A Guide To Disabled Parking In Virginia

Dr Handicap - Virginia disabled parking

The lovely state of Virginia sits smack-bang in the center of the United States’ East Coast. The Mother of States is sandwiched between the wild Appalachian Mountains to the west and the roaring Atlantic Ocean to the east. The state is home to several notable cities, including the state capital Richmond, the important deepwater port city of Norfolk, and the state’s most populous city, Virginia Beach.

With so much to see and do, it’s a good thing that the program for disabled parking in Virginia is one of the best in the nation. Disabled parking in Virginia is well-organized, boasting impressive modern disabled parking infrastructure and copious disabled parking spaces.

If you have not yet got your disabled parking permit in Virginia, now is the time to take action. Getting a permit in the Mother of States will make your life a lot easier. Here is all you need to know about how to get a disabled parking permit in Virginia.

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Image by 12019 / 10261 on Pixabay: Looking for a Virginia disabled parking permit? Get one via Dr. Handicap!

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For Disabled Parking In Virginia?

A person qualifies for disabled parking in Virginia if:

  • They cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.
  • They use a portable oxygen tank.
  • They cannot walk without the use of an assistive device such as a cane, brace, wheelchair, crutch, prosthetic device, or another person.
  • They have a cardiac condition Class III or IV by the American Heart Association.
  • They are severally limited in their ability to walk by an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.
  • They are restricted by lung disease to such an extent that forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one second when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 millimeters of mercury on room air at rest.
  • They have been diagnosed with a mental or developmental amentia or delay that impairs judgment including, but not limited to, an autism spectrum disorder.
  • They have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
  • They are legally blind or deaf.

What Types Of Permits Are Available For Disabled Parking In Virginia?

A disabled parking permit in Virginia comes in several types. Temporary or permanent Virginia disabled parking placards are available. Disabled number plates are available for permanently disabled people and Disabled Veteran’s plates are also available.

What Types Of Medical Professional Can Sign A Virginia Disabled Parking Permit Application?

Several types of medical professionals can sign a person’s application form for disabled parking in Virginia. These medical professionals include:

  • Licensed physicians
  • Physician’s assistants
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Chiropractors
  • Podiatrists

How To Get A Disabled Parking Permit In Virginia

To get a Virginia handicap parking permit, you first need to get a medical professional to complete your application form. This is best done online through Dr. Handicap. Next, you send the completed application form to:

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 85815
Richmond, VA 23285-5815

Or you can submit the form in person at any Virginia DMV customer service center or select office.

Dr Handicap - Virginia road

Do You Need To Renew A Virginia Disabled Parking Permit?

Disabled parking permits in Virginia need to be renewed. Permanent permits must be renewed after five years. Temporary permits must be renewed after six months. This can be done by submitting the same application form as when you first applied for disabled parking in Virginia.

How To Use Your Virginia Handicap Parking Permit

When using your Virginia handicap parking permit, you must obey Virginia disabled parking laws. Your permit must be clearly displayed when the vehicle is parked and safely stowed when the vehicle is moving. You may park in any disabled space in the state. Several jurisdictions also allow disabled permit holders to park in on-street, metered, time-restricted spaces for free for up to four hours.

Like other drivers, holders of a Virginia disabled parking permit may not park where parking is generally prohibited. This includes areas where diagonal lines have been painted on the ground, in spaces reserved for special types of vehicles, or where parking would present a traffic hazard.

Can An Out-Of-State Permit Be Used For Disabled Parking In Virginia?

Yes, a disabled permit from any other state entitles its holder to the exact same parking privileges in Virginia as the holder of a Virginia disabled parking permit.

How Does A Virginia Disabled Parking Permit Work With Residential Permits?

A Virginia disabled parking permit does not entitle its holder to park in another person’s reserved residential parking bay. Permit holders can get a space near their residence designated “disabled” for their own use.

Virginia’s disabled parking program is high quality, and if you are a disabled resident of the Mother of States, you can massively improve your quality of life by using it. So if you’re yet to apply for your Virginia handicap parking permit, now is the time to get the ball rolling. It couldn’t be easier!

Featured image by 12019 / 10261 on Pixabay