Can I Renew A Temporary Handicap Permit?

Today let’s talk about whether you can renew a temporary permit, and if so, how to go about the renewal process.

Temporary disabled parking permits are available for people who have a disability that is not expected to last permanently. These permits entitle people with temporary disabilities or mobility issues to use disabled parking infrastructure for a specified period of time.

So what happens if a person’s temporary disability lasts longer than expected? Many people have disabilities that are not permanent but that still affect them for an extended and indeterminate duration of time. How long is a temporary handicap placard good for? And can you renew a temporary handicap permit? Read on to find out.

Is Handicap Parking A Federal Law?

Yes, handicap parking is a federal law. Handicap parking rules and regulations are stipulated by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

While all disabled parking programs in the US adhere to federal ADA regulations, each state implements its own disabled parking program with its own specific details. Often, even jurisdictions within states vary in the fine details of their disabled parking rules and regulations.

person with injury and crutches
Image by Victoria_Borodinova on Pixabay: Can I renew a temporary handicap permit? Read on to find out!

Who Issues Handicap Parking Permits?

Handicap parking permits are issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or its equivalent in each state. Applications should always be made to your local DMV or tax collector’s office.

What Types Of Handicap Parking Permits Are Available?

Each state has its own list of available types of handicap parking permits. However, all states have versions of the following types of permits:

  • Permanent disabled parking permit (for people with permanent disability, usually valid for up to five years)
  • Permanent disabled parking license plate
  • Temporary disabled parking placard
  • Organizational disabled parking permit (for organizations and institutions that transport disabled people)
  • Disabled Veterans license plate (for people whose disabilities are mostly military service-related)

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Temporary Handicap Parking Permit?

The main list of qualifying conditions for a temporary disabled parking permit includes:

  • Any condition that causes a temporary inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
  • Any injury that causes a temporary inability to walk without the use of a walking assistance device such as a cane, crutch, wheelchair, Zimmer frame, or another person
  • Portable oxygen tank usage
  • Temporary blindness or hearing loss
  • Pregnancy

Where Are Temporary Handicap Parking Permits Valid?

A temporary handicap parking permit issued by any US state is valid throughout that state, in all other US states, in all US overseas territories, and in several foreign countries, including:

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

What Rights Does A Temporary Handicap Parking Permit Afford Its Holder?

A temporary handicap parking permit entitles its holder to park in any designated disabled parking space. These spaces are marked with the International Symbol of Access.

In many jurisdictions, a temporary handicap permit will also entitle its holder to park for free and for unlimited or extended time in a metered, on-street parking space.

How Long Is A Temporary Handicap Placard Good For?

In most states, temporary handicap parking permits are valid for six months.

pregnant woman
Image by Pexels on Pixabay: How long is a temporary handicap placard good for? Usually up to six months.

Can I Renew A Temporary Handicap Permit?

In most jurisdictions, you technically cannot renew your temporary permit. But you can simply apply for a new temporary permit once your permit expires.

The difference is that when renewing a permit, which is possible with most permanent permits, you do not need to get new medical professional certification. However, when applying for a new temporary permit, you will need to get new certification.

What Do You Do With Expired Handicap Placards?

Expired handicap placards can be given back to your local DMV or recycled.

How Do I Renew My Temporary Disabled Parking Permit?

To sum up: renewing a temporary permit is usually not possible, but applying for a new temporary permit is a straightforward process.

The first step is to have a telemedicine consultation with a medical professional. This can be done at the Dr. Handicap online clinic. Once your suitability for a new permit has been verified, the medical professional will sign an application form, which you can then complete and submit to your local disabled parking authorities.

Featured image by Oliver King on Pexels

How Can I Get A Temporary Handicap Placard?

There are many types of disabled parking placards, so how do you know which type is right for your needs? It can be confusing, but the answer all comes down to your personal circumstances.

