Qualifying Conditions For A Disabled Parking Placard In Florida

What are the qualifying conditions for a disabled parking permit in Florida? What types of Florida disabled parking permits are available? And how do you apply for a Florida disability parking permit? Read on as we answer these important questions and more.

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Disabled Parking Placard In Florida?

What qualifies for a disability placard in Florida? To qualify for a disabled parking permit in Florida, a person must be disabled in one or more of the following ways:

• Any disability that limits a person’s ability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
• An inability to walk without the use of or assistance from a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, or other assistive device, or without assistance of another person
• Permanent wheelchair use
• Lung disease to the extent that the person’s forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter or the person’s arterial oxygen is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest
• Portable oxygen tank usage
• Cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to standards set by the American Heart Association
• A severe limitation in a person’s ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition
• Legal blindness

What Types Of Disabled Parking Permits Are Available In Florida?

The following types of disabled parking permits are available in Florida:

• Permanent disabled placards (for people with a disability that is expected to be long-term or permanent)
• Permanent disabled license plates
• Temporary disabled placards (for people with a disability that is expected to be short-term)
• Disabled Veterans plates (for people whose disability is mostly military service-related)

How Do I Get A Disability Placard In Florida?

How do I get a permanent disability placard in FL? The application process is straightforward. You can apply for all types of Florida handicap permit by submitting a Florida disabled parking permit form to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

The first step is to have a video consultation with a Florida medical professional at the Dr. Handicap online clinic. Once the medical professional has verified your disability and filled in the relevant sections of the application form, you can then complete the form and submit it to your local tax collector’s office or license plate agency.

Who Can Certify An Application For A Disabled Parking Permit In Florida?

The following types of licensed medical professionals can certify an application for a disabled parking permit in Florida:

• Licensed physician
• Physician’s assistant
• Nurse practitioner
• Osteopath
• Podiatrist
• Chiropractor
• Optometrist

How Much Does A Florida Handicap Permit Cost?

Permanent disabled placards are free in Florida, and temporary disabled parking placards cost $15.

How Often Do You Need To Renew A Florida Disabled Parking Permit?

Florida permanent disabled parking placards need to be renewed every four years. Temporary disabled parking placards are valid for six months and can be renewed when they expire. To renew your disabled parking permit in Florida, you will need to submit an application form to your local tax collector’s office or license plate agency.

Florida Disabled Parking Rules And Regulations

The disabled parking rules and regulations in Florida are as follows:

• Disabled parking permit holders are entitled to park in any designated disabled space
• Disabled parking permit holders are entitled to park in on-street metered spaces for free for up to four hours
• Disabled permits must be clearly visible hanging from the rearview mirror when the vehicle is parked
• Disabled permits must be removed from the rearview mirror and stowed before driving
• It is illegal to park in a striped Access Aisle or any area that is designated “No Parking” at any time
• Disabled permits are only valid when they are in-date
• Permit-holders must always use their own disabled permit – it is illegal to use a disabled permit that is not in your name

Where Can You Use A Florida Disabled Parking Permit?

Florida disabled parking permits are valid throughout the state as well as in all other US states, all US overseas territories, and the following foreign countries:

• Mexico
• Canada
• EU
• UK
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Japan

Featured image by Valentina Rossoni on Pexels