How to Apply for a Handicap Parking Permit in Massachusetts

Laws vary from state-to-state when you are looking to apply for a handicap parking permit. These changes can cause difficulties if you are not sure where to begin. If you are applying in Massachusetts, allow the below guide to help you.

How to Determine If You are Eligible

In Massachusetts you will need to check if you legally qualify for the parking permit. See the following qualifications to help you determine when to apply:

  • You have lost permanent use of a limb, or lost a limb
  • You cannot walk 200 feet or more without help
  • You are legally blind (will cause you to automatically lose your license)
  • You have severe arthritis
  • You have chronic lung disease with forced expiratory volume in one second less than one liter

Why You Need a Physician

You will need to find a health care provider to certify your disabilities. You will fill out the first page of the application and your provider will fill out and sign the second page. Veterans may apply if your disability is 60% service-connected and confirmed through the Veteran’s Administration

How to Apply

You are encouraged to visit, in person or online, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Medical Affairs (RMV) office for the application. You may choose to bring the application in person or mail the application but beware of mailing cash for the fees.

If you are needing a handicap placard, only, there are no fees. If you need a license plate you will be charged $60 for vehicles or $20 for motorcycles. All the veteran plates will be free, if you are eligible and can be picked up at the Massachusetts RMV.

What is a Massachusetts Disabled Veterans Plates?

The application process is like your standard application for a parking permit. Additionally, you will need to submit your verified letter from the Veteran’s Administration (VA) along with your application through the Massachusetts RMV. Many benefits come after an approval of plates, such as:

  • Acquiring your Driver’s License with no fees
  • Registering your Disabled Veterans plate, free
  • You will have no sales tax on your vehicle that is registered (eligible on vehicles no older than November 1, 2006)
  • You will be exempt from the Excise Tax on your same vehicle

After satisfying all requirements, you will not need to renew your Disabled Veterans Plate for two years.

How to Renew Your Plates and Placards

If you have a temporary disability placard, you will be required to submit a new application with a new certification from your health care provider. For your permanent placards, a new one will be mailed to you by the time of your expiration.

Massachusetts is one of the most relaxed states for temporary placards. These placards are valid from 2-24 months, depending upon your disability and your medical certification needs. You are allowed to transfer your temporary status to a permanent status with the correct certification by your medical doctor and payment of any fees appropriate to your status change.

Your permanent placard is valid for five years and will automatically renew when yours expires. The new placard will be sent in the mail two weeks before the expiration date. Once you receive the new placard, immediately return your expired placard to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Medical Affairs office.

What You Need to Do to Report Permit Abuse

If you suspect or see a disabled parking permit not being used properly you will be required to report:

  • The vehicle’s license plate number
  • The location where you saw the abuse
  • A description of the vehicle in question
  • A description of the person you believe to have committed the abuse
  • Your description of the events leading you to believe abuse is happening

The RMV may ask you to provide documentation to authenticate your information used in your application. If you falsely provide information to obtain a placard, you will be investigated by the RMV and are subject to fines associated with abuse. You must place your placard to be visible through the windshield of your vehicle, or you are subject to a $50 fine.

How to Replace Your Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Placard

If you need to have your disability placard replaced for any of the above reasons, you need to submit the following to the Massachusetts RMV:

  • Your Date of Birth
  • Your Social Security number
  • Your Placard number (if you know it)

Your lost, stolen, or damaged parking placard will be cancelled, and you will be issued a new placard at no additional cost to you. If you have more than one replacement in 12 months, more than three in a five-year period, you may be subject to fines and penalties associated with misuse.

The Massachusetts RMV reserves the right to deny you any replacement placards based on:

  • Your replacement requests for temporary or permanent placards
  • If evidence of misuse against you or another person is found by the Massachusetts RMV
  • A formal review of your original submitted application for a placard
  • If your updated medical ailments will allow you to drive safely
  • Your medical certification is up to date from your health care provider
  • Your sworn affidavit of any instance leading up to your request for a replacement

Abuse of your placard or any attempt to replace your permit by lying will result in a $500 fine for your first offense and $1,000 for your next offense.

How to Find a Massachusetts RMV Location

There are many branches of the Registry of Motor Vehicles across Massachusetts. Generally, Massachusetts encourages you to apply at the closest location to your residence. Luckily, most counties in the state have an RMV office for you to apply in person.

Conclusion

Massachusetts’ handicap parking permit laws seem extensive for you to follow, but if you abide by them and follow the guide, you will be able to obtain your placard in no time. Keep your medical certification up to date and your medical doctor well informed of your condition.

How to Apply for a Handicap Parking Permit in Massachusetts

If you are stuck and looking to apply for your handicap parking permit, listen to this. Each State in the United States have different laws when it comes to applying. The outlined stipulations, guidelines, and rules will help you identify the requirements.

What Do I Need to be Eligible?

Your first step you need to observe are the qualifications of Massachusetts’ parking permit laws:

You have lost permanent use of a limb, or lost a limb
You cannot walk 200 feet or more without help
You are legally blind (you will lose your driver’s license)
You have severe arthritis
You have chronic lung disease with forced expiratory volume in one second less than one liter

What Other Qualifying Factors You Need

You must have a licensed medical professional to be able to apply through the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Your obtained medical physician will need to fill out page two of the application for your disabled parking permit. This will serve as your medical certification, as required by the Massachusetts RMV.

What are the Ways You Can Apply?

For you to begin to fill out your application, be sure to have all your identifying information available. You will need to decide if you want to submit your application via mail or in person. If you select by mail, you must send your filled and signed application to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Medical Affairs Office in Boston, MA:

Medical Affairs/RMV Office

P.O. Box 55889, Boston, MA 02205

Veterans Disabled Plates are available, to you, to apply. You will be asked to verify your qualifying information through the Veteran’s Administration (VA). If you need a plate for your vehicle the fees are $60 and $20 for motorcycles.

How to Secure Your Disabled Veterans Plate

Your verified letter from the Veteran’s Administration will be the key for your application for plates. Applying without a Disabled Veterans Plate and your application for one, are similar. With your Disabled Veterans Plate you will reap the benefits below:

  • Fee free for your Driver’s License
  • No fee for your registration of your Disabled Veterans Plate
  • You are not subjected to a sales tax on your vehicle that is registered (not eligible on vehicles older than November 1, 2006)
  • Exemption from the Excise Tax on your vehicle

Your Disabled Veterans Plate will be valid for two years before requiring you to renew.

What to Do to Renew Your Placard

If you applied for a temporary disability placard, you are required to submit a new application to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, along with a new certification from your physician. If you applied for a permanent placard, you do not need to worry about renewing for a period of five years.

In Massachusetts, the laws for temporary cards are very lenient. Depending on your disability and your options to transfer, temporary placards are valid from 2-24 months. You may transfer your temporary placard to a permanent placard if you pay the appropriate fees and re-certification from your physician.

Your permanent placard will automatically renew two weeks prior to the end of the five-year period. The new placard will be sent to you in the mail. Immediately return your expired placard to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Medical Affairs office to avoid penalties.

How to Report Abuse

Follow these rules if you believe you have witnessed a form of disabled parking permit abuse:

  1. The vehicle’s license plate number
  2. The location where you saw the abuse
  3. A description of the vehicle in question
  4. A description of the person you believe to have committed the abuse
  5. Provide your description of each event leading up to the abuse

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles could ask you to provide accurate information and documentation to authenticate your information used in your application. If you lie on your application in order to obtain a placard you could be investigated and are subject to fines and perjury laws. Your placard needs to be hung on your rearview mirror with the expiration date visible through the windshield, otherwise a $50 will be issued.

What to Do If Your Placard is Lost

If your handicap placard is lost, stolen, or damaged you need to submit the following to the Massachusetts RMV:

  • Your Date of Birth
  • Your Social Security number
  • Your Disability Placard number (if you know it)

Once the RMV receives your request, your original placard will be cancelled, and you do not have to pay an extra cost for replacement. You may not request a replacement more than once within 12 months, or more than three in a five-year period. Too many replacements will trigger a possible misuse or abuse against you.

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will investigate:

  • The amount of your replacement requests for temporary or permanent placards
  • Any evidence of misuse or abuse, by you
  • A formal review of your original submitted application for a placard
  • Your medical conditions change and not allow you to drive
  • Your physician contacted by the RMV
  • Your affidavit, if needed, of your indications of what happened

Fines in excess of $500 will be issued against you if you perjure your replacement placard. Fines in the second or more offense will be $1,000.

Where are the Massachusetts RMV Locations?

Throughout Massachusetts you will find the branches of the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The RMV encourages you to apply at the location nearest you. A diligent amount of research may be required for you to submit your application.

Every county has a location but remember if you are mailing your application to refer to the address in Boston as listed earlier. All of the forms you need are available for printing online.

Assessment

The handicap parking permit laws of Massachusetts were established to keep you safe. A big problem is abuse of placards but could cause you undue stress. Stay refreshed and conform to this guide to help you apply for your disability placards.

Where You Can Apply for a Disabled Parking Permit in Massachusetts

You’re sitting at home, scouring the internet for a site so can you apply for your disabled parking permit. You are confused by all the rules within your state and your frustration levels rise. The rules and regulations vary from state to state for your handicap parking permit and without a little help, it’ll leave your mind jumbled, irritated and may cause you to throw in the towel. The below outline will guide you through the process, so that you don’t feel alone.

How Do You Qualify?

Massachusetts is one of the most compassionate states, when it comes to accessing your handicap placard. Massachusetts cares for the disabled and elderly, so you can smoothly guide through the application. Although, two pages long, you fill out and sign the first page, and your medical physician fills out and signs the second page. Understand, you will need your physician to confirm your disability on the application, for you to be approved for the placard.

Massachusetts qualifying identities for your disability placard are outlined below:

  • You are legally blind
  • You have lost permanent use of a limb, or lost a limb
  • You have a prosthetic limb
  • You have a chronic lung disease that requires oxygen, or you are at a forced expiratory level of 1 liter or less, in one second
  • You cannot walk 200 feet or more without assistance
  • You have severe arthritis

You are required, by law, to update any changes in your medical condition and have your physician certify the changes, to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

What is the Application Process?

You will need to retrieve an application online, or in person to mail or return in person at your local Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) department. If you mail the application, after completion and include appropriate fees, you will need to send to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Medical Affairs Office in Boston. Additionally, if you choose to register a disabled plate, your vehicle will cost you $60 and $20 for your motorcycle. Do not mail cash, please bring your cash in person to the Massachusetts RMV, along with your application for submission.

How Do I Qualify for a Disabled Veterans Plate?

If you are a veteran, the Veteran’s Administration (VA) will be required to verify your disability to add to your application. Your Veteran’s Disabled Plate will allow multiple benefits for your registration, like:

  1. No charge to register your vehicle associated with your plate
  2. No charge for your Driver’s License
  3. You will be exempt from the Excise Tax for your vehicle
  4. You will not be subjected to the sales tax on your vehicle younger than November 1, 2006

As another bonus, you will only be required to register your Veteran’s Disabled Plate every two years.

How You Use Your Placard

Once you are a placard holder, you will need to follow the usage rules established by Massachusetts law. You will need to hang your parking placard on your rearview mirror, inside of your car. The expiration date will have to be visible through your windshield for law enforcement to review, upon checking your parked status.

When You Need to Renew or Replace Your Placard

You need to asses if you will be applying for a permanent or temporary disability placard. Your temporary placards are valid from 2-24 months and permanent ones are valid until you are deceased. Check with your physician to see if you qualify for permanent disability.

Replacement cards are available to you at no extra cost and are subject to the policies and procedures of the Massachusetts RMV. If your placard is lost, you will need to provide your:

  • Date of Birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Disability Placard Number (if you know it)

You will be allowed one replacement placard per year and no more than three replacement placards within five years. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will launch an investigation into your eligibility if anymore are requested.

What Your Consequences are for Abuse and Misuse

If you fraudulently obtain a handicap parking placard, there are severe consequences. Massachusetts recently instated new regulations to incorporate punishment. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles may flag your original application and investigate the listed below:

  • Directly contacting your physician that supplied your medical certification
  • Thoroughly review your original application
  • Review and punish according to evidence gathered of abuse or misuse, by you or another person
  • The sum of replacement cards requested by you

If you suspect abuse of a placard or plate, you are directed to inform law enforcement immediately. Positively, gather the correct information and submit your reasoning as to why you believe abuse was committed by the suspect. You need identifying information of the vehicle, the license plate number of the vehicle, description of the vehicle, description of the suspected person of abuse, and the location of where the alleged abuse happened.

FIne amount Description of fine
$500 First Offense of using a deceased person’s placard
$1,000 Second or subsequent Offense of using a deceased person’s placard
$500 First Offense of lying to receive a placard
$1,000 Second Offense of lying to receive a placard
$100 If you do not return a cancelled placard
$50 Obstructing a placard number or expiration date

Where are the Massachusetts Branches?

Before submission, review your entire application and gather all of your required paperwork. If you don’t have some of the information asked on your application, you may be denied a disabled parking placard. Overall, there are 30 locations in Massachusetts, for you to visit in person to submit your application. The RMV encourages you to visit a location nearest you for accessibility and expediting the verification process.

What Your Next Steps Are

Through your frustrations, collect all your data and documents. You must remain current with the rules and regulations of the state of Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Allow this outline to transition your application into a successful retrieval of your disability parking permit.

What Steps You Should Take to Get a Disability Parking Permit in Massachusetts

As you all know, it takes a great deal of research to obtain a disabled parking permit. Every state’s laws are different and within each state the local laws vary. As outlined below, you will need to follow these steps to effectively retrieve your handicap parking permit in Massachusetts.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Meet?

Step 1:

Massachusetts requires certain disabilities, as verified by your licensed medical professional, in order for you to be qualified for a disability parking permit, one or more of the following must apply:

  1. You must not be able to walk 200 feet or more without assistance
  2. You must have severe arthritis
  3. You must require oxygen to breathe
  4. You must have lost eternal use of a limb, or lost a limb
  5. You must be legally blind
  6. You must have a prosthetic

Why Do You Need a Health Care Provider?

Step 2:

In order to satisfy the legal requirements to apply for a handicap parking permit, you must obtain a medical certification by a licensed medical professional. This step is one of the most important to remember, as you will have to update your medical certification as requested by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

  1. Locate your health care provider
  2. Have your Health care provider certify your disability
  3. On the second page of the application, have your health care provider fill out and sign the page

How You Fill Out Your Application

Step 3 (a):

You will need to fill out and sign the first page of the application for a disability placard and your health care provider will fill out and sign the second page of the application. You must get a copy of the application from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. You need to:

  1. Locate your nearest Massachusetts RMV branch
  2. Pick-up the application for disabled parking placards/plates
  3. Decide if you are applying for Temporary or Permanent Placard status (See Step 5)
  4. Gather all of your necessary documents to complete page one of the application
  5. Provide your second page of your application to your health care provider
  6. Drop-off your application and documents at your Massachusetts RMV Branch
  7. Fees for plates- $60/vehicle and $20/motorcycle
  8. Receive your approval for a disabled parking placard!

What if You are a Disabled Veteran?

Step 3 (b):

If you find yourself as a disabled veteran, you will need to follow the same steps with a few differences. You are qualified for a Disabled Veteran Plate with added benefits that regular plate or placard holders are not allowed. Your disabled veteran plate benefits include:

  1. Free registration of your vehicle with your plate
  2. Free Driver’s License
  3. Exempt from Excise Tax
  4. Exempt from sales tax on your vehicle (November 1, 2006 models and above)

What You Need to Do After You Receive Your Placard

Step 4:

You must follow all procedures established by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicle, state and local laws:

  1. Hang your placard in your rearview mirror
  2. Face your expiration date outwards (visible through our windshield)
  3. Do NOT hang your placard while your vehicle is in motion
  4. You must carry your Medical Certification in your vehicle

When You Must Renew or Replace Your Placard

Step 5:

After you have submitted your temporary or permanent disabled parking placard application, what happens when you need to renew or replace your placard? Keep in mind, you are obligated to return your expired placards to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor vehicles to avoid a $100 penalty. Review your rules:

  1. Temporary and Permanent Placards
  2. Temporary
  1. Valid for you 2-24 months
  2. Transfer, if needed, to Permanent Placard subject to new application and medical certification
  3. Pay appropriate fees, if needed
  4. Permanent
  1. Valid for five years
  2. Massachusetts RMV will send your new placard via mail two weeks prior to expiration
  3. Replacement Parking Placards
  1. Date of Birth
  2. Social Security Number
  3. Placard Number (if known)
  4. No cost to you
  5. You are only allotted one replaced placard in 12 months and no more than three in a five-year period

What are the Abuse and Misuse Laws You Need to Follow?

Step 6:

Massachusetts set forth strict laws to its citizens to help you safely use your parking placard. If you suspect fraud or abuse, report immediately to your local law enforcement agency by:

  1. You must get the license plate number
  2. You must describe the vehicle
  3. You must provide the location
  4. You must describe the perpetrator
  5. You must describe the events leading to your viewed abuse

If you are the abuser or misuser of your disabled parking placard you will be subject to:

  1. Investigation into the offenses committed
  2. Investigation of the evidence against you
  3. Punishment of the offense(s) and fined from $50-$1,000
  4. Revocation of your Placard or Plate

Where You Need to Find the Massachusetts Locations

Step 7:

Branch locations of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles are scattered throughout the state. It’s always best for you to visit the location nearest you when applying or picking up and dropping off your disability parking placards. Review the below list for a location near you:

  1. Attleboro
  2. Boston
  3. Braintree
  4. Brockton
  5. Chicopee
  6. Danvers
  7. Easthampton
  8. Fall River
  9. Greenfield
  10. Haverhill

Where to Apply for Your Disabled Parking in Massachusetts

Many of you are wondering how you can apply for a parking permit in your great state of Massachusetts. The application process can be lengthy and time-consuming for many disabled and elderly people. The process is simple, if you follow through to the end and remember that all states have varying laws for disabled parking placards.

