The great state of Virginia issues disabled parking permits to Virginia residents with conditions or disabilities that affect their ability to walk. These disabled parking permits grant the holder the right to park in the designated handicapped spaces throughout their communities. These spaces are marked with a white and blue wheelchair icon and are not only closer in proximity to the buildings they serve, but come with extra loading and unloading space for wheelchairs, walkers and other large assistive devices.
If you have difficulty walking safely for more than 200 feet unassisted, you may qualify for a Virginia disabled parking permit. In order to obtain your permit, you will need to follow these three steps.
- Verify your eligibility under Virginia state guidelines
- Obtain a physician signed certificate stating the nature and severity of your disability
- File your paperwork with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Those three steps are quicker and easier than you may realize. Follow along with this guide to grab your disabled parking permit and get back on the road.
Virginia Disabled Parking Requirements
The basic guideline in the state of Virginia for disabled parking permit eligibility is the inability to walk more than 200 feet without undue pain or assistance. This is a broad statement, and intentionally so. There are lots of different conditions and disabilities that alter a person’s ability to ambulate from physical injuries to neurological conditions.
While a truly exhaustive list is impossible, here are some of the examples that your Virginia medical provider will use to determine if you are eligible.
- Partial or full amputation or paralysis
- Use of a brace or prosthesis
- Reliance on an ambulatory assistive device including wheelchair, walker or cane
- Legal blindness
- A class III or IV cardiac condition such as a history of heart attack or stroke
- A severe and limiting respiratory disease such as a form of COPD
- Reliance on supplemental oxygen
- Conditions causing dizziness or affecting balance
- Seizures or sudden and uncontrolled loss of muscle tone
- Any other condition causing severe pain or difficulty walking more than 200 feet
This is a list of chronic or lifelong conditions. Most occurrences of disabled parking permit issuance are for permanent placards. There is, however, a temporary placard available for residents who are injured severely for over three weeks. These temporary placards last six months. If you have experienced a broken bone or other severe but not permanent injury, the temporary placard may be right for you.
If you believe you qualify for either a temporary or permanent placard, you should seek your physician signed certificate. This certificate verifies your disability and satisfies the filing requirement of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. You can obtain this certificate not only from your primary care physician, but from many other members of your medical team. Many kinds of specialists that you receive treatment from are able to sign the physician signed certificate.
Best of all, in the state of Virginia, you can satisfy your requirements through a virtual visit. Virtual visits give you instant, at-home access to the best and brightest in the medical field. Virtual visits are convenient, taking place right from your home. If you are unsure of which medical provider to see regarding your disabled parking permit eligibility requirements, consider reaching out to a qualified provider through a virtual visit.
How to file Virginia Paperwork
Once you have obtained your disability verification from a qualified medical practitioner, all that remains is to file your paperwork with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. You have the option of filing by U.S mail, or by filling out the appropriate forms at any local Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles office.
There you will receive either a temporary placard, valid for six months, or a permanent placard. Both placards are issued with a five dollar fee.
If you receive a permanent placard, you may choose to apply for a disabled parking permit license plate. This comes with the added advantage of being always on display, eliminating the risk of losing or forgetting your placard. This disabled parking permit license plate is considered a license plate renewal and comes with the applicable fees.
Your permanent placard must be renewed every four years. If, after six months, you still need your temporary placard, you will have to apply again, with a new physician signed certificate.
Virginia Disabled Parking: What You Need to Know
Now that you have your disabled parking permit nearly in hand, take a moment to read the rules of disabled parking.
You must be sure to display your disabled parking permit placard prominently while parked. Failure to do so could land you with a fine or with your permit being revoked.
Your disabled parking permit is valid in all fifty states, so don’t hesitate to take it on the road. Likewise, be welcoming of visitors from other states.
Remember that your placard may be used in any vehicle you travel in, not just your own. If you hitch a ride with a friend or family member, you are allowed to use your disabled parking permit placard in their vehicle, to ensure you have access to disabled parking wherever you go.
You may not lend, sell or give away your disabled parking permit placard for any reason, at any time. This is a crime. Failure to abide by the Virginia state disabled parking permit laws could result in up to ten-thousand dollars in fines or up to five years in jail.
If you witness a parking violation relating to disabled parking, be sure and report it right away to local law enforcement. Be sure to include the time, place and license plate number in your report. Remember that disabled parking programs keep residents safe and healthy. Violations of disabled parking permits are dangerous for your neighbors, friends, and family.
If you have difficulty walking more than 200 feet, you may be eligible for a disabled parking permit. Talk to your doctor about your eligibility.