How Do I Renew My Handicap Placard In Colorado?

Colorado has a well-run and efficient handicap parking program. There is copious handicap parking infrastructure across the Centennial State. Colorado’s rural parts, areas of natural beauty, and major cities are all well serviced by handicap parking spaces.

Disabled Parking In Colorado

A Colorado disabled parking permit entitles its holder to avail of handicap parking infrastructure across the Centennial State and beyond. Getting a disabled parking permit in Colorado is a simple procedure. The application process is quick and easy.

People tend to have many questions about disabled parking in Colorado, such as… What are the qualifying conditions for handicap parking in Colorado? What kinds of Colorado disabled parking permits are available? How do you apply for a disabled permit in the Centennial State? And how do you renew a handicap permit in Colorado?

Today we will answer all of these important questions and more.

person in wheelchair on road
Image by Jon Tyson on Unsplash: You qualify for a disabled parking permit in Colorado if you use a wheelchair.

Who Qualifies For A Disabled Parking Permit In Colorado?

To qualify for a Colorado disabled parking permit a person must have one of the following disabilities:

  • They cannot walk two hundred feet without stopping to rest.
  • They cannot walk without the use of a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or another assistive device.
  • They are restricted by lung disease to such an extent that their forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than sixty mm/hg on room air or at rest.
  • They use portable oxygen.
  • They have a cardiac condition that is classified in severity as class III or IV by the American Heart Association.
  • They are severely limited in their ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.

What Kinds Of Disabled Parking Permits Are Available In Colorado?

The following types of disabled parking permit are available in Colorado:

  • Three-Year Placards or Plates – for people with permanent, extended, or temporary disabilities.
  • Temporary Placard – for people with short-term disabilities.
  • Disabled Veterans Plates
  • A Remuneration-Exempt Disability Placard – for people who have lost fine motor control in both hands, or are unable to reach a height of 48 inches from the ground due to lack of finger, hand, or upper extremity strength or mobility, or are unable to reach a parking meter due to the use of a wheelchair or other ambulatory device.

How Do I Get A Handicap Placard In Colorado?

To get a Colorado handicap parking permit, you can go to the Dr. Handicap online clinic and have a telemedicine consultation with a Colorado medical professional.

The following medical professionals can verify an applicant for disable parking in Colorado:

  • Licensed physician
  • Commissioned Medical Officer of the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Public Health Service, and/or the U.S. Veterans Administration
  • Advanced Practice Nurse
  • Physician Assistant
  • Podiatrist
  • Chiropractor (short-term permit only)
  • Physical Therapist (short-term permit only)

Once your disability has been verified, you and the medical professional will complete the relevant sections of an application form and submit it to the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles. The application form can be submitted by post, in person, or through the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles website.

Do Permanent Handicap Placards Expire?

Colorado does not have a permanent handicap permit. The handicap permit available to people with a permanent disability is the three-year permit, which, as the name suggests, must be renewed every three years. However, it is only necessary to get a medical professional’s signature for renewal every third time (so every nine years).

When Does A Disabled Parking Placard Need To Be Renewed In Colorado?

A Colorado three-year permit must be renewed every three years. A Colorado short-term placard must be renewed after 90 days and can be renewed only once.

How Do I Renew My Handicap Placard In Colorado?

Can I renew my handicap placard online in Colorado? Yes, you can renew your Colorado handicap parking permit online at the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles website.

To renew your permit, just complete an application form. There is no fee to renew placards, but fees may apply when renewing a license plate. New medical professional verification is required when renewing if you have an extended, temporary, or short-term disability. As mentioned above, permanently disabled people need verification every third renewal.

person using laptop to renew disabled parking permit online
Image by Thomas Lefebvre on Unsplash: Online placard renewal in Colorado is a quick and easy process.

Can I Replace A Lost, Stolen, Or Damaged Permit In Colorado?

If your Colorado disabled parking permit gets lost, stolen, or damaged, you can get a replacement. A replacement permit can be obtained by applying through the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles website.

Are Colorado Disabled Parking Permits Valid Outside The State?

