What You Need to Know About California's Disabled Parking Program

California's disabled parking program issues two types of permits: a removable placard that hangs from your rearview mirror, or a permanent or temporary license plate with a wheelchair symbol. Both let you park in designated accessible spaces. You get either one through your county's Department of Motor Vehicles office, not online, and you must have a medical provider sign a form certifying that you have a permanent or temporary mobility disability.

The process takes about two weeks if you submit everything correctly in person. You cannot mail the process to the DMV — you must appear at a local office with your completed form, proof of residency, and your vehicle registration. If you are explore for someone else (a family member or caregiver), you will need power of attorney or guardianship documents.

Key Takeaways

  • A medical provider must complete and sign the process for Disabled Person Parking Placard or License Plate (form DL 625) — the DMV cannot issue a permit based on your word alone.
  • You must visit a DMV office in person with your completed form, a photo ID, proof of residency, and your vehicle registration or proof of vehicle ownership.
  • Placards are valid for two years; permanent plates do not expire, but temporary plates last only six months or one year depending on your condition.
  • If your disability is temporary (such as recovery from surgery), you can request a temporary placard valid for six months, which costs nothing.
  • You can have only one active placard or plate per vehicle at a time, but you may transfer it to a different vehicle by visiting the DMV again.

Who Can Get a Disabled Parking Permit in California

California issues disabled parking permits to people with permanent or temporary disabilities that limit mobility. This includes people who use a wheelchair, walker, cane, or crutches; people with severe arthritis or joint problems that make walking difficult; people who are blind or have severe vision loss; people with heart or lung disease that limits walking; and people recovering from surgery or injury with a doctor's restriction on walking.

You do not have to have a specific diagnosis. What matters is that your medical provider can document that your condition limits your ability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest, or that you cannot walk at all without information. If you have a condition that comes and goes (like severe arthritis on some days but not others), you can still get a permit if your provider confirms the limitation exists most of the time.

If you are explore on behalf of someone else — a parent, spouse, or person in your care — you must have legal authority. This means a power of attorney document, guardianship papers, or conservatorship documents. The DMV will ask to see these at the office.

The Medical Form Your Doctor Must Complete

Your medical provider fills out the process for Disabled Person Parking Placard or License Plate (form DL 625). This is the only form the DMV accepts for this purpose. Your provider does not need to be an MD — nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and chiropractors can sign it in California, as can optometrists and podiatrists for conditions in their scope of practice.

The form asks your provider to check boxes describing your mobility limitation: whether you use a wheelchair, walker, cane, or crutches; whether you are blind; whether you have a severe respiratory or cardiac condition; or whether you have another condition that limits walking. Your provider must also write in the date they expect your condition to improve, if it is temporary, or write "permanent" if it is not expected to change.

You can read form DL 625 from the California DMV website or pick up a copy at any DMV office. Give it to your doctor's office and ask them to complete it and sign it. Some offices charge a small fee for this service (usually $10 to $25), though some do it at no cost. The form must be signed by hand — a photocopy of a signature or a stamped signature does not count.

What to Bring to the DMV Office

Bring these documents in person to your local DMV office:

  • The completed and signed form DL 625
  • A photo ID (driver's license, state ID card, or passport)
  • Proof of California residency (a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days)
  • Your vehicle registration or proof of vehicle ownership (title, registration card, or bill of sale)
  • If you are explore for someone else, their photo ID plus your power of attorney, guardianship, or conservatorship documents

You do not need an appointment at most DMV offices, but some locations now use an online reservation system. Check your county's DMV website before you go. Bring the originals of all documents — photocopies are not accepted. If your vehicle registration is in someone else's name (a spouse or parent), bring that person's ID as well, or bring a notarized letter from them giving you permission to register the placard or plate to that vehicle.

Choosing Between a Placard and a License Plate

A removable placard hangs from your rearview mirror and is valid for two years. It works on any vehicle you drive — you can move it from car to car. Placards are useful if you drive different vehicles or if you borrow someone else's car. The downside is that a placard can be stolen or forgotten, and it blocks part of your windshield view.

A permanent license plate with the wheelchair symbol replaces your regular plate and does not expire. It stays with the vehicle, so you do not have to remember to move it. The downside is that it is registered to one specific vehicle, so if you buy a new car or want to drive someone else's vehicle, you cannot use it. You can transfer a permanent plate to a different vehicle, but you must return to the DMV to do so.

A temporary placard is valid for six months or one year (your doctor chooses) and costs nothing. It is the right choice if your disability is expected to improve — for example, if you are recovering from knee surgery or a broken leg. When your temporary placard expires, you can renew it if your condition has not improved, but you must bring a new signed form DL 625 from your doctor.

You can have only one active permit per vehicle. If you have both a placard and a plate registered to the same car, the DMV will cancel one of them.

How Long the Process Takes and What Happens Next

If you submit everything correctly in person, the DMV issues your placard or plate on the same day. You leave the office with it in hand. If something is missing or incomplete, the DMV will tell you what you need to fix and you can come back once you have it.

If you are getting a permanent or temporary license plate, the DMV may issue you a temporary placard to use while your plate is being made. The plate itself arrives by mail within two to three weeks. If you are getting a placard only, you take it with you when ready.

Your placard or plate is tied to your name and vehicle. If you move to a different county in California, you do not need to renew it — it works statewide. If you move out of California, your permit is no longer valid and you must follow your new state's rules.

Renewing or Replacing Your Permit

Permanent license plates do not expire and do not need to be renewed. If your permanent plate is lost, stolen, or damaged, return to the DMV with your vehicle registration and a new plate will be issued.

Placards expire after two years. You will receive a renewal notice by mail about 60 days before expiration. To renew, bring the notice, your current placard, and a new signed form DL 625 from your doctor to the DMV. If your condition has not changed, your doctor can straightforward sign a new form without a new appointment.

Temporary placards expire after six months or one year. To renew a temporary permit, you must bring a new signed form DL 625 from your doctor stating that your condition still limits your mobility and has not improved as expected. If your doctor believes you are now recovered, they will not sign the renewal form and you will not be able to renew.

What Disabled Parking Spaces Are Reserved For

In California, a disabled parking space is reserved for a vehicle displaying a valid placard or plate. You can park in a disabled space only if you are the driver or a passenger in the vehicle, and only if the placard or plate is visible (hanging from the mirror or on the license plate). Parking in a disabled space without a valid permit is a parking violation and can result in a fine of $250 to $1,000.

Disabled spaces are typically located close to building entrances and are wider than regular spaces to allow room for wheelchairs and walkers to open doors and move. Some spaces are marked "van accessible" and have an extra-wide striped area next to them — these are reserved for vehicles with wheelchair lifts or ramps. You can park in a van-accessible space if you have a disabled permit, but you should use a regular disabled space if possible to leave van spaces for people who need them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a disabled parking permit if my doctor is out of state?

Yes. Your doctor does not have to be in California. They can complete and sign form DL 625 from anywhere, and you can bring it to the DMV. The DMV does not verify the doctor's license or location — it only checks that the form is signed and complete.

What if I lose my placard or it gets stolen?

Return to the DMV with your vehicle registration and photo ID. The DMV will issue a replacement placard on the same day at no cost. If you have a permanent license plate, report it to the DMV and the California Highway Patrol, and a replacement plate will be mailed to you.

Can someone else use my disabled parking permit if I am not in the car?

No. A disabled parking permit is valid only when the person it was issued to is in the vehicle. If someone else parks using your permit while you are not there, it is a violation. Each household member who needs a permit must get their own.

Do I have to renew my permit if I move to a different county in California?

No. Your permit works in all California counties and does not need to be renewed when you move. If you move out of California, your permit is no longer valid.

Can I transfer my disabled parking permit to a family member?

No. A permit is issued to a specific person and cannot be transferred. If a family member needs a disabled parking permit, they must go through the same process — they need their own medical form signed by their doctor and must visit the DMV in person.