How to Use a New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit

Having a New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit can allow you to utilize parking spaces that have been set aside for the specific use of those who require easier accommodations. Because of this, it’s very possible that having such a permit will make your day to day life much easier!

However, it’s very important to know which things you can do with a Disabled Parking Permit, and which you cannot. Abusing the privileges associated with your disabled parking permit may result in revocation of your permit. Read on for a detailed guide describing the rights and responsibilities you will be held to regarding your New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit.

Know which type of permit you have

One of the easiest but most crucial pieces of information which will help you manage your disabled parking permit is simply knowing which type of permit you have. In New Hampshire, there are two different types of disabled parking permits.

Temporary. A temporary disabled parking permit will allow you to use parking spaces clearly designated as for disabled parking spaces for a specific time period of up to six months.
Permanent. A permanent disabled parking permit will allow you to use clearly marked disabled parking spaces for an unspecified period of time (longer than six months). Permanent disabled parking permits last for five years before it is required for you to renew them.

Whether you have a permanent or temporary disabled parking permit, you will have to go through the renewal process to continue enjoying the privileges associated with your permit.

How to Renew your New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit

When your disabled parking permit is getting close to its expiration date, please begin the steps to renew your parking permit. It is recommended that you begin the process no later than two weeks prior to the official expiration date, as it may take several business days for your renewal to be submitted and processed.

Here are the steps to follow to get your disabled parking permit renewed:

Print out the Application for Walking Disability Privileges. This form can be found on the website of the New Hampshire Department of Safety, or at any local Department of Motor Vehicles.
Obtain medical approval from a licensed physician. This can be either a local physician that you know and can visit in person, or a medical professional visited via video chat.
Submit your application. If you spoke with a doctor in person to obtain medical approval, you will have to mail your application in or bring it by a Department of Motor Vehicles. If you decided to video chat with an online doctor, your application will be emailed to the New Hampshire Department of Safety.

After you submit your application, continue using your old permit until your old permit officially expires. Wait to receive your new permit in the mail before you resume using your disabled parking permit privileges. Do not use an expired parking permit to park in a disabled parking spot, as you may be liable to disciplinary action.

What to Do if you Lost or Mislaid Your Parking Permit

It happens to the best of us: If you find that you have misplaced your disabled parking permit, please follow the steps below.

Write a letter to your Department of Motor Vehicles stating that you have lost your placard. You can find the address of your nearest department on the New Hampshire Department of Safety website. This letter should include your full name, date of birth, and your complete mailing address.
Wait until you receive your replacement placards to enjoy the privileges associated with your disabled parking permit.

How to Use your Disabled Parking Permit

Once you have received your disabled parking permit in the mail, it’s important that you use it well or you may be subject to its revocation.

Please note that in New Hampshire the disabled parking permit is issued to you, and not to a specific car. You can, therefore, take it with you and use it in any vehicle in which you may be traveling.

When you have found and successfully parked in a disabled parking space (which will be marked by either a sign or a universal disabled handicap symbol painted on the ground), please take the parking placard and hang it from your rear-view mirror in the front of your car.

After you have completed your errand or appointment and are ready to leave the parking space, please remember to remove the placard from your window. As it is a large placard, driving with it still attached to the window will result in it dangling into your field of vision. Please avoid this dangerous and illegal situation by removing it at any time the vehicle is in motion.

Out of State Disabled Drivers

If you do not live in New Hampshire but are visiting and would like to enjoy the use of the disabled parking spaces, please make sure that you have a valid, non-expired parking permit from your current state of residence. Then, please follow all of the above rules as to its proper usage. Your home state placard will work for New Hampshire disabled parking on a temporary basis.

Similarly, if you are a resident of New Hampshire, travel outside of New Hampshire, and wish to use your disabled parking permit, please ensure that your permit is completely up to date. it can then be used outside of New Hampshire state lines for universal access.

The State of New Hampshire has made several accommodations for its contingent of disabled drivers, including easily accessible parking spaces, useful access aisles, and free parking during certain windows of time in the downtown area. However, you can only use these privileges if you apply proper practices to your parking permit.

Always remember to place your disabled parking permit on your mirror when you park and remove it when you drive. Remembering these simple guidelines will ensure that you will always be able to enjoy the privileges associated with your New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit.

How To Get Your New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit

If you’re currently suffering from a disability or any condition which makes it difficult for you to walk, you may be eligible to receive Walking Disability Privileges within the state of New Hampshire. These accommodations will likely make your day-to-day life easier, so it’s worth looking into! Please continue reading for a guide to assist you in obtaining this permit.

Make Sure You’re Eligible

To receive a New Hampshire Certificate of Walking Disability, you must meet two basic criteria:

You must be a resident of the state of New Hampshire, and you must have a valid, official New Hampshire State Identification Card.
You must be deemed medically eligible to receive these privileges. To confirm that these privileges are necessary because of your condition, you will be required to work with a licensed physician to complete your application package.

Gather Your Materials

The most time-consuming part of any application process is usually the preparation, but preparation is crucial. If any of your materials are missing or incomplete, your Certificate of Walking Disability will not be issued or will take a much longer time for you to receive.

The materials and information that you will require to successfully submit your application are:

The original Application for Walking Disability Privileges, filled out by you and your doctor. This document can be downloaded from the State of New Hampshire Department of Safety website. Please be sure to carefully read both pages of this document.

The appropriate fee. New Hampshire Certificates of Walking Disability come at no charge if you are only looking to receive one or two placards for use in your vehicle(s). If, however, you will require a set of Walking Disability license plates, the associated fee will be eight dollars.

Physician approval: The Application for Walking Disability Privileges has a comprehensive section that must be filled out by a licensed physician. There are currently two methods for obtaining this approval.

Obtain a Physician’s Approval

As Certificates of Walking Disability do grant the holder certain rights and conveniences that are only available in very limited quantities, it is in everyone’s best interest that only those who are verified as requiring these rights and conveniences can access them. Therefore, to proceed with your application, you will need to speak with a doctor.

If you have a personal physician or if your condition allows you to make a trip to visit a local doctor in person, simply take the Application for Walking Disability Privileges along with you to an appointment. Your doctor will help you complete the form, which can then be submitted for approval.

If, however, this will present difficulties to you because of your life circumstances, there is an additional way that you can speak with a doctor. With a simple video chat online, you can discuss your options with a licensed physician. After your call, your application will be emailed to your registrar office — no printing or in-person appointments required.

Submit Your Materials

For Applications for Walking Disability Privileges in the state of New Hampshire, the form (once completed in full) should be mailed along with any associated fees to the New Hampshire Department of Safety. The correct address is available at the top of your application, which can be downloaded from the Department of Safety website.

However, if you video chat with a doctor online, immediately after your call, the form will be emailed to the Department of Safety for you.

Wait to Receive the Approval

As there is a large volume of applications received each month at the New Hampshire Department of Safety, it may take up to a few weeks before you receive your placards in the mail. The timeline will depend on whether your mailed your application in or if you emailed your application; however, either way, please note that you must wait to receive your placards before enjoying the benefits associated with your certificate.

Once You Receive Your New Hampshire Certificate of Walking Disability

Congratulations! Once you have received your materials in the mail, take a few minutes to place them in your vehicle. If you requested plates, please properly affix them to the front and back of your car. If you requested placards, know that New Hampshire issues them to you, and not to a specific vehicle, so you can take home with you regardless of which car you happen to be using.

Perhaps the most important rule to remember for proper utilization of your disabled parking materials is the timing and placement of your placards. Your disabled parking placards should be hung from the rear-view mirror in the front of your car, but only when the vehicle is stationary and already parked.

Please remember to remove the placard from your vehicle before you start to drive again. Having a large dangling object in your field of vision is both dangerous and illegal. For your safety and the safety of others, make a habit of removing it before you drive away.

Check the date posted on your New Hampshire Certificate of Walking Disability and associated materials. The Department of Public Safety recommends that you begin the renewal process, if you plan to do so, at least two weeks before the noted date of expiration.

Finally, remember to be a courteous steward of this privilege. Please refrain from parking in such a way as to take up multiple parking spaces or to obstruct the adjacent access aisles. Doing so repeatedly may make you liable for disciplinary action.

In New Hampshire, those drivers who are handicapped in such a way as to make walking difficult may be eligible to receive a Certificate of Walking Disability. This may entitle you to more easily accessible parking spaces, or even free parking spaces in the downtown area during certain windows. Whenever you need to apply for or renew your parking placards or plates, refer to this guide for the specific ways to do so.

