Hawaii’s disabled parking laws are very similar to those found on the mainland. As a part of the United States, Hawaii’s government officials have established a well-rounded program for disabled parking in the state and an easy procedure for how to get a handicap parking placard.
There are several types of parking placards available in Hawaii. A person with a short-term disability, such as a broken leg, can acquire a parking placard that is valid for a period of six months or less. That gives those who are not permanently disabled the chance to use the benefits while they heal. For those with permanent disabilities, long-term placards are also available, allowing them to get around much more easily.
For those with long-term disabilities, paying attention to when your parking placard expires is crucial to ensure that you don’t get stuck with a ticket for parking in the wrong spot without a valid permit – and that’s where renewal comes in. But how do you renew your parking placard in Hawaii, and can you do it online?
Can you renew a handicap placard online in Hawaii?
In today’s digital age, we do most things online – from ordering groceries to finding a date, the process is usually entirely virtual! However, renewal for your Hawaii handicap placard is still something of an analog process. People looking to renew their parking permits need to do so by mail, since there is currently no online option, and according to the Department of Health Disability and Communication Access Board with the Government of Hawaii, in-person renewal is also a no-go.
The mail-in option is reserved for renewals only. People who have yet to apply for their permit or license plate that helps them park in designated spots can do so by mail if they wish, but there’s also an option to submit in person at the Satellite City Hall.
How do I renew my disabled parking permit in Hawaii?
As we mentioned, there is only one way to renew your parking permit in the state of Hawaii, and that’s via good old snail mail. According to the Hawaii government website, to renew your placard, you must:
- Complete the PA-3 form
- Mail the completed form to this address:
DCAB P.O. Box 3377
Honolulu, HI 96801
The PA-3 form is a two-page document. Page one of the form requests the following information:
- Full name
- Email address (optional)
- Full mailing address
- Birth date
- Height, weight, and gender
- The city you live in
- The nature of the request (first application, renewal, replacement card)
If you’re applying to have special license plates for a specific county, there is also a section to be filled out for that that requires your vehicle information, such as:
- Year
- Make
- Model
- License number
- Vehicle registration expiration date
When you’ve completed page one, you must take page two to a licensed practicing physician to have them fill it out for you. This part of the form will go through the details of your condition, how it affects you, and how long you’re expected to have it.
How long does it take to receive your placard after mailing your renewal application?
There is no definitive timeline when it comes to receiving your placard after you’ve applied for renewal by mail – you’ll be at the mercy of the mail service and varying processing times. According to the Hawaii Government Disability and Communication Access Board, however, it can take roughly five to six weeks for the application to be processed. Add in the time it takes for mail to arrive, and you should expect up to two months of wait time between sending in the application and receiving your renewed handicap placard.
Because of how long it can take to renew your parking permit, you should always keep an eye on your expiration date. This way, you can plan to mail the renewal forms in with ample time to receive the new one before your current placard expires.
Once you receive your permit, it’s valid for six years, so even though the renewal process takes time, you don’t have to do it often! Having the proper handicap placard in Hawaii makes it much easier to get around if you have a disability that affects your day-to-day living, so don’t forget to renew yours before it’s due for expiry.
