A Guide To Disabled Parking In Vermont

If you already own a Vermont disabled parking permit, you might have some questions about how and where exactly you can use it. Or maybe you’re wondering about how to get a disabled parking permit in Vermont, which is probably easier than you think. Either way, read on and we will hopefully answer all your questions – and maybe throw in some extra information that you hadn’t even thought of!

Do I qualify for disabled parking in Vermont?

Looking to get a Vermont handicap parking permit? Then you probably need to know the qualifying conditions. If you have an “ambulatory disability” or are registered blind, you will almost certainly qualify. Obviously in the case of the latter, the disabled parking permit would be for use when you’re a passenger. This can be in any car; you just need to make sure you display the permit. An ambulatory disability is defined as “an impairment which prevents or impedes walking”. This includes the following:

• Being unable to walk 200 feet without having to rest;
• Needing assistance from a person, a wheelchair or some other supporting device in order to walk;
• Suffering from a lung disease which severely reduces your breathing capacity;
• Requiring portable oxygen;
• Having a cardiac condition which is defined as Class III or Class IV in accordance with the American Heart Association rulings;
• Suffering from a condition (neurological, orthopedic or arthritic) which seriously limits your ability to walk.

How do I apply for my Vermont disabled parking permit?

You must be a resident of Vermont in order to apply for a permit. The first requirement is to fill in form #VD-120, which can be obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles at the Agency of Transportation. You also need a medical evaluation form (#VS-113) to be completed and signed by a qualifying physician. This can be any licensed physician, a certified physician assistant or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse.

If this all sounds rather daunting, we can help you. Avoid the hassle, the stress and the need for a face-to-face consultation by applying with us here at Dr Handicap. Our medical experts can assess you via video chat and will help make the application process much simpler for you. We will require access to your medical records in order to determine whether or not you would indeed qualify for a disabled parking permit in Vermont, but we are fully HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant, so privacy is not an issue.

If you qualify, your Vermont handicap parking permit will be with you in time at all. You can choose to have a portable placard, which hangs from your rear-view mirror, or special license plates. The beauty of the former is that, as it’s portable, you can use it in any car in which you are the driver or a passenger, whereas plates can obviously only be used for one car.

What do I need to know about disabled parking in Vermont?

Firstly, if you have a portable permit, you must make sure it’s always clearly visible inside your car. If not, you could be subject to a fine. Your Vermont disabled parking permit allows you to park in any designated disabled spots in parking lots. These are clearly indicated by a handicap parking symbol and are always slightly bigger than regular parking spaces.

Your parking permit also allows you to park for free and for an unlimited time period in any parking zone that has a restriction on the length of time parking is permitted for non-permit holders. But be careful here, as this doesn’t give you carte blanche to park simply anywhere. You’re still not allowed to park in zones where the parking or stopping of all vehicles is prohibited or reserved for certain vehicles, and you can’t park where there is a universal parking ban. Sounds obvious, we know, but worth pointing out!

Renewing my Vermont handicap parking permit

If you choose the portable placard version of your Vermont disabled parking permit, you will have to submit a new medical application to the Department of Motor Vehicles every four years. With number plates, the requirement for the medical application is at every third registration for renewal. However, if, when you first apply for your permit, the signing physician certifies that your condition is both permanent and stable, then you can renew either plates or a placard without the need to re-submit a medical form. You must still renew your Vermont handicap parking permit every four years, though; it’s not a good idea to let your permit expire! If you have a temporary disability you may apply for a temporary placard, which will be valid for a maximum of six months. The same application process applies.

Hopefully now you know how to get a disabled parking permit in Vermont, or you are more familiar with using your Vermont handicap parking permit. We would be pleased to help you if you still have some outstanding questions or queries. Owning and knowing how and where you can use your permit should make getting from A to B a little easier for you and will have a positive impact on your life.

Featured image by Michelle Maria on Pixabay