Who Can Qualify for a New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit

The process for obtaining a New Hampshire Certificate of Walking Disability can result in your enjoying many privileges. These rights will make day to day life with your condition much easier through the use of parking space much closer to your final destination. However, because these parking spaces are limited in number, the state requires a verification process to make sure that your condition requires the use of these spaces.

To complete your application for a New Hampshire Certificate of Walking Disability, therefore, you will need to work with a licensed physician to confirm your disability. There are currently two main ways of doing so.

Talk to a Doctor in Person

If your life circumstances and disability allow you to do so, one method of obtaining the required approval is simply to go speak with a local doctor in person. When you do so, bring a physical copy of the New Hampshire Application for Walking Disability Privileges. The second part of this form will help you and your physician determine your eligibility.

To determine your eligibility for a New Hampshire Certificate of Walking Disability, you and your physician will discuss your condition in light of the following requirements.

Conditions Eligible for a New Hampshire Certificate of Walking Disability

If you meet one of the following criteria, you will be eligible to receive a parking permit which allows you to park in disabled-only sections of parking lots.

If you use any type of portable oxygen system;
If you have any kind of debilitating cardiac condition which affects your life to such an extent that you meet the standards for Class III or Class IV heart failure as defined by the American Heart Association;
As the name of the certificate implies, if you are unable to walk or if your ability to walk easily is significantly impaired due to any disabling, medical condition. Examples of such conditions may include arthritic, orthopedic, or neurological systemic issues; please discuss with your physician whether yours is eligible;
If you have lung disease, and it restricts your breathing to such an extent that your expiratory volume or forced respiratory volume is less than one liter for one second when appropriately measured, or if the oxygen tension in your arteries is less than 60 mm/Hg while you are completely at rest without supplemental oxygen; or
If you are completely unable to walk without constant assistance of any kind, including a cane, a walker, a staff, a wheelchair, or another person,

You may be eligible for receipt of a New Hampshire Certificate of Walking Disability.

Filling Out the Application With Your Doctor

If you have opted to discuss your application with a local or personal physician in person, you will have to go through the following questions in full.

First, you and your doctor will have to determine which type of Certificate of Walking Disability your condition deems necessary. There are two different types of Certificates of Walking Disability in the state of New Hampshire.

Types of Certificates of Walking Disability

Temporary: A temporary disabled parking permit will allow you to use disabled only parking spaces in the state of New Hampshire for up to six months. If your condition will require use of these accommodations for longer than six months, consider applying for a permanent certificate.
Permanent: A permanent disabled parking permit will allow you to use disabled only parking spaces on a more long-term basis. However, even permanent disabled parking permits do require periodic renewal. Please see the New Hampshire Department of Safety for more information on the renewal process.

If you are applying for a Certificate of Walking Disability due to pregnancy, please consider applying for a Temporary parking space, indicating your due date and your rationale in the space provided.

Your doctor will then have to mark whether he or she is a licensed physician, a podiatrist, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, or a Physician Assistant. if your doctor is otherwise certified, please provide more information in the space allowed on the form.

Your doctor will then simply have to indicate which of the conditions listed above make you eligible for a disabled parking permit. Please note that any falsification on this part of the form may be liable for disciplinary action.

At the bottom of this section, your doctor will have to provide his or her complete name, address, telephone number, and signature. It is possible that your doctor will be reached for more information in the case that this section is unclear during application processing.

Video Chat with a Doctor to Complete Your Application

If the above process is not possible because of your life circumstances or disability, there is another way to complete the tasks and submit your application promptly. By video chatting with your doctor online, you take the travel and much of the processing time out of the equation, making it overall a simpler and easier process.

After video chatting with a licensed physician, your medical records will be reviewed online and the application submitted by email to the New Hampshire Department of Safety. With the aid of modern technology, you can rest assured that all of your information regarding the process will be kept completely private and secure.

Wait To Receive your Materials in the Mail

After you have submitted all of your materials, whether online or by mail or in person, the Department of Public Safety will review your application and send you your materials. Please wait until you have received your placards, permit, and plates (if applicable) in the mail before you begin to park in handicap spaces.

Use Your Placards Properly

Always remember to place the placard on your rear-view mirror when you are fully parked in a parking space, and remove it when you begin to drive.

New Hampshire makes the process for qualifying for a disabled parking permit painless as long as you follow the instructions! Refer to this guide whenever you need to know who can qualify for a New Hampshire disabled parking permit.