You will have to meet several qualifications for you to be considered for a disabled parking placard. You will need to find a licensed physician to help with your application and will be required to give you a medical certification. There are several ailments that will help you meet the requirements of the Massachusetts handicap laws:

  • If you cannot walk 200 or more feet
  • If you are legally blind
  • If you have severe arthritis
  • If you require oxygen or cannot breathe more than one liter of air in one second
  • If you have a chronic lung disease

Your physician will be the deciding factor for your disability, if you have a disability. For you to apply, you will need to visit a location closest to you of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). You must be a year-round resident and cannot have any parking or traffic tickets.

Along with your application, you will need to attach fees if you are registering your vehicle as a plate, instead of a placard. Those fees are $60 for a vehicle and $20 for a motorcycle. You may choose to send your completed application through the mail, but the Massachusetts RMV discourages cash through the mail.

Massachusetts does offer a Veterans Disabled Plate option, for you who are applicable. Much like the original application, you will need a verified letter from the Veteran’s Administration. The Veterans Disabled Plate allows exemptions of the Excise Tax and state sales tax of your registered vehicle, along with free registration for the veteran’s plate and free driver’s licensing.

  • Handicap Accessible Parking

Additional to your application, you may apply for a handicap accessible space in your city. You will need to have your application notarized by you and certified by your physician like the application for the disabled parking permit. You will need to have your disability placard or plate approved and this application process takes anywhere from six to eight weeks.

There are requirements you must meet to have a handicap accessible space near your home. You will need to meet the same residency requirements of one year or longer, your disability has to be one year old and your mobility must be severe, you must have a vehicle registered at your address, and you must use your car daily.

What to Do After Your Application is Accepted

Following approval of your application, you will need to pick-up your disability placard from your Massachusetts RMV. You will need to hang your placard in the rearview mirror of your car and be sure the expiration date is visible through the windshield. You will not be allowed to have your placard hanging while you drive.

Massachusetts is a convenient state when it comes to disabled parking permits, you may travel state-to-state and your placard will remain valid, and vice-versa. The laws state that if you are an out-of-state traveler, your placard will be valid in Massachusetts. However, there are policies in place to protect you and your placard from harm.

  • If Your Placard is Abused or Misused

There are numerous laws in place to protect those of you that are using disabled parking permits. Unfortunately, handicap parking permit abuse is all too frequent in Massachusetts, Boston particularly. The State had to place consequences on those who chose to disobey the parking regulations.

If you are found to misuse your placard, the Massachusetts RMV will be forced to revoke your disability placard and you will not be permitted to apply again. Lying on your application will cause an investigation into you, anyone you live with, and your physician. You will also be subject to fines in excess of $1,000.

  1. How to Report Abuse
    • Identify the location of alleged abuse
    • Call your local police station to report
    • Identify the car of alleged abuse
    • Provide descriptions of the person and the vehicle

How to Prepare Your Renewal and Replacement Procedures

Another set of rules apply to you and your placards when you renew or replace. After the new placards have been sent, you are instructed to return your expired placard instantly to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to avoid a $100 fine.

Your permanent disability placard will renew every five years and your temporary disability placard is renewable between 2-24 months. Your temporary disabled parking placard can be transferred, but a new application, medical certification, and fees are due. Your permanent placard will be sent two weeks before the expiration date of your current placard.

If need be, you may have your placard replaced if it is lost, stolen or damaged at no additional cost. You need to be observant and keep record of your replacement placards, because if you have more than three replacements within five years it could be detrimental to your future applications for disabled permits. For you to be able to have your disability placard replaced you will need to provide your:

  • Date of Birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Disability Placard Number, if available

Where are Your Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Locations?

By now, you are familiar with your city and state RMV locations. Remember, you must be a permanent resident to receive a disabled parking placard or plate, in Massachusetts. You need to go directly to your branch that is closest to you.

There are 30 locations to serve your individual needs from Attleboro to Worcester. You will need to ensure all of your paperwork and your medical certification is up to date. Your application will likely need to be notarized, so check to see that your signature and your doctor’s signature is valid.