How Do You Renew Your Colorado Handicap Parking Placard Online?

Residents of Colorado who suffer from reduced mobility which affects their ability to park and drive should consider applying for a Colorado disabled parking permit. A disabled parking permit allows the driver to park in specially-designed and well-located parking spaces, avoiding unnecessary stress behind the wheel.

Colorado has a well-run disabled parking program, and users are welcome to avail of their services through the online system. This system makes managing your disabled parking permit more convenient, as it reduces your need to travel to and from appointments or application centers in-person. In this blog, we will be discussing everything you need to know about CO disabled parking permit renewal, including how to do so online. 

Image by Amit Bansal on Unsplash: How do I renew my disabled parking permit in Colorado? Read on to find out.

How Do You Apply For A Disabled Parking Permit In Colorado?

Before we delve into the renewal process, it is important to recap on how to get your first disabled parking permit in Colorado. To apply for your first disabled parking permit in Colorado, you need to do the following things:

  1. Complete a consultation with a licensed Colorado physician who can certify your disability (and complete this section of the application form). Dr Handicap can help you to arrange this consultation virtually, through telemedicine. 
  2. Apply using Colorado’s online system, along with any other documents or information required. Alternatively, you can complete the ‘Person with Disabilities Parking Privileges Application’ form which can be found online. You will need to submit this in person at your local County Motor Vehicle Office (or potentially via post, please contact the office to ensure this is the case at the time of your application).
  3. Receive your placard – only after you have the physical permit in hand can you begin to use disabled parking places. Please do not occupy these spaces prior to receiving your placard, even if your application is being processed. 

How Do You Renew Your Colorado Handicap Parking Placard Online?

Once you have your placard, it is important to keep an eye on its expiry date. Renewing it with plenty of time to spare ensures you will always have a valid placard, and will not run into trouble. 

Can you renew a handicap placard online in Colorado? Yes, you can! To renew your Colorado disabled parking permit online, you can simply use the online system and request a replacement of your disabled parking placard. According to the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles; “Persons with Disabilities Placards may be replaced to the original applicant with the same expiration date as the originally issued placard without a new verification from a medical professional”.

However, if you are replacing your placard as it has been lost, stolen, or damaged (and your placard is nowhere near the expiry date), you must ensure that you surrender the damaged placard for replacement. You must also give a copy of the DR 2574 Registration Receipt for the placard you are looking to replace, to validate your replacement request. Renewals are free of charge for placards, but plates incur a fee.

Image by Darwin Vegher on Unsplash: What do I do with an expired handicap placard in Colorado?

How Do I Renew My Disabled Parking Permit In Colorado?

In the above section, we have gone through the requirements and the process for renewing a Colorado disabled parking permit. Luckily, Colorado’s online system makes the process of renewing your permit more streamlined and efficient than in some other states.

Now that we have discussed the basics of applying and renewing a Colorado disabled parking permit, an important thing to point out is that you may or may not require re-certification from a medical professional upon renewal. The rules for this vary depending on whether you have a permanent, temporary, extended, or short-term permit.

  • Permanent placards require renewal every three years. However, you require medical certification only initially, and then every third renewal – so each nine years. Self-certification suffices for the first and second time you renew.
  • Extended placards require re-certification every three years – including the initial application and the first time you renew. 
  • Temporary placards work the same way as extended placards, and you will need an initial medical certification as well as an additional one with every renewal. Self-certification does not apply for either temporary or extended placards.
  • Short-term placards last up to ninety days typically, and require medical certification initially as well as after this ninety-day period. These can usually be renewed only once.

Ensuring you are aware of the renewal requirements for the type of placard that you have means that the process is likely to go much more smoothly and be stress-free. The type of placard you receive depends upon your medical condition – therefore, it is important to speak to a medical professional upon renewal in case there have been any changes to your condition since the first time you were granted a permit. We hope that the information in this article helps you to navigate the online renewals process when the time comes to renew your Colorado handicap parking permit. 

