A disabled parking placard lets you use accessible parking spaces across California. The application is straightforward — a doctor’s certification on one form — and no DMV appointment is needed. Here’s exactly how it works.
We’re an independent guide — not the DMV. This page explains the placard application process as published on dmv.ca.gov (verified October 2026). Only a licensed medical professional can certify your qualifying disability — we can’t advise on medical eligibility.
California issues disabled parking placards and plates to people with qualifying disabilities that limit mobility. The determination is medical — your physician, surgeon, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife must certify the disability on the application form.
Common qualifying conditions include impaired mobility due to lung disease, cardiovascular conditions, or orthopedic, neurological, or arthritic conditions — but the full list is on the form itself, and your medical provider makes the call. We can’t pre-judge eligibility; if you think you qualify, talk to your doctor.
Everything starts with Form REG 195, Application for Disabled Person Parking Placard or Plates. The form has two parts: your section (name, address, driver license or ID number) and the medical certification section, which your provider completes and signs.
You can download REG 195 from dmv.ca.gov, pick one up at any field office, or have your doctor’s office help — many clinics keep them on hand. Make sure both sections are complete before submitting; an unsigned medical certification is the most common reason applications get returned.
dmv.ca.gov states it plainly: “No appointment is needed” for disabled placard applications. You have three options:
In-person is fastest if you need the placard soon; mail works fine if you’re not in a hurry. Online submission splits the difference for renewals and straightforward applications.
| Placard type | Fee (Oct 2026) | Valid |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent placard | Free | 2 years — expires June 30 of odd-numbered years |
| Temporary placard (red) | $6 | Up to 6 months |
| Travel placard | Free | 30 days (for travel outside CA) |
The permanent (blue) placard is free and valid for two years, expiring June 30 of odd-numbered years. The temporary (red) placard costs $6 and is for short-term disabilities, valid up to six months as certified by your doctor. If you’re traveling outside California, you can also request a free 30-day travel placard.
Traveling with a placard — in a rental car, to another state, