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.
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:
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
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
