Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
An Official Pennsylvania Government Website
Translate
Begin Main Content Area

Persons with Disability/Severely Disabled Veteran Placards/Plates and Disabled Veteran Plates Frequently Asked Questions

Overview
1. Defining a “Persons with Disability Parking Placard”
2. Defining a “Persons with Disability Registration Plate”
3. What Are The Benefits of a Persons with Disability Parking Placard or Person with Disability Registration Plate?
4. Types of Placards
5. Who is Eligible?
6. How to Apply for Original Placard
7. How to Apply for an Original Persons with Disability Registration Plate
8. How to Renew a Placard
9. How to Renew a Persons with Disability Registration Plate or Persons with Disability Motorcycle Registration Plate
10. How to Apply for a Replacement Persons with Disability Placard
11. How to Apply for a Replacement Persons with Disability Registration Plate
12. How to Apply for a Replacement Persons with Disability Registration Motorcycle Plate
13. How Do I Obtain a Parking Space in Front of My Residence?
14. Who is a Licensed Health Care Provider?
15. How to Apply for a Disabled Veteran Registration Plate
16. How to Apply for a Severely Disabled Veteran Registration Plate
17. How do I Apply for a Persons with Disability Registration Plate for the Carrier Used to Transport My Personal Mobility Device?

Overview
Special parking privileges are available for individuals with certain disabilities. Those whose disability is certified by a health care provider as being a permanent disability may be eligible for a Persons with Disability Registration Plate or a permanent Persons with Disability Parking Placard. Those whose disability is temporary may be eligible for a temporary Persons with Disability Parking Placard.

A Persons with Disability Parking Placard is issued to the disabled person for their use in any vehicle being used to transport the person with a disability and may only be used when those persons are actually being transported in the vehicle.

A Disabled Veteran Registration Plate is issued to an individual who has any percentage service- connected disability, certified by a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Administration Regional Office Administrator (Philadelphia or Pittsburgh) or service unit in which the veteran served. Note: No special parking privileges are associated with this registration plate.

A Severely Disabled Veteran registration plate is issued to an individual who has a 100 percent service-connected disability or has a service-connected disability of the type enumerated in Section 1338, certified by a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office Administrator (Philadelphia or Pittsburgh). In addition, a Letter of Promulgations or Awards Letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicating 100% service-connected disability rating may be submitted.

1. Defining a “Persons with Disability Parking Placard”
A Persons with Disability Parking Placard is a special parking placard issued by PennDOT to a person who meets the qualifications as listed in “Who is Eligible?” This parking placard is to be displayed on the rearview mirror when a vehicle is utilizing a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities.

2. Defining a “Persons with Disability Registration Plate”
A Persons with Disability Registration Plate is a special parking registration plate issued by PennDOT to a person who meets the qualifications as listed under the Who is Eligible section. This registration plate is displayed on the rear of the vehicle at all times. The person with the disability must also be listed as a registered owner of the vehicle unless the vehicle owner is a person in loco parentis of a qualified person.

3. What are the Benefits of a Persons with Disability Parking Placard or Persons with Disability Registration Plate?
Parking is permitted in spaces designated for disabled persons and for 60 minutes in excess of the legal parking period except where local ordinances or police regulations provide for the accommodation of heavy traffic during morning, afternoon or evening hours.

Upon request of a person with a qualifying disability, local authorities may erect a sign(s) on the highway as close as possible to the person's residence indicating that the place is reserved for the person with a disability, that no one else may park there unless a persons with disability plate or placard is displayed and that any unauthorized person parking there will be subject to a fine.

4. Types of Placards
There are several types of placards available. These are:
  • Persons with Disability Permanent Parking Placard (valid for a period of five years)
  • Severely Disabled Veteran Persons with Disability Parking Placard (valid for five years)
  • Persons with Disability Temporary Parking Placard (valid up to six months)
  • Severely Disabled Veteran Motorcycle Decal (valid during motorcycle registration period)

5. Who is Eligible?
A person with a disability listed below that is certified by a health care provider. Eligibility includes a person who:
  1. is blind*,
  2. does not have full use of an arm or both arms,
  3. cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest,
  4. cannot walk without use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistive device,
  5. is restricted by lung disease to such an extent the person's forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter or the arterial oxy tension is less than 60 MM/HG on room air at rest,
  6. uses portable oxygen,
  7. has a cardiac condition to the extent the person's functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to the standards set by the American Heart Association,
  8. is severely limited in their ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition,
  9. is a person in loco parentis of a person specified in (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (8),
  10. is a parent including adoptive parent or foster parent, of a child or adult child provided that the person has custody, care or control of the child or adult child and the child or adult child satisfies paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (8)
  11. is the spouse of a person specified in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (8).
*If an applicant is blind or does not have full use of a leg or both legs, the application can be signed by a police officer.
NOTE: A person may have two permanent Persons with Disability placards or 1 permanent placard and 1 Persons with Disability registration plate.

6. How to Apply for an Original Placard
There is no fee required for the issuance of a Persons with Disability Parking Placard. There are two different forms available that must be completed in order to obtain a Persons with Disability or Severely Disabled Veteran Placard or Severely Disabled Veteran Motorcycle Decal:

Form MV-145A, “Persons with Disability Parking Placard Application”

Form MV-145V, "Application for Disabled Veteran, Severely Disabled Veteran Registration Plate or Severely Disabled Veteran Motorcycle Plate Decal"

Submit the appropriate, completed form to:

PennDOT
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 68268
Harrisburg, PA 17106-8268

NOTE: Organizations that transport persons with disabilities may receive up to eight (8) placards in the organization’s name to be used when transporting persons with disabilities.

