What Is a Handicap License Plate?

About 26% of Americans live with disabilities. Of this number, 14% have a mobility disability and cannot move around by walking or climbing stairs. Disability also makes driving around challenging for the individual due to their condition. For that reason, handicapped license plates are issued to individuals to show their state.

With a handicapped license plate, a person with a disability facing difficulty moving long distances will have more accessible and closer access to the building's entrance. People with a mobility disability that makes it challenging to move around qualify for a handicapped parking permit. The permit gives them access to parking lots closer to entrances to save time and energy. Here are important tips about how to get a handicapped license plate and who qualifies for one.

What Is a Handicap License Plate?

The State issues handicap license plates to disabled persons who are the primary owners of a registered vehicle. Any holder of a handicapped license plate is entitled to a temporary disabled placard that alerts people of their condition. To get a placard, they must demonstrate their need for it in writing to the relevant medical department. They must also provide valid reasons as to why they need it. Besides, an individual must indicate the duration they need the placard when applying. An applicant must meet all these requirements for consideration.

How Do You Get a Handicap License Plate?

So, how do you get a handicapped license plate? One must meet several requirements to be issued a handicapped license plate. Generally, any person certified by an authorized healthcare specialist as having a permanent disability is eligible for a handicap license plate. In this case, the term "disability" covers several conditions. Some cases of disability include the following:

• Mobility - If a person cannot walk for two hundred feet without rest, they fall under mobility disability. The lack of mobility could be due to an underlying health condition.
• Assisted mobility - If you can't walk without assistance from a crutch, brace, prosthetic device, cane, wheelchair, or another person, you have assisted mobility disability, which makes you eligible for the license plate.
• Oxygen - Individuals that use portable oxygen are considered disabled and, therefore, eligible for a handicap license plate. The inability to breathe naturally is a sign of a severe condition. If this condition is permanent, victims are entitled to a license plate.
• Respiratory issues - Individuals severely affected by lung disease to the extent that their expiratory volume is damaged qualify for a license. However, when measured by spirometry, they must prove that their expiratory volume for one second is less than one liter. Alternatively, their arterial oxygen tension should be less than 60 mm/hg at room temperature to be considered disabled.
• Cardiac issues - According to AHA, severity class III or IV comprises people affected by a cardiac condition to the extent that their functionality is significantly limited. Such individuals can also get a license plate.
• Other forms of disability - Individuals with severe limitations in walking due to neurological, arthritic, or orthopedic conditions qualify for the handicap license plates.

Therefore, if you are wondering who qualifies for a handicapped license plate, consider the above conditions. While these are the standard requirements for issuing handicap license plates, some exceptions exist. For instance, if a disabled person has fine motor control in both hands. Also, if the person can reach a height of 48 inches from the ground or has upper extremity strength and mobility, they might not get disability placards.

Types of Handicap Plates and Placards

There are different types of handicap plates and placards. If you are looking for placards, you can get temporary ones if your condition lasts a few months. However, those with permanent disabilities can apply for handicap plates or placards lasting several years. In most states, you renew handicap plates after every four years. It is vital to note that a person can only have one placard.

Once you are issued a placard, you must display it in plain view when parking in a handicapped spot. If you park in a handicapped spot without displaying your placard, you could be fined or charged with illegal parking. There are types of placards that allow disabled drivers to park in metered spaces without paying. Parking in metered spaces is only permitted when their disability prevents them from easily accessing the parking. You can apply for this placard if you meet the given requirements.

In addition, there is a placard for organizations tasked with moving disabled people from one place to another. This placard allows these organizations to park in handicapped spots when carrying passengers. Terms and conditions apply when using this type of placard.

To get a disability plate, you must be listed as the car's owner, the guardian or parent of a disabled person, or in charge of relocating a disabled individual. Ensure that you meet these conditions when applying for a disabled parking license.

Disabled Veteran License Plate

A disabled veteran license plate is issued only to qualified veterans with several conditions. Some conditions that qualify include:

• Being ranked with a minimum of 60% service-connected disability rating and listed on the disability breakdown letter.
• You qualify for permanent disability parking privileges.
• A combination of your listed service-connected disabilities totaling 60% must be those that affect your ambulation. All disability conditions that don't affect ambulation might not qualify for this process.

When you meet all the above requirements, you are eligible for a disabled veteran license plate. Remember that these plates are issued only to the primary owners of the registered passenger vehicle. There, another person cannot get the license on behalf of the veteran. When approved for this license plate, you meet the eligibility standards for an exemption from the Motor Vehicles Excise Tax. This exemption does not apply to more than one motor vehicle the veteran owns. Therefore, only one can benefit from this exemption if you have several cars.

Many people in the US have permanent or temporary disabilities. Movement for these people is a problem due to their condition. A handicapped license plate is issued to people with disabilities to make their move easier. Remember that you must have permanent disabilities to qualify for the handicapped license plate.