Featured image by Mike Scheid on Unsplash

Qualifying Conditions For A Disabled Parking Placard In New Mexico

Are you a resident of New Mexico with a disability? Do you frequently drive, and find it difficult to find a suitable parking space for your vehicle? Or, perhaps you are just curious as to what disabilities qualify for disabled parking in New Mexico? At Dr Handicap, we are here to answer all your disabled parking related queries, so strap in and let us help you get to grips with the New Mexico disabled parking laws.

A disabled parking placard will allow you to occupy disabled parking spaces at many destinations in the state, which can be a huge relief for disabled drivers. Knowing that you will be able to access suitable parking spaces wherever you are going can ensure you feel more comfortable and relaxed on any journey you undertake. You will no longer need to walk long distances to the entrance of the store, for example, and if you need to use a wheelchair ramp, there are reserved aisles for this purpose, so you have plenty of space.

The benefits of a disabled parking permit are clear – but what are the qualifying conditions for a disabled parking permit in New Mexico?

Who Qualifies For Disabled Parking In New Mexico?

Image by Raban Haaijk on Unsplash: What are the New Mexico disabled parking laws?

According to the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, the following medical conditions make you eligible for a permit and you may apply for a permit if you:

  • cannot walk 100 feet without stopping to rest
  • cannot walk without the use of a brace, cane or crutch or without assistance from another person, a prosthetic device, a wheelchair or other assistive device
  • are restricted by lung disease to such an extent that your forced respiratory volume, when exhaling for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter or the arterial oxygen tension is less than sixty millimeters on room air at rest
  • use portable oxygen
  • have a severe cardiac condition
  • are so severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurologic or orthopedic condition that you cannot ascend or descend more than 10 stair steps

One important distinction to make when it comes to New Mexico parking permits is the difference between permanent and temporary placards. If you suffer from one of the above conditions on a long-term basis and are unlikely to recover in future, the physician will most likely promote you as a candidate for a permanent placard.

If your condition is short-term or requires future evaluation to see if it has improved, you may receive a temporary placard. A temporary placard can last for up to 12 months, and the physician will decide how long you should have your temporary permit for when they add their certification to your application form.

If your condition does not change prior to the expiration of your placard you can apply for a new permit, but you will require re-certification from the physician in order to prove that your condition has not improved. This can be done using the same form as for your original application.

What Disabilities Qualify For Disabled Parking In New Mexico?

As you can see, most qualifying conditions are those which severely restrict the individual’s mobility. However, if you have a condition which impacts your ability to drive and park, it may be worth discussing these with a licensed medical physician, who could use their expertise to evaluate whether you may still be eligible for a permit. It is worth recognizing that many serious medical conditions are invisible, and just because your condition or illness is not visible all of the time does not mean you don’t qualify. Rules also vary on a state-by-state basis, so it is important to do your research prior to applying to make sure you are familiar with the regulations surrounding disabled parking in your state. 

How Do I Get A Handicap Placard In New Mexico?

Image by Steven HWG on Unsplash: If you suffer from reduced mobility, you should consider applying for a New Mexico disabled parking permit!

To apply for your New Mexico disabled parking placard, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Complete your online consultation with a licensed New Mexico physician with the help of Dr Handicap.
  2. Complete the form ‘Application For Certificate Of Eligibility For Parking Placard’, including your physician’s certification.
  3. Apply for your permit in-person at any New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, using your completed form and bringing your ID.
  4. Receive your placard. You are now free to legally occupy disabled parking spaces in New Mexico (but please remember to always ensure you display your placard correctly, in such a way that it is easily seen by parking attendants to avoid any issues).
  5. Ensure you renew your placard prior to its expiration, so that you can continue to use disabled parking spaces without any hassle.

Featured image by Joonyeop Baek on unsplash: How to apply for a handicap placard in New Mexico

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