Everything You Need to Know
Maryland citizens with disabilities are eligible for parking accommodations: Drivers with disabilities who qualify for special parking placards and registration plates have several accommodations available to them: - You’re exempt from paying parking meter fees in Maryland if the parking meters do not meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and can park for up to twice the maximum allowable time shown on the meter (not to exceed four hours). Please note: Areas outside of Maryland, including the District of Columbia, have different parking meter exemption laws. Please check with their local government to obtain parking meter exemption information.
- Maryland’s registration plates and placards for individuals with disabilities display the wheelchair symbol and are recognized nationwide.
Yes, all States must recognize removable disability placards, temporary disability placards and special license plates which have been issued by authorities of other states for the purpose of identifying vehicle(s) permitted to utilize parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities. Although States must recognize disability placards, temporary disability placards and special license plates to utilize parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities you may not be entitled to free-metered parking. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not prevent payment of parking meter fees by an individual with a disability. Therefore, you should verify requirements of feeding parking meters in the jurisdiction you are visiting. Accommodations for motorists with disabilities do not apply to zones where stopping, standing, or parking is prohibited to all vehicles, and spaces which are reserved for special types of vehicles. Accommodations are not available where there is a local ordinance prohibiting any parking during heavy traffic periods such as morning, afternoon or evening rush hours, or where parking is clearly a traffic hazard. Always check specific posted signs before you park, since you cannot disregard zones prohibiting all vehicles. An individual may request disability placard(s) or plate as follows: One disability placard only, or One disability plate only, or One disability plate and one disability placard, or Two disability placards.
You may choose either one-disability placard or disability plate, or one plate and one placard or two placards. Placards are designed to easily move from one vehicle to another, whether it's a vehicle you own personally or a vehicle you're riding in owned by another. - Has lung disease to such an extent that forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter, or arterial oxygen tension (pO2) is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
- Has cardiovascular disease limitations classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to the standards set by the American Heart Association.
- Is unable to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.
- Is unable to walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, or other assistance device.
- Requires a wheelchair for mobility.
- Has lost an arm, hand, foot, or leg. See Note (D) “Certification Under Maryland Law.”
- Has lost the use of an arm, hand, foot, or leg.
- Has a permanent disability that adversely impacts the ambulatory ability of the applicant and which is so severe that the person would endure a hardship or be subject to a risk or injury if the privileges accorded a person from whom a vehicle is specially registered were denied.
- Has a permanent impairment of both eyes so that: 1) The central vision acuity is 20/200 or less in the better eye, with corrective glasses, or 2) There is a field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees in the better eye. See Note (C) “Certification Under Maryland Law”.
- Temporary Placard (red)
Disability is not permanent but would substantially impair the person’s mobility or limit or impair the person’s ability to walk for at least three weeks, and is so severe that the person would endure a hardship or be subject to risk of injury if the Temporary Placard were denied.
Maryland Law specifies that only licensed physicians, chiropractors, optometrists or podiatrists can certify to the particular conditions listed. You, your dependent, or any person who depends on you for transportation may be certified as having a disability under the ten conditions listed. | A. | A licensed physician may certify all qualifying conditions listed. | B. | A licensed chiropractor or podiatrist may certify disability codes (3 through 8 and 10). | C. | A licensed optometrist may certify only qualifying conditions regarding vision. | D. | The person with the disability may self-certify the conditions listed under disability code 6, by appearing in person with proper identification. In this situation, only the disabled person’s name and this disability code must be recorded. If, however, a doctor certified the loss of a limb, the doctor must complete all of Section C. |
If you have a temporary disability that’s expected to last at least three weeks, you may apply for a temporary parking placard. It must be certified by a licensed physician, optometrist, podiatrist or chiropractor. This placard may be valid for up to six months. There is no fee for the placard, and the plates are free, as well, if requested at the time of your regularly scheduled renewal. There is a $20.00 fee if the plates are requested after renewal.Request an application for “Maryland Parking Placards/License Plates for Individuals with a Disability” – form number VR-210 – by calling the MVA at any of the numbers listed below, visiting your local MVA full-service location, or downloading it from the MVA web site. Call MVA’s Fax on Demand System at 410-424-3050 and request Catalogue #15 Call MVA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-950-1MVA(1682) Call MVA’s Customer Service Center from out-of-state at 1-301-729-4550 TTY for the hearing impaired at 1-800-492-4575
Complete all applicable sections of the form. Be sure to identify whether you are applying for a placard or plate by checking the appropriate box at the top. The individual with the disability must sign and date the application. If requesting a plate, complete Section D of the application. A disability plate may only be issued to a vehicle titled in the name of the individual with a disability or to a vehicle that has been leased to an individual with a disability. Have your doctor complete the Disability Certification Information section of the application. This section does not have to be completed if you are self-certifying. Visit your local MVA full-service office to receive your placard or plate in person. Or mail the completed form along with the appropriate fees to the MVA, Disability Unit, Room 202, 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, Maryland, 21062. Do not mail cash.
You will receive a renewal notice in the mail prior to the expiration of your placard. Renewal of a disability placard or plate is easier than ever, you simply verify the information on the renewal notice noting any change of address or mailing address. Sign and date the application, then return it to the MVA, Disability Unit, Room 202, 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21062.
If you do not receive a renewal notice please call MVA's Customer Service Center at: Call MVA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-950-1MVA(1682) Call MVA's Customer Service Center from out-of-state at 1-301-729-4550 TTY for the hearing impaired: 1-800-492-4575
A placard for persons with a disability is valid for four years. The temporary placard may be valid for anywhere from three weeks up to six months. Registration stickers must be applied to plate every two years. Placards must be hung on the inside rearview mirror. If the vehicle does not have an inside mirror, or the inside mirror is not visible from the rear, you may display the placard on top of the dashboard on the driver’s side. Please make sure the placard side displayed shows the expiration date of the disability placard. Note: You must remove all hanging placards from the rearview mirror while your vehicle is in motion. You must always have your copy of the medical certification in your possession whenever you use the placard or plates. This certification must be presented to law enforcement upon request. - Passenger vehicle
- Multi-purpose vehicle
- Trucks up to one ton
- Motorcycle
- School Bus
- Passenger bus
- Van pool vehicle specially equipped for transporting individuals with disabilities and used exclusively for that purpose.
If you no longer require the disability placard or plate issued to you, you must return them to the MVA immediately. The MVA will accept a letter from the Veterans Administration stating that you have a total (100%) disability to issue a disability license plate. You can choose a regular disability plate or a disabled veteran plate with the universal symbol. The MVA issues personalized and amateur radio license plates with the universal wheelchair symbol for people with disabilities. Please contact the MVA’s Customer Service Center for more information. You may use your disability placard wheneveryou rent a car in order to park in a disability parking space. The individual with the disability must be in the vehicle when it is parked in the accessible parking space and they must have their disability certification card to present to any law enforcement officer upon request. Anyone committing fraud or misrepresenting themselves when applying for or using a parking placard for people with disabilities is subject to a fine of up to $500. If disability conditions are not met, the plate/placards may be revoked. |
