In the State of Tennessee, if you have difficulty walking more than 200 feet without assistance, you may be entitled to a disabled parking permit. This permit grants you the right to park in spaces reserved for disabled parking. Spaces reserved for disabled parking are marked with a white wheelchair icon against a blue background. These spaces are closer to the door and provide extra room for loading and unloading of wheelchairs, walkers and other assistive devices.
In order to obtain your disabled parking permit, you will need to determine if you are eligible, obtain your physician signed certificate and then file with the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles. Once you have done so, you will be presented with your disabled parking permit placard. This placard is valid in all fifty states, for your convenience.
Who Qualifies for Disabled Parking in Tennessee?
The state of Tennessee recognizes a long list of conditions and disabilities as disabled parking permit eligible. The basic guideline for eligibility is the inability to walk safely and comfortably more than 200 feet. This could be due to a physical injury, a neurological condition, a vision impairment or a cardio-pulmonary condition. While there is no master list of conditions found in the Tennessee state statute on disabled parking permits, here are some of the guidelines used by Tennessee medical professionals to determine eligibility for the disabled parking permit program.
- Legal blindness including a vision of 20/200 or less without corrective lenses
- A class III or IV cardiac condition such as a history of heart attack or stroke
- Partial or total amputation or the use of a prosthesis or brace
- Partial or full paralysis of a limb
- Sudden and uncontrolled loss of muscle tone, seizures or dizziness
- Reliance on a wheelchair, walker or cane
- A condition that limits oxygenation such as bronchitis or emphysema
- A tendency to drop below 95% SP02 on room air, or the reliance on supplemental oxygen
- Severe arthritis or other physical deformity affecting ambulation
This is not a complete list, and no such list exists. The decision of disabled parking permit eligibility is made by your doctor, not the state of Tennessee.
If you have experienced an injury that limits your mobility similar to the above criteria but is not permanent, you may be eligible for temporary access. The disabled parking permit program also issues six-month temporary placards to injured persons. Common causes for eligibility include broken bones, back injuries, and surgery. If you feel that you are unable to walk more than 200 feet without undue hardship, talk to your provider about the disabled parking permit program’s temporary placard.
How do I Get a Physician Signed Certificate?
Once you have established that you meet the criteria for eligibility, it’s time to contact a Tennessee medical professional for your physician signed certificate. This certificate is a legal document you present to the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles to verify your disability.
This document may be provided by your regular care physician, physician’s assistant or advanced practice nurse. Next time you see your primary care team, ask them about your disabled parking permit eligibility.
If you are seeking a temporary permit due to a severe injury you may be able to obtain this certificate from the urgent care facility or the emergency room you visited when you were injured.
If you do not have an appointment scheduled soon, or do not wish to wait for your next scheduled appointment, you can also seek verification online from a virtual visit. Many Tennessee medical practitioners are available online at any time for a virtual visit. These visits take place in your home and are a quick, easy solution to your needs. A virtual visit is just like an office visit without the hassles. A Tennessee qualified provider can send you disability verification and help you file your paperwork, often the same day you request a visit.
Who do I File Within Tennessee?
Once you have established your disabled parking permit program eligibility and you have obtained a physician signed certificate verifying your disability, you are ready to file your paperwork. You must file form RV-F1310301 with the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles. You may file this form, along with you physician signed certificate, by mail or in person at a local Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles office.
Temporary placards lasting six months are red, and cost $10 at the time of filing. If after six months you feel you still need access to the disabled parking permit program, you can apply for a renewal. This will require a new physician signed certificate and will cost an addition $10. You may only apply for renewal once.
Permanent placards are blue and cost $21.50 at the time of filing. Disabled parking permit license plates are also $21.50 at the time of filing. Disabled parking permit decals, however, are provided free of charge.
What do I Need to Know About Disabled Parking in Tennessee?
Once you have received your disabled parking permit and have chosen how to display it, be sure you are familiar with the Tennessee disabled parking program rules.
If you have chosen a license plate or decal, you are all set. These are always visible on your vehicle and are the best way to ensure you are not fined for forgetting to display your disabled parking permit. If you have opted for a disabled parking permit placard, make sure to remember to display it prominently whenever you park. If you fail to display your placard, you may be fined.
While the placard requires you to remember to display it, it is a popular choice for many disabled parking permit holders because it can be used in more than one vehicle. Remember that you are allowed to use your placard to park in handicapped spaces any time you travel. That means if a family member takes you someplace, bring your placard with you to make use of it wherever you go.