How to get a handicap parking permit in Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts handicapped parking sign with details of the penalty for offenders

Eligibility
How to obtain a permit
Fee
Validity / expiration of permits
Renewals
Lost, stolen, or damaged placards
Where to hang the placard
Miscellaneous

All applicants must be Massachusetts residents. Placards are issued to individuals who meet one of the following conditions:

• cannot walk 200 feet at length without stopping to rest;
• cannot walk without the assistance of another person, prosthetic aid or other assistive device;
• restricted by lung disease to such a degree that your forced (respiratory) expiratory volume (FEV) in one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one (1) liter;
• use portable oxygen;
• have a Class III cardiac condition according to the standards set by the American Heart Association;
• have a Class IV cardiac condition according to the standards set by the American Heart Association. An applicant with this condition must surrender his or her license;
• have Class III or Class IV functional arthritis according to the standards set by the American College of Rheumatology;
• have Stage III or Stage IV anatomic arthritis according to the standards set by the American College of Rheumatology;
• have been declared legally blind (please attach copy of certification).  An applicant in this classification must surrender his or her license; or
• have lost one or more limbs or permanently lost the use of one or more limbs.

A physician, chiropractor, or nurse practitioner registered and licensed in Massachusetts must certify that the applicant meets one of the conditions above.

To be eligible for a temporary placard, the medical professional must certify that the disability is predicted to last at least 2 months.

Applicants must complete the Application for Disabled Parking Placard/Plate, which is available here, the Telephone Center, or any full-service RMV branch office. A physician, chiropractor, or nurse practitioner registered and licensed in Massachusetts must also complete and sign the form. It and any supporting documents can be submitted to any full-service RMV branch office or mailed to:

Placards are free.

Permanent placards are issued for up to 5 years. Temporary placards are issued for a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 24 months.

Permanent placard holders will receive their renewed placards at the mailing address on record at the RMV one month before the expiration date of the current placard.
Owners of temporary placards to be extended or made permanent must send a doctor’s request written on the doctor’s professional letterhead. It must display the current date. The doctor must include the following details:

1. clinical diagnosis;
2. duration of the disabled parking; and
3. a statement as to whether the individual is medically fit to operate a motor vehicle safely and if he/she should be evaluated via a Road Competency Exam by the Registry.

If a placard is lost or damaged, the holder must submit a written request to the address listed above. The request must say why the placard is being replaced. Details like name, address, social security number, date of birth, placard number, and the date that the original placard was issued should be included in the request form. It should be signed and dated. All placard-holders should be photo-imaged by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

The placard must be hung from the rear view mirror of the vehicle when it is parked in a disabled space. The placard must be removed when the vehicle is in motion.

Each placard is issued with a white security sleeve. The sleeve fits over the owner’s picture on the placard holder and is meant to hide the owner’s name and/or photo. Using the sleeve is not mandatory.

Difficulty

Source URL

Disabled Parking FAQs for Customers
Medical Affairs and Disabled Parking

Things You’ll Need
	Applicable Fee: No charge
	Computer with Internet Access: Favorable but not mandatory
	Physician Certificate: Physician to certify disability in the application form
	Mail Original Documents: Original application to be submitted in person or by mail