The state of Delaware has a well-run handicap parking program. Luckily, this includes the capacity for online renewals for those who already have a permit. The system for online renewals is designed to ensure maximum ease and efficiency for those renewing a Delaware permanent placard online, as it can be completed wherever suits you. For those who have another type of placard, however, the renewals process can differ, so read on to find out more about DE disabled parking permit renewal.
Delaware disabled parking permits: what different types are available?
Can you renew a handicap placard online in Delaware? This depends on the type of permit you currently have, so it’s important that we first discuss the different types of handicap parking permits available to residents of the First State.
- Temporary placards are available for up to 90 days, and are usually given to those who have an illness or disability which is likely to improve or change in the future.
- Permanent placards are valid for up to three years, despite what the name may suggest! It’s important to remember this so you can be sure to renew your permanent placard prior to its expiration date. These permits are given to those who have a long-term illness or disability, which is unlikely to change in the future.
- License plates are available for those with a permanent disability, and disabled veterans with a service-linked injury or disability.
The qualifying conditions for any type of disabled parking permit are the same, and the type you receive depends on the severity of the disability, or the extent to which it affects your mobility as well as its predicted timescale. According to the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, DE disabled parking qualifying conditions include:
- Cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
- Cannot walk safely without the use of or assistance from a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistive device
- Is restricted by lung disease to such an extent that the applicant’s or household member’s forced (respiratory) expiratory volume, one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter or the arterial oxygen tension is less than sixty mm/hg. at room air or rest
- Uses portable oxygen
- Has a cardiac condition to the extent that the applicant’s or household member’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to the standards set by the American Heart Association
- Is severely limited in his or her ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition.
How do you renew your Delaware handicap parking placard online?
Are you wondering: “How do I renew my disabled parking permit in Delaware?” If you have a permanent disabled parking placard, the renewals process is very simple and can be done online. Visit the Delaware DMV site and complete the relevant information in order to renew.
Ensure you have your current permit, as well as your driver’s license or ID, with you while you do this to make sure you complete the form correctly. Disabled parking plates can be renewed at the time of your vehicle’s registration, and there is a fee involved (while placards are free).
If you have a temporary permit you wish to renew, you will need to reapply after its expiry date. For this, you will need to undergo another consultation with a licensed state physician for each additional permit you require. (Don’t worry – we’ll recap the initial application process in the final section of this post!)
This means that even if you applied for a temporary permit less than three months ago and completed a consultation then, you will need to do so again in order to receive another placard. Due to the temporary nature of the conditions that qualify for a placard of this kind, the physician will need to confirm that your symptoms and/or general medical condition has not changed in the meantime in order for you to continue to use disabled parking spaces.
How do you apply for a handicap parking permit in Delaware?
We’ve now discussed the renewals process for DE disabled parking placards, as well as the types of permit and their qualifying conditions. Now, we’ll recap the initial application process that those renewing their temporary parking placard will need to follow.
To apply:
- Fill out the Application for Special License or Special Parking ID Placard for Persons with Disabilities (Form MV474)
- Organize a consultation via telemedicine with a licensed state physician
- Receive your physician’s certification and submit your application in person at your local DE DMV or via mail.
Featured image by Mike Ralph on Unsplash