Colorado handicap permits are valid in all other US states. They are also valid in the following foreign countries:

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

Featured image by Cassie Gallegos on Unsplash

5 Things You Should Know About Disabled Parking If You’re On Oxygen Support

Disabled parking permits exist to help make people’s lives a little bit easier with convenient and accessible parking. If you’re living with a condition that requires you to use portable oxygen, it’s likely already somewhat difficult for you to get around.

With a handicap placard in hand, you can actually conserve your energy for other tasks. Here’s a list of things you should know about disabled parking on oxygen support.

1. There are a variety of illnesses that result in the need for oxygen.

Why might someone require the use of portable oxygen? In a healthy individual, oxygen passes from the lungs into the bloodstream and is pumped by the heart to the rest of the body. However, when lung or heart disease is present, this process isn’t able to take place as effectively.

Illnesses that can result in the need for supplemental oxygen include:

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Asthma
  • Pneumonia
  • Heart failure
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Lung disease
  • Trauma to the respiratory system

With these conditions, patients can experience difficulty breathing, fatigue, confusion, etc. Using supplemental O2 can help increase the oxygen that is passed into the bloodstream and then carried to the organs and tissues. If you have any of these medical conditions, you might require the use of oxygen, and you could benefit from a handicap placard.

Dr Handicap - road
Image by Alberto Frias on Unsplash: Requiring supplemental oxygen shouldn’t make you feel like you can’t hit the open road when you want to.

2. Getting a handicap parking permit when you’re on oxygen support is fairly easy.

Handicap placards are issued to individuals who have undergone a medical certification process and have shown that their mobility is limited because of a physical illness. The application process is pretty straightforward. You just need to get an application from your state’s DMV (they can typically be found online) and complete it with the help of your physician.

Once you send in your application and it’s approved by the DMV, you’ll get a handicap placard that gives you access to better parking places. There are sometimes additional perks depending on your location, such as free on-street metered parking or no time limits even when signs are posted.

3. You should check with your DMV to find out if you’re permitted to drive while using oxygen.

While you’re free to use your handicap placard as a passenger any time, there are some states that do not allow you to operate a vehicle if you’re currently using oxygen. This is because the DMV might view you as an unsafe driver (in the event that you pass out from low oxygen levels or somehow endanger other drivers because of your oxygen use).

Even if your state doesn’t allow you to drive, you can still benefit from getting a placard when you ride as a passenger and need access to convenient parking places.

4. There are several steps to traveling safely with an oxygen tank.

If you’re driving, make sure that there’s no way your oxygen tank can tip over. It’s recommended to put the tank in the seat next to you and put a seatbelt on it so it won’t fall over if you have to stop suddenly. If someone is sitting in the passenger seat, put the oxygen concentrator on the floor by their feet so your cannula can still reach your nose. Never put your O2 behind you. If it were to malfunction in some way, it would be dangerous for you to try and reach for it.

While out on the road, always leave a window open slightly for ventilation so the oxygen won’t accumulate in your vehicle. Most importantly, make sure your concentrator’s battery is always fully charged when you leave your house. If the battery dies while you’re out, you could end up having a medical emergency. To be extra cautious, purchase a car charger to avoid this scenario. You never know when you’ll have to take an unplanned detour or spend more time out on the road than you imagined.

Dr Handicap - disabled parking spots
Image by Robert Ruggiero on Unsplash: Take advantage of close parking places with a handicap parking permit while you require oxygen.

5. There are a few things to remember about handicap parking on oxygen support.

Wondering how to park when you’re on oxygen support? Remember that it’s crucial to never leave your portable oxygen in your car when you’re not there. Heat damage can result in a permanently ruined unit that will require you to purchase another one. It’s always best to carry your oxygen with you when you leave your car, even if you don’t need it.

In terms of parking, the best place to park if you’re on oxygen support is as close to the entrance of the location as possible so that you have the shortest distance to walk. Your handicap parking permit can help you do just that. Stick to parking in designated wheelchair-accessible spots whenever possible so that you have enough space to get in and out of your vehicle with your oxygen tank.

Your usage of supplemental oxygen shouldn’t keep you from living a full life. Apply for a handicap placard to get more accessible parking places and use your tank responsibly. Then it’s still quite possible for you to venture out into the world anytime you wish!

Featured image by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

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