The Michigan Department of Motor Vehicles issues disabled parking permits on a temporary and permanent basis. If you qualify for the Michigan state disabled parking permit program, you must obtain a physician signed certificate verifying your disability. Once obtained, this paperwork must be filed with the Michigan Department of Motor Vehicles.
Temporary placards are valid for six months, and permanent placards must be renewed every four years. Disabled parking permit license plates must be renewed every year.
These permits grant the holder the right to park in designated disabled parking spaces around the community. When parking, be sure to display your disabled parking permit placard. Failure to do so could land you with a fine, and result in a loss of your parking permit placard.
Be sure that you do not hang your disabled parking permit placard from your rearview mirror while driving, as it creates a dangerous obstruction of view.
How do I Qualify for Disabled Parking?
In the state of Michigan, disabled parking permits, both temporary and permanent, are issued based on the following guidelines.
- Partial or total loss of limb or limb functionality
- A serious cardiac condition (class III or IV) including heart attack or stroke
- Inability to walk more than 200 feet without stopping or the risk of falling
- Reliance on supplemental oxygen, or a severe breathing difficulty in motion or at rest
- Reliance on or use of an ambulatory assistive device such as a cane, walker, brace or wheelchair
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including emphysema and bronchitis
This is not an exhaustive list by any means. Your Michigan provider will partner with you to determine if you are unsafe or in undue pain when walking more than 200 feet. The program was designed with your comfort and safety in mind.
If you suffer from a chronic condition or have been recently injured and expect your healing time to take more than three weeks, you may be eligible for a disabled parking permit in the state of Michigan.
Broken bones, tendon damage, pneumonia, and pregnancy are just a few examples of conditions that may make you eligible for a temporary placard. Remember that all people are different and have different needs while healing. Be sure to talk with your provider openly and honestly about everything you are feeling and experiencing while you heal. This will help to determine if you might benefit from a disabled parking permit.
How do I Get My Physician Signed Certificate?
Once you have determined eligibility, it’s time to get your physician signed certificate. This certificate is a bit of a misnomer. In addition to your primary care doctor, other members of your care team can sign this certificate for you. Registered nurses and Physicians assistants are most common, but most specialists can also sign this document.
If you receive care from a specialist relating to an injury or condition, they will also be able to provide this verification of disability. Examples include optometrists, podiatrists, chiropractors or physical therapists. These specialists are recognized as medical experts in the field in which they practice. Naturally, if your injury relates to their specific field, they can verify your condition and satisfy the requirements of the Michigan Department of Motor Vehicles.
If you do not have a primary care team and are not seeing a specialist, don’t worry. There are many qualified Michigan providers that can verify your condition through a virtual visit. These visits can be done from the comfort of your home and take out some of the hassles and wait of making an appointment with your regular doctor.
Where do I File the Paperwork?
In the Water Wonderland that is the great state of Michigan, paperwork is filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Forms may be filed in person at your local Department of Motor Vehicles office, or by U.S mail. For temporary or permanent placards, form BFS-108 must be filed for a disabled parking permit placard. These placards are provided for free.
If you wish for the disabled parking permit license plate, you will need to complete form MV-110 and pay the same fees associated with license plate renewal. If your placard is lost or stolen, you will need to apply in person for a replacement at a Michigan Secretary of State office. You will be asked to provide identification in the form of a driver’s license or passport. You will also be charged a ten dollar replacement fee.
Be aware that selling, lending or giving away your disabled parking placard is a crime, and you could be ordered to pay a fine of up to $500 or be put in jail for the offense. Your disabled parking permit is issued for a genuine need and is not to be taken lightly.
Michigan Disabled Parking Permits: The Essentials
The state of Michigan Department of Motor Vehicles issues disabled parking permits on a temporary or permanent basis to persons with difficulty walking more than 200 feet. These permits may be in the form of a free disabled parking permit placard or a disabled parking permit license plate which is priced according to current license plate renewal costs.
Your disabled parking permit placard may not be hung from the rearview while driving, as it is a dangerous obstruction of view. Your placard must be hung whenever you are parking in a handicap reserved space. Failure to do so could result in a fine, and the revocation of your disabled parking permit placard.
Disabled parking permits are intended to keep Michigan residents safe and comfortable. Snow, ice, water, and long distances can all be dangerous for disabled persons. This is why there are disabled parking spaces provided in every Michigan community.
If you feel that you are in pain or at risk when walking more than 200 feet, talk to a Michigan provider about your eligibility. If you are injured, ill, or permanently disabled, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to be safe and comfortable this Michigan winter.