Each state governs its own parking placard system, but generally, red placards are for temporary disabilities, dark blue placards are permanent, and light blue are for wheelchair users. Due to the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, both public and private businesses need to have a minimum number of disabled parking spots, so you should always be able to find them.

You can also sometimes find specific parking permits for veterans and for international visitors. However, if you have a temporary injury or disability, you probably need a temporary handicap placard. Here’s what you need to know about how to get one.

What is a temporary handicap placard?

A temporary handicap placard is just as it sounds: it’s a permit that lets drivers with a temporary disability park in disabled spaces for the validity of the pass. In some cases, this might be six months, while others might only be valid for a duration specified by your doctor.

This is in contrast to a permanent handicap permit, which is generally good forever (although may need to be renewed every few years).

person in wheelchair using laptop for online consultation
Image by SHVETS Production on Pexels: You can download the forms you need online for your temporary handicap placard application.

What are the qualifying conditions for a temporary handicap placard?

Each state controls what qualifies for a temporary handicap permit, so if you’re unsure, the best thing to do is always check with your doctor or your state government.

However, in general terms, here are some of the qualifying health conditions that would make you eligible:

  • Inability to walk without needing to stop or rest, due to a temporary mobility condition like a broken or injured foot, back or spine injuries, or limited mobility while recovering from surgery
  • Any health condition that requires a walking aid, like crutches or a wheelchair
  • Need for an oxygen tank
  • Temporary heart or lung conditions
  • Any other temporary physical or mental health condition that restricts your mobility

If you’re expecting, you may wonder if you can get a temporary handicap parking permit for pregnancy. If your pregnancy has prevented you from moving about normally, then yes, most doctors will happily sign off on your approval for a temporary placard.

However, you can’t park in a disabled space without a placard, even if you’re pregnant – you’ll need to first apply for and receive the placard. (In recent years, many stores have started reserving spaces near the entrance for pregnant people or families, so utilizing these spots could be another option.)

How long will my temporary disabled parking permit be valid for?

In most cases, temporary handicap placards are valid for six months from the date of issue, or for a specific duration specified by your doctor.

However, if you end up needing your permit for longer than that, you can apply for another, as long as you have support from your doctor.

How to apply for a temporary handicap placard

So how can I get a temporary handicap placard? Here’s a general overview of the process. Note that each state may require slightly different paperwork, and the application fees will also vary.

1. Visit your state DMV website or office to determine which form is needed

Since each state has slightly different requirements, you’ll first need to do some research to find out what paperwork is required. Check the website for your state’s DMV office or give them a call – they can let you know what you need.

Print off the correct form so you can take it with you to your medical appointment, which is the next step.

pregnant woman
Image by Arteida MjESHTRI on Unsplash: If your pregnancy is limiting your mobility, you’ll qualify for a temporary handicap placard.

2. Get approval from a medical professional

To get your temporary permit, you’ll need sign-off from your doctor or a medical professional. This is to verify that you have a temporary injury or disability that limits your mobility, and that you have a legitimate need for the placard.

This is a simple process and stops people taking advantage of the handicap parking system when they aren’t entitled to use it. You can get your medical approval through a visit to your doctor or through a HIPAA-compliant telehealth consultation.

3. Submit your application

Once you’ve completed your forms, submit your application to the DMV in your state. Some might accept them via email or fax, while others will need to be delivered in person. Most states will require a small application fee as well.

As long as you’ve done everything correctly, your placard should be approved and mailed out to you in just a few days. Keep in mind that it’s only valid for yourself – you can’t share your temporary placard with anyone else.

Keep your permit in a safe place and display it clearly in your car whenever you need to use it. The disabled parking program is designed to make parking easier for anyone with a temporary disability, so a temporary handicap permit will make life much more convenient for you and your carers.