7. How to Apply for an Original Persons with Disability Registration Plate
The form to obtain a Persons with Disability or Hearing Impaired Registration Plate or a Persons with Disability Motorcycle Plate is the MV-145, “Application for Persons with Disability or Hearing Impaired Registration Plate or a Persons with Disability Motorcycle Plate.” Fees are required. Please refer to Form MV-70S, "The Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees," for required fee(s). 

Submit the above forms to:

PennDOT
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
1101 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104

8. How to Renew a Placard
Permanent placards are renewed in March and September each year. You will be mailed a renewal form approximately 60 days prior to its expiration. If you do not receive a renewal application, you should complete Form MV-145A, “Persons with Disability Parking Placard Application.”

You may also renew, request a replacement and/or complete a change of address for your Persons with Disability Placard online.

NOTE: Temporary Persons with Disability Parking Placards may not be renewed. Temporary Persons with Disability Parking Placard applications must be recertified by a licensed health care provider when a temporary placard has expired and a placard is still required for a period not to exceed six months.

9. How to Renew a Persons with Disability Registration Plate or Person with Disability Motorcycle Registration Plate
Persons with Disability Registration Plates are renewed in the same manner as all registration plates. They are valid for one year. You will be mailed a renewal form approximately 90 days prior to its expiration. If you do not receive a renewal application, you should complete Form MV-140, “Request for Registration.”

10. How to Apply for a Replacement Persons with Disability Placard
You may apply for a replacement Persons with Disability Parking Placard by completing Form MV-145A, “Persons with Disability Parking Placard Application.” Your previous placard number will be listed as the previous placard on PennDOT’s computer system. If the placard is ever located, it must be returned to PennDOT because it will now be null and void.

You may renew, request a replacement and/or complete a change of address for your Persons with Disability Placard on​line.

NOTE: If the replacement request is for a temporary placard, the placard will be issued for the balance of the time remaining on the original temporary placard issued.

11. How to Apply for a Replacement Persons with Disability Registration Plate
You may apply for a replacement Persons with Disability Registration Plate by completing Form MV-44, “Application for Duplicate Registration Card or Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Defaced Registration Plate,” indicating the reason for the replacement. This form is submitted to PennDOT with a replacement plate fee. Please refer to Form MV-70S, "The Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees," for required fee(s). 

12. How to Apply for a Replacement Persons with Disability Motorcycle Registration Plate
You may apply for a replacement Persons with Disability Motorcycle Registration Plate by completing Form MV-44, “Application for Duplicate Registration Card or Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Defaced Registration Plate,” indicating the reason for the replacement. This form is submitted to PennDOT with a replacement plate fee. Please refer to Form MV-70S, "Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees," for required fee(s). 

13. How Do I Obtain a Parking Space in Front of My Residence?
PennDOT does not authorize these parking spaces. You must contact your local municipality. Upon the request of a person with a disability, local authorities may erect a sign(s) on the highway as close as possible to the individual's residence indicating that the place is reserved for the person with a disability.

14. Who is a Licensed Health Care Provider?
A health care provider is defined as a physician, chiropractor, optometrist, podiatrist, physician’s assistant or a certified registered nurse practitioner licensed or certified to practice in this commonwealth or in a contiguous state. A health care provider may only certify disabilities within their scope of practice.

15. How to Apply for a Disabled Veteran Registration Plate
The form to obtain a Disabled Veteran Registration Plate is Form MV-145V, “Application for Disabled Veteran, Severely Disabled Veteran Registration Plate or a Severely Disabled Veteran Motorcycle Plate Decal.” Fees are required. Please refer to Form MV-70S, "Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees," for required fee(s). NOTE: No special parking privileges are associated with this registration plate.
Submit the above form to:

PennDOT
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
1101 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104

16. How to Apply for a Severely Disabled Veteran Registration Plate
The form to obtain a Severely Disabled Veteran Registration Plate is Form MV-145V, "Application for Disabled Veteran, Severely Disabled Veteran Registration Plate or a Severely Disabled Veteran Motorcycle Decal.” Fees are required. Please refer to Form MV-70S, "The Bureau of Motor Vehicles Schedule of Fees," for required fee(s). 
NOTE: In order to qualify for the free yearly registration, the applicant must be totally disabled with a service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office Administrator (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) or service unit in which the veteran served or 100% service-connected disability as shown on the applicant’s Letter of Promulgation or Awards Letter.
Submit the completed form to:
PennDOT
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
1101 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104
17. How Do I Apply for a Persons with Disability Registration Plate for the carrier used to transport my personal mobility assistive device?
The owner may apply for dual registration plates by completing either Form MV-145, “Application for Persons with a Disability or Hearing Impaired Registration Plate or a Persons with a Disability Motorcycle Plate,” or Form MV-145V, “Application for Disabled Veteran, Severely Disabled Veteran Registration Plate or Severely Disabled Veteran Motorcycle Plate Decal.” This form is submitted to PennDOT with a fee for processing. Once processed, the owner will receive two registration plates (with identical plate numbers) which are issued for vehicles equipped with a wheelchair/personal assistive device carrier on the rear of the vehicle. One registration plate must be affixed to the rear of the vehicle and one registration plate must be affixed to the rear of the carrier attached to the vehicle for which the registration plates are issued.


Return to Frequently Asked Questions