It can be difficult to receive a disabled parking permit on your own if you live in the United States because you have to meet various requirements and follow certain rules for every state. In some cases, your qualification even depends on what city or area you live in. If you are trying to obtain a disabled parking permit for Iowa, read and follow the instructions in this guide.

Know if You Qualify

Since every state has its own guidelines, it is important to know the legal qualifications to obtain a permit specific to Iowa. Before starting the process to receive one, you have to be sure that you meet at least one of the following prerequisites:

  • You cannot walk more than 200 feet without stopping to rest.
  • You cannot walk without the use or assistance of a brace, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, another person, or assisting device.
  • You have lung damage so severe that with forced expiratory volume for one second when it is measured by spirometry, is less than 1 liter
  • You have to use portable oxygen.
  • You have a cardiac condition that limits your functions to the extent that they are classified as Class III or class IV in severity according to standards set by the American Heart Association.
  • Your ability to walk is severely impaired due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.

Obtain a Physician Certificate

One of the most difficult parts for a lot of people while getting the permit is trying to obtain the correct paperwork they need. In Iowa, you are required to complete an Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Permit for Iowa Residents. The forms are available at any county’s treasurer’s office, any full-service driver’s license issuance service centers, or the Office of Vehicle and Motor Carrier Services. If you want a personalized license plate, you have to submit a Persons with Disabilities License Plate Application.

An essential part of the application is a medical statement from a physician, chiropractor, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner on their official letterhead-stationary. The stationary must confirm that you are a person with a disability and whether you legally qualify for the permit.

Where to Turn in Your Application

After you are finished filling in your application and you have received the letterhead-stationary from a qualified physician, you have to return it to any Iowa full-service driver’s license issuance site or the Office of Vehicle and Motor Carrier Services. You can get a removable windshield placard at either of these places, stickers are only available at the latter, and persons with disability license plates are available at your county treasurer’s office.

Iowa’s removable windshield placard, stickers, and plates are all free of charge, but motorists displaying a persons with disabilities plate will have to pay an annual vehicle registration fee. However, having a special plate only has a $25 fee.

What To Do After Getting Your Permit

Once you receive your Iowa disabled parking permit, using it correctly is important. The first thing you should do is confirm whether your placard is temporary or permanent. If it is temporary, you will be able to use it up to six months after the date it was issued, and if it is permanent, it will expire five years from the date of issue. If you mistakenly received a temporary placard instead of a permanent one, contact your local DMV about the status of your application.

The law requires that your signature has to be on the removable windshield placard for it to officially be valid. If your signature isn’t on the placard, then it should not be used to park in a handicap designated spot, and you will be fined $200.

Renew Your Permit

A temporary parking placard is valid for up to 6 months – if you need it for a longer period of time, you will have to apply for a new placard. Since a permanent placard is valid for five years, you will have to renew your application every five years to get a new one. A disability license plate or sticker is automatically renewed every year when you renew your vehicle registration.

Replacing a Lost Permit

When your placard gets lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged, you will need to request a replacement by completing a new Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Permit. You have to make sure that you complete the section for lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged placards, include your unique permit number, and return the damaged permit. After you have filled out the form with all of the necessary information, you have to apply by mail to the address on the form or at your local DMV office.

Where are the Iowa Country Licensing Offices?

If you are looking for a local DMV office in Iowa, there are multiple locations to choose from all over the state. There are multiple offices located in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Sioux, etc. Although there are different offices in multiple areas, you should research where the closest office to you is located.

How To Report Handicapped Parking Space Abuse

It can be frustrating when you see a vehicle that does not have a handicap placard parked in a handicap parking spot. If you see a car that does not have a handicap placard in a handicap spot and is parking illegally, you can report them by calling the police, the DMV, or the website HandicappedFraud.org. You should also make sure you take down the vehicle’s license plate number before you report the situation.

Conclusion

If you live in Iowa and want a disabled parking permit, you can take all of the correct steps for getting one by following this guide. You always have to remember to hang it up so it is visible while you are parked – if you do not, you could be fined. Another important thing you have to keep up with is to remain up-to-date with renewals and doctor’s visits.