21.085 Disabled Person (DP) Parking Placards (VC §§ 295.5, 5007(c)(1), 2511.55(b)(1)(2), 22511.59 (b)(c)(d) & 22511.6)

Types of Disabled Person (DP) Parking Placards:

Temporary (VC §22511.59(b))—Issued to persons with temporary disabilities. The DP placard is valid for up to 180 days (six months) or until the date noted by the qualified medical person certifying the disability on the application, whichever is less.

Permanent (VC §22511.55)—Issued to persons with permanent disabilities. The DP placard is valid for two years and expires on June 30 of an odd numbered year. A renewal year placard is issued on original applications submitted on or after January 1 of the expiration year. A DP is not eligible for more than one permanent placard at any time. Only 4 substitute permanent DP placards can be issued during a 2-year renewal period.

Disabled DP Plates—Issued to persons with permanent disabilities. Can only be assigned to vehicles registered in the name of the qualified person.

DP Plates Reassignments—Issued to persons with existing DP plates to be reassigned to a different vehicle.

Travel DP Parking Placard-California Residents (VC §22511.59(d))—Issued to persons who currently have a California permanent DP parking placard, DP License Plates, or DV License Plates. The DP placard is valid for 30 days from the DMV issue date.

Travel DP Parking Placard-Nonresidents (VC §22511.59(c))— Issued to persons who are disabled and plan to travel in California. The DP placard is valid for up to 90 days, or until the date noted by the qualified medical person certifying the disability on the application, whichever is less.

Automatic Renewal of Permanent Placards— DP placard renewal notices are mailed out to permanent placard holders six years after initial placard issuance and every six years (third renewal cycle) thereafter. A signed attestation must be received by DMV before the permanent placard can be renewed. Customers who do not have a DP placard renewal notice can use the Application for Permanent Disabled Person (DP) Placard Renewal (REG 195 A) form to complete the attestation. A renewal DP placard and identification (ID) card are automatically issued to placard owners prior to June 30, of the expiration year unless the Bureau of Vital Statistics records show the owner as deceased. DMV compares its DP placard records with the Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Statistics to ensure renewal placards are not mailed to deceased placard owners.

Government Agency or Private Organization— Any city, county, or state government agency or private organization providing transportation to disabled persons may obtain a no-fee DP placard for each vehicle maintained for that purpose. The applicant’s birthdate and a qualified medical person’s certification are not required on the application.

Medical Certification Not Required— A medical certification is not required for applicants who have been issued California DV or DP License Plates. In this case, write the applicant’s DV or DP License Plate number on the REG 195.

Minor Children—The REG 195 may be signed by the parent or guardian of a disabled minor child.

Parking Privileges—A DP placard:

• May be used in any vehicle transporting the placard owner.
• Provides the same parking privileges as DP License Plates.

Original License Plate Application—the following must be submitted:

• Proof of true full name and date of birth, which consist of:
  — A copy of state-issued driver license or identification card (DL/ID) card, if applicable.
  — A copy of birth date/legal presence/identity (BD/LP/Identity) document to establish true full name or birth.

Note Proof of residency is not an acceptable document to establish true full name or birth. Proof of legal presence is not required for a DP License or placard application.

• A completed and signed Application for Disabled Person Placard or Plates (REG 195) form and one of the documents listed above.
  — The applicant’s true full name as it appears on the DL/ID card or other acceptable proof must be the same as the name shown on the REG 195. If the applicant’s name on the proof of true full name document does not match the name on the REG 195 as a result of a name change , the applicant must submit copies of a name change document which contain the applicant’s legal name both before and after the name change.
• The current registration card in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle to the applicant
• A Statement of Facts (REG 256) form for issuance of DP License Plates to an organization or agency that certifies the vehicle is used solely for the purpose of transporting disabled persons.
• The license plates currently assigned to the vehicle.

The procedures below must be followed:

• Review and complete the DMV USE ONLY box at the bottom of the REG 195.
• Retain a copy of the acceptable BD/LP Identity and, if applicable, true full name.
• Return original proof documents to the applicant.

Non-Physical, Mental, and Developmental Disabilities

DMV Legal Affairs Division (LAD) determined that non-physical, mental, and developmental disabilities, such as autism or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may substantially impair or interfere with mobility and are eligible for a DP placard. However, these disabilities require the medical provider to certify the disability substantially impairs or interferes with mobility.

Descriptions that only contain abbreviations (such as, R60.9) or only list symptoms (such as, trouble walking) require further explanation.

Examples of acceptable descriptions include, but are not limited to:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Arthritis of ankle and foot
• Congestive heart failure
• Diabetes mellitus with peripheral vascular disease
• Autism
• PTSD

Examples of unacceptable descriptions include but are not limited to:

• Trouble walking
• Back pain
• Weakness
• Simply an abbreviation such as R60.9

If the medical provider does not provide the required information on the form submitted to DMV as stated in Vehicle Code §5007, then return the application to the customer and inform them of the requirements. The medical provider who signs a DP placard medical certification must retain information sufficient to substantiate that certification and, upon request of DMV, make that information available for inspection by the Medical Board of California or the appropriate regulatory board.