to be medically qualified for the disabled parking permit, he or she will fill out Part 2 of Form 861 for you.

Send the Form to the DMV

After obtaining a doctor or medical practitioner’s certification, mail the form to the DMV or bring it in person to the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles office in Anchorage. If you choose to mail it, send it to the address below:

State of Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles

ATTN: Disability Permit

1300 W. Benson Blvd, Suite 200

Anchorage, AK 99503

In Alaska, disabled parking placards are free, and if you are applying for a disabled license plate or veterans plate for the first time, those are free as well.

Any applications for a disabled license plate must be made in person at the DMV, unless you live in a region too remote from the DMV for travel to be practical, in which case you can mail in your application form.

If you wish to apply for a disabled veterans license plate, you must include with your application a disability certification from the VA.

Types of Disabled Parking Permits in Alaska

Alaska offers a few different kinds of disabled parking permits. The temporary placard is valid for six months. A permanent placard is valid for five years. A handicapped license plate and a disabled veteran’s license plate are also permanent and valid for five years. Each permit is valid until the end of the month displayed on the placard.

What to Do Once You Receive Your Permit

Make sure that you received the correct form of disabled parking permit. If you applied for and were certified for a permanent permit but you received a temporary permit, call the DMV to find out if there is something amiss with your application.

Take the placard with you when you are travelling by car and, after you park your car in a designated handicapped space, hang the placard from the rearview mirror of your car so it is clearly visible through the front windshield. If you have no rear view mirror, simply place the placard obviously and visibly on the dashboard. Remember to remove the placard and stow it safely away before the car is set in motion again. Failure to do so could result in a citation, since the hanging placard will block your vision and be considered an obstruction. License plates and veterans plates should be screwed to the front and back bumpers of your car.

You can use your disabled parking permit to park in any handicapped parking space in Alaska. You can also use it in most other states, but you should consult the DMV of that state beforehand to make sure. Alaska considers all other states’ disabled parking permits to be valid within its borders.

Permit Renewal and Replacement

In Alaska, in order to renew an expired permit or replace a lost permit, you must start over with a completely new application and get a new certification from a medical professional. Alaska is different from many other states in this regard, because in those other states, you do not have to get recertified by a physician.

Conclusion

We hope this guide was helpful to you in clarifying what needs to be done to obtain a disabled parking permit in Alaska. Remember to hang the permit while parking and to remove it while driving, and don’t forget to get medically recertified.

What is the Fastest Way to Get a Disability Parking Permit in Alaska?

Many millions of Americans face serious challenges when it comes to dealing with disabilities, but thankfully the government has programs in place to help ease the stress of having to manage their mobility while dealing with their condition. If you’re one of the many individuals in the US who is disabled and looking for a way to make commuting easier, you may be interested in acquiring a disability parking permit that lets you park closer to government, commercial and residential buildings. This guide will help inform you about the important steps to take to acquire a disability parking permit in Alaska and the fastest way to get your hands on one.

Who Qualifies for a Disability Parking Permit in Alaska

There are many different rules and regulations related to who is eligible for a disability parking permit in different states across America. Alaska has its own set of rules as well, and they differ from other states. The qualifying conditions for individuals looking to obtain a disability parking permit are as follows:

  • You must use portable oxygen through your day
  • You are unable to use one or both legs to walk
  • You are unable to walk at least 200 feet with or without an assisted device without stopping
  • You are unable to walk without using a device to assist you such as braces, crutches, prosthetic device, wheelchair, canes, a walker, another person, etc.
  • You suffer from an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition that severely limits your ability to walk
  • You have a cardiac condition that is classified as a Class III or Class IV as defined by the standards set by the American Heart Association.

If any of these conditions apply to you or you have other special circumstances falling into similar categories, then you may be eligible to receive a parking permit. It is important that individuals who plan to use transportation either by an organization, themselves, or a loved one apply for a disability parking permit in the state of Alaska to help them receive the benefits that are associated with this permit.

Speak with Your Doctor: Important Steps to Apply for a Disability Parking Permit

If you are an individual who is eligible for a disability parking permit in the state of Alaska, then there are specific steps that must be taken to help you obtain your permit efficiently. Every individual who wishes to obtain this permit must meet with a licensed physician in the state of Alaska to have their doctor fill out the proper portion of the application to state that they are legally disabled and that their condition falls under the qualifications for this permit.

How to File Your Application for a Disability Parking Permit in Alaska

Applicants must complete and sign the Application for Disabled Parking Identification (Form 861). This form is obtainable online or directly from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Any and all applicants are able to submit this form in person at the DMV or via postal mail.

Applicants are required to fill out part one of the form, and their physician is to fill out part two of the form. The form must be completed in full before submission or the request for the disability parking permit will be denied.

There is no fee associated with the application for a disability perking permit. This allows any individuals who are unable to pay a fee but need to have a disability permit to help them with their daily mobility to be able to apply for a permit without any problems.

Length of Validity for a Disability Parking Permit in Alaska

In the state of Alaska there are two different lengths of validity for disability parking permits. The temporary parking permit is valid for a length of 6 months. A permanent disability parking permit is valid for a period of 5 years. If you have been issued a temporary disability parking permit and believe this length of time is in error, then you must contact your DMV to help resolve this issue.

What to Do With Your Disability Parking Permit

Once you have received your disability parking permit, it is important that you place it in a visible area within your vehicle so that you may legally park in a disabled parking space within the state of Alaska. Failure to do so may result in a parking violation which will have to be attended to within the court system in the state of Alaska.

The ideal location for your parking permit would be to hang it from your rearview mirror inside your vehicle. This will allow traffic officers the visibility necessary to identify your vehicle as legally eligible to park in a handicap space. The alternative to placing this placard on your rearview mirror would be to place it on your dashboard where it can be visible from your windshield.

The parking permit must be displayed during the time that your vehicle is parked, but the placard must be removed when the car is in motion or you may receive a violation for having an obstruction in your view as you drive.

How to Renew Your Disability Parking Permit in Alaska

If your permit is about to expire, you can request a renewal for your permit by submitting a new application for a disability parking permit. Alternatively, individuals can print a copy of their ALVIN record to show that the applicant has previously received a parking permit and brought to the DMV to request a renewal. Individuals with a temporary permit must resubmit their application. Applicants must renew their permit before the last day of the month written on the expiration date that is on the placard.

What to Do if You Have Lost Your Placard

A replacement permit can be issued when a permit has been lost, destroyed, or stolen. The applicant must print out a copy of the permit record from the ALVIN files and then state the reason that a new permit is being requested. This should be written directly on the print-out. After this, the applicant must sign the statement and immediately enter a message on the ALVIN record using the “U” (update) function to let others know what happened to the previously issued permit.

Conclusion

If you are interested in applying for a disability parking permit in the state of Alaska, you must set up an appointment with your doctor to get through the process as fast as possible. Once you have been cleared by your physician, you can submit your application and you will receive your placard in a short time after your application has been processed.