Featured image by Oxana Melis on Unsplash

4 Things You Should Know About Disabled Parking If You’re On Crutches

If you sustain an injury, your life can temporarily get a lot more difficult if you need to use crutches to get around. But there is one thing that can make walking around a bit easier: if you apply for a temporary handicap parking permit, you can get access to closer parking places so that you don’t have to walk as far when you’re out and about.

Here’s everything you need to know about disabled parking on crutches.

1. Many types of injuries that require the use of crutches can end up helping you qualify for a handicap placard.

Using crutches typically means your doctor is recommending you keep weight off of an injured leg or foot so that an injury can heal and you can get back to full mobility as quickly as possible.

There are many injuries that could require the use of crutches, including:

  • Achilles tendon ruptures
  • Broken or sprained ankles
  • Foot fractures
  • Stress fractures
  • Tibia fractures
  • Pulled or strained muscles
  • ACL injuries

Your doctor can suggest underarm crutches (which are the most commonly used crutches in the US) or forearm crutches (which have an open cuff that grips your arms while you’re using them).

Underarm crutches can be used for most injuries, but they can cause sore underarms. Sometimes doctors will suggest the forearm crutches if you have a more long-term injury that will require the use of crutches for an extended period of time. These do tend to give you more control over your movements and are easier to navigate on uneven terrain.

When you get your crutches, make sure to adjust them to your height so that you can move about more comfortably, and follow your doctor’s advice on how long to use the crutches.

Dr Handicap - physician
Image by Gustavo Fring on Pexels: Your doctor can help you determine if a temporary disability parking permit is right for you.

2. You can get a disabled parking permit if you need crutches.

Getting a handicap parking permit when you are on crutches can be a great way to take care of yourself and better support your healing. Check with your doctor to see if they think you could benefit from a handicap placard. Typically, people who require crutches apply for a temporary disability parking permit; these are generally valid for around three months (although this does depend on the state you live in).

You can easily get a permit application from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), either in person or online. Then, have your doctor complete the medical certification portion of the application to verify that you do have a need for crutches, have limited mobility, and could benefit from access to closer parking places. You can submit your completed application to the DMV, and once approved, you should get your placard in the mail.

On the chance that your disability is a long-term one that requires the use of crutches, you can apply for a permanent permit, which typically needs to be renewed every few years. Your doctor can help you determine which type of placard is right for you.

3. It might be possible for you to drive with crutches.

It’s possible that you’re allowed to drive even if you require the use of crutches, but it’s probably not the best idea. It’s not technically illegal to drive with a broken or injured leg or foot (if it’s on your left side), but you should definitely follow your doctor’s instructions.

If they recommend you skip driving while your injury is healing, you should listen to them. Plus, you would never want to get pulled over by law enforcement or get in an accident and be fined, ticketed, or charged with a crime because you were driving in an unsafe manner because of your injury.

Even if you’re not the driver of the vehicle, you can still use your handicap parking placard as a passenger in the car, so you can still always get all of the advantages of a permit even if you’re not in the driver’s seat.

Dr Handicap - handicap parking sign
Image by IanDScofieldWriter on Pixabay: Your handicap parking permit can give you access to close parking places while you still need your crutches.

4. There are a few things to keep in mind when using your disabled parking permit.

So, can a person with crutches park in a handicapped parking space? As long as you have a valid, up-to-date handicap placard, you are permitted to park in any designated handicapped parking places (which are usually marked with blue or white paint, posted signs, and an International Symbol of Access of a wheelchair).

Handicap parking on crutches can be really useful so that you don’t have to walk as far to get to your destination. Less time walking with your crutches means you will have more energy, and you most likely won’t experience as much discomfort in your injured limb and your underarm area.

Just remember to follow all posted signs and only use your handicap placard if you’re the driver or passenger (that means no lending it out to friends or family!). If you require another temporary placard after yours has expired, renew your placard with the DMV. Then you can focus on healing your injury and getting yourself back on your feet!

Featured image by Anna Shvets on Pexels

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