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.

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.