Why to Get a New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit

If you are currently suffering from a disabling condition or anticipate having difficulty walking in your near future, having a Certificate of Walking Disability and the associated permit can enable you to use accommodations and resources specifically set aside to make your life a little easier.

However, these privileges are only of use to you if you know what they are! There are several privileges associated with a New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit, but they can be taken away if they are not properly used. Read on for a complete guide to the rights and responsibilities associated with a New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit.

Your Rights as a New Hampshire Disabled Parking Permit Holder

In New Hampshire, proper placement of a disabled parking permit in your motor vehicle entitles you to use parking spaces which are designated as for disabled use only. This will be made clear either by a nearby sign or paint on the ground noting the International Symbol of Access.

As these parking spaces are by their nature limited in quantity, please respect the parking spaces and their surrounding environments to maximize the number of people who will be able to use them.

Disabled Parking Spaces and Associated Access Aisles

If two or more disabled parking spaces are in a similar location, they will be separated (and possibly surrounded) by an access aisle. These access aisles will be marked by long diagonal hash marks on the ground.

As this space is crucial for allowing those with disabilities to use the spaces (for example, for those with wheelchairs and motorized ramps in their vehicles), please avoid parking in a way that would obstruct the use of these areas.

Disabled Parking Permits and Free City Parking

Also, your properly displayed parking permit will grant you free parking in any city or town within the New Hampshire state limits. If there are provided and posted guidelines about specific times during which this is applicable and other times in which this privilege is restricted, follow the guidelines posted at the site you wish to park.

Disabled Parking Permits and Dependent Transportation

If your disability or condition makes it difficult for you to drive, know that your disabled parking permit can be used by a relative or friend. However, this is only the case if you are being transported in the vehicle utilizing the disabled parking space, or if someone is coming to pick you up or drop you off at a specific location.

Number of Disabled Parking Permits per Persons With Disability

At the time of application, you can request up to two disabled parking permits at no cost. For an additional cost of eight dollars, you can request specific license plates stamped with the International Symbol of Access. However, you must choose one option or the other. You cannot have two parking placards and the license plates at the same time.

An exception to this rule regards motorcycle plates stamped with the International Symbol of Access. You may have these plates in addition to the two disabled parking placards which can be used in a separate vehicle.

What to Do if your Parking Permit is Lost or Stolen

If your parking placards are lost or stolen, you are entitled to a free replacement. Please write a letter to your Department of Motor Vehicles requesting new ones. The address for your nearest New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles can be found on the New Hampshire Department of Public Safety website. This letter should contain your full name, date of birth, address, and phone number.

If you believe that your placards have been stolen, please contact the police and report a theft. Please include a copy of the police report with your letter if this is applicable.

Renewal of your Permanent Disabled Parking Permit

One commonly asked question is regarding the expiration date for a New Hampshire Permanent Disabled Parking Permit. Each Permanent Disabled Parking Permit is good for five years from the date of issuance.

However, this is only true for permits after the first one you have been issued. The first disabled parking permit you obtain will be set to expire the next time that your New Hampshire Driver’s license will expire. If this date is less than five years from your date of issuance, then your disabled parking permit will expire on that date.

Proper Usage of your Disabled Parking Permit in New Hampshire

All of the above rights can only be yours if you have a properly issued and non-expired disabled parking permit. Therefore, it is in your best interest to ensure that your parking permit is always renewed.

Check the date posted on your disabled parking placards for their expiration, and make sure that two weeks before that time you take the steps necessary to renew your placards. To do this, simply follow the same steps you followed to obtain the parking permit in the first place.

This will involve your filling out the Application for Walking Disability Privileges, available on the New Hampshire Department of Public Safety website or at your nearest Department of Motor Vehicles, or video chatting online with a doctor to submit your application.

Perhaps the most important rule to remember is simply when to utilize your parking permit. Please place the parking permit on your rear-view window in the front of your car when you are parking, and only when you are parking. It is highly illegal for the parking permit to be dangling in your field of vision while the motor vehicle is in motion.

Remember that in New Hampshire, the permit is issued to you, not your car. Therefore, feel free to enjoy the associated privileges no matter which vehicle you happen to be utilizing.

In New Hampshire, there are several reasons to get a disabled parking permit. Proper usage of the placards or plates can ensure that you always have an easily accessible parking spot. Remember to exercise the rights and responsibilities with your permit, and always use the permit when you are using a disabled-only parking space.

Where You Can Apply for Your Handicap Parking Permit in New Hampshire

In order for you to pick a starting point for you to begin the process of applying for your handicap parking placard, you must remain calm. This process can slow you down and cause you to feel exhausted. Allow the below aide to guide you through the handicap parking laws of New Hampshire. Some parts of the disable parking laws are similar across the United States, but majority of the rules vary from state to state and at a local level.

Where Do You Obtain Your Application for Disabled Parking Permit in New Hampshire?

You may visit any New Hampshire Motor Vehicles Division office to get an application for your Walking Disabilities Placard, or plate. There are over 13 locations across the state convenient for you to find, be sure to choose the branch nearest your residence. Confirm all of your application is signed and filled out and attach your other necessary documents.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for Your Walking Disability Placard?

New Hampshire’s rules and regulations state that you must have one or more of the ailments listed below, and that your medical doctor authorizes your disabilities on your application. You must, also, provide a paragraph about your disability and how your condition limits your ability to effectively remain neutral in your society.

You cannot walk without help from a device like a cane, crutch, another person, a prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistant device
You have a chronic lung disease that does not allow you to breathe in resting air
You are required to use oxygen
You have a cardiac condition classified as a Level III or Level IV
You are harshly limited in your ability to walk caused by arthritis, a neurological, orthopedic, or other medical condition that applies

If one or more of the conditions listed, applies to you, keep reading. You are on your way to an understanding of the New Hampshire laws and the procedures of the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles.

What Types of Disability Placards are Available in New Hampshire?

As with most states, New Hampshire also offers temporary and permanent walking disability placards, or plates, to you. The renewal of your placards will need to be made in person for obtaining your new placards. Your Driver’s License may need to be renewed at the time of renewal of your handicap placard, see below for additional details

Renewals and Replacements

New Hampshire’s rules for your temporary placard are like most other states. Your temporary disability placards do not expire for up to six months and you may renew them by filling out a new application and receiving another medical certification, from your doctor. You may mail your application, provide in person, or allow another individual to submit your application through the DMV, as long as a valid ID is shown. All temporary walking disability parking placards will be issued in the color red.

The policy on your permanent walking disability placards have a slight difference than in any of the other states. Your renewals for permanent disability placards are valid for five years, but your first renewal may be shorter than five years since your Driver’s License or identification card’s expiration date will determine your renewal date for the placard. All permanent walking disability parking placards are issued in blue.

Pay attention to your application as New Hampshire’s laws have changed. You will need to select if you want one placard, or two, but the law states that you may not have two placards and a plate for your vehicle. However, you may have one disability placard and one disability plate.

What to Do After You Receive Your Placard

You must hang your placard in your rearview mirror and the expiration date must be visible through your windshield. You may not use your placard while the car, whether you are a passenger or not, is in motion. If you are not driving, nor intending to drive, you may have family member register a vehicle, as long as you are all residents of New Hampshire, on your behalf and are dependent upon that vehicle for your daily transportation needs.

If You Abuse Your Parking Placard

If your placard is being misused, you are in violation of the laws of the New Hampshire handicap parking. If you are the perpetrator, you will be fined up to $1,000, depending on the town you violated the laws in. In the larger cities, parking enforcers consistently check for violators and fraudulent usage of disability placards. Remember, if you commit a violation cited in the rules or laws, you could be charged with an offense punishable by jail or, only, fines.

If you need to replace your disability placards, you must write a letter to the New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles to request a replacement. You must include your name, date of birth, and mailing address. Be sure to be as specific as possible when you request a replacement, your information will be checked and verified by the DMV to ensure your identification is correct.

What are the Fees Assessed with Your Walking Disability Placards and/or Plates?

Very little research will be required by you to find the correct fees and it is all dependent upon if you apply for placards or plates. Your first time applying for a handicap parking plate, you will be assessed an $8 fee. If you are only requesting walking disability placards, you will be charged a $5 fee. Each additional replacement placard will also cost five dollars.

Assess Your Situation

After gathering all of your information, you can submit your application in person or by mail and pay the fees as explained by this guide. The New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles urges you to visit your closest location and give your payment by check or money order; no cash is accepted. You must check your local policies and procedures to ensure that your application is legally satisfied.