Disability parking

Related services

Disability parking credentials

Disability parking placards and plates

Placards and plates with the wheelchair symbol allow parking in designated spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
For residents who are legally blind or have a condition that significantly limits their ability to walk or requires an assistive device such as a wheelchair, walker, crutch, or other device.
Requires certification of disability from qualified medical professional.
Hang placards from the rearview mirror of the vehicle when parked.
Remove placards when driving.
Disability parking brochure

Permanent disability parking placard

Blue placard
Issued to residents with a permanent disability.
Renewed every four years
Renew online, by mail, or at a Secretary of State office up to 6 months before expiration.
No fee for original or renewal.
BFS-108 form required for original, not required to renew.
$10 to replace lost, stolen, or damaged placard.

Disability placard

Temporary disability parking placard

Red placard
Issued when there is a medical expectation the disability is temporary.
Valid up to 6 months maximum.
Can’t be renewed.
BFS-108 form required for each temporary placard.
No fee for original.
$10 to replace lost, stolen, or damaged placard.

Disability parking placard

Organizational disability parking placard

Green placard
Organizations that provide transportation to residents with disabilities can get permanent disability parking placards for vehicles used for transportation services.
Expire every four years following the date of issuance.
Renew online, by mail, or at a Secretary of State office up to 6 months before expiration.
If the organization is dissolved or no longer provides transportation for residents with ambulatory disabilities, placards must be returned to the organization must return its placard to the Michigan Department of State by mail or to a Secretary of State office.

Disability Parking Placard Application

Disability license plate

Residents with a permanent disability can apply.
Can be issued for passenger vehicles, including motor homes, pickups, and vans owned or leased by a person who has a permanent ambulatory disability or owned or leased by someone living in the same household as the person with a disability.
Allows the vehicle to park in designated spaces.
Most are issued with the embossed wheelchair symbol. The following plates are issued with a red disability emblem silk-screened on the upper-left corner rather than the embossed wheelchair symbol:
Personalized plates, except personalized fundraising plates. Veteran plates, unless personalized.
Special Organization plates
ARO plates
Expire on the vehicle owner’s birthday
Renewed annually.

Disability license plate

Free parking sticker

A yellow sticker placed on the permanent blue disability parking placard
Allows parking for free at public meters and ramps.
Applicant must have a valid Michigan driver’s license and permanent blue disability parking placard, and be unable to do one or more of the following:
- Insert coins or tokens in a parking meter or accept a ticket from a parking lot machine due to a lack of fine motor control of both hands.
- Reach above your head to a height of 42 inches from the ground, due to lack of finger, hand or upper extremity strength or mobility.
- Approach a parking meter due to the use of a wheelchair or other ambulatory device.
- Walk more than 20 feet due to an orthopedic, cardiovascular or lung condition in which the degree of debilitation is so severe that it almost completely impedes your ability to walk.
Qualified medical professional must provide their authorization under part 3 of the Disability Parking Placard Application (BFS-108)
Yellow free parking sticker only issued with permanent blue placards.
Expires with a permanent disability parking placard every four years.
Disability plates don’t allow free parking. To obtain free parking privileges, disability plate owners must also have a disability parking placard with the yellow Free Parking decal.

Disability Parking Placard Application

Eligibility

Under state law, residents who are legally blind or have a condition that significantly limits their ability to walk or requires an assistive device (i.e.: a wheelchair, walker, crutch, or other device) are eligible for a disability parking placard or license plate. Eligibility varies for each disability parking credential:

Temporary disability parking placard (Red): Issued if a qualifying disability is expected to improve.

Permanent disability parking placard (Blue): Issued if a qualifying disability isn’t expected to improve.

Disability license plate: Issued if a qualifying disability isn’t expected to improve.

Free parking sticker: You must have a valid Michigan driver’s license and permanent disability parking placard (blue), and be unable to do one or more of the following:

- Insert coins or tokens in a parking meter or accept a ticket from a parking lot machine due to a lack of fine motor control of both hands.
- Reach above your head to a height of 42 inches from the ground, due to lack of finger, hand or upper extremity strength or mobility.
- Approach a parking meter due to the use of a wheelchair or other ambulatory device.
- Walk more than 20 feet due to an orthopedic, cardiovascular or lung condition in which the degree of debilitation is so severe that it almost completely impedes your ability to walk.

To apply for any disability parking credential, you must provide a completed application with the certification and signature of one of the following licensed medical professionals:

Physician
Chiropractor
Optometrist
Physician's assistant
Nurse practitioner