One of the most confusing times as a disabled person is when you are applying for all of your benefits and needs. You become lost in all of the paperwork and which rules and laws to follow, since every state is different. The United States places laws for you to follow with disabled parking permit qualifications, the below how-to guide will help you on your journey to apply.

How to Qualify for Your Parking Permit

First, you must determine if you meet your state of Nevada’s eligibility requirements. You need to do a little research to find if you:

  • Cannot gait 200 or more feet without resting
  • Cannot walk without assistance from a crutch, brace, cane, wheelchair, prosthetic device or help from another person
  • Class III or Class IV cardiac condition
  • Have a lung disease that does not allow you to breathe normal in resting air
  • Cannot walk due to arthritis, a neurological or orthopedic condition (severe)
  • Cannot see
  • Rely on portable oxygen to breathe

Second, you must determine if you will be applying for one or two disability placards. Note, that you will not be allowed to change after your application is received, from one placard to two.

How You Need to Apply for Your Parking Placards

Third, before you begin your application, collect all your necessary documents of identification and alert your medical doctor that you will be needing your medical certification. Your doctor will sign the second page and fill, while you will fill and sign the first page of your application. Your doctor will assess to see if you need a temporary, permanent or moderate disability placard.

Fourth, you must decide how you will submit your application, in person, mail, or fax. The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles suggest that you submit either, by mail or fax at (775) 684-4797.

Fifth, check to see what fees you will be charged on your application. Remember, no fees are assessed to you if you are applying for a disability placard. If you decide to apply for a disabled license plate, you must visit your Nevada DMV branch for review of your vehicle insurance and inspection. The Nevada DMV will also charge fees to issue your disabled license plate. If you applied for a Disabled Veteran plate your fees are $6.50.

Sixth, if you are a Veteran check to see if you qualify and apply for your Disabled Veterans Plates/Disabled Female Veterans license plates. You must be determined by the Veteran’s Administration (VA) to be 100% disabled through a military-service connection. The application is slightly different, so be sure to select the correct application.

  • The Veteran’s Administration must give you a written certificate including your ailments of disability
  • You are able to park in any disabled parking spot throughout the state
  • State and local parking fees do not apply if you qualify for the disabled veteran’s plate
  • Submit your inspection of your vehicle and inspection (must not be older than 90 days)
  • Cannot transfer benefits state to state

How to Renew and Replace Your Disability Parking Placards

Seventh, it is your responsibility to know the rules and procedures of your city for renewing and replacing your disabled parking placards and/or plates. Evaluate the status of your placards, if you have a temporary, permanent or moderate placard.

Your temporary parking placards are good for up to six months and you may choose to transfer them, if necessary. If your placard needs to be transferred to a permanent or moderate placard, your doctor must give a new certification on a new application to be submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles Department.

Your permanent disabled parking placard is valid for 10 years and a renewal form will be mailed to you to sign and send back a week before your placard expires. Unlike the moderate and temporary parking placards, you do not need a new medical certification, unless your condition has changed drastically.

Your moderate disability placard is valid for two years. Your moderate parking placard will also need to be re-certified by your medical doctor and will require a new application for you. You may transfer to a permanent parking placard as long as you are certified by your doctor.

  • Your Disability License Plates

You are required to register each 12 months and you can register your vehicle at the same time. If your registration is set to expire in 35 days or less, you will need to register parallel with your disabled license plate.

  • Replacing Your Parking Placards

If your placard is lost or stolen, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles urges you to contact your local office as soon as necessary.

How You Use Your Placard

Eighth, once received, you must hang your disability placard in your rearview mirror of your vehicle. Be sure that the expiration date is viewable from your windshield.

How to Reduce Abuse and Misuse

Ninth, if your placard is abused or misused you are subjecting yourself to fines from $250 to $1,000 dependent on which city you live in. Abuse or misuse will go on your criminal record and you could face going to jail. You do the crime, you do the time.

How to Find a Branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles

Lastly, after you have completed all of the above, research the Nevada DMV locations and times they are open, if you need to visit in person. Remember to only visit locations that are near your home, or in your city that you live in. You can utilize GoogleMaps to help your search for the closest one. Each local rules are different, so keep that in mind, if you go a town or more over!

How to Complete the Process

Now that you have navigated through this how-to guide, you should have an idea of Nevada’s laws and what is required of you by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. One, gather your identifying information, research your state and local laws, review the renewals and replacement outline, find a location near you, and submit your application by mail or fax. You have successfully completed your guide for a disabled parking permit in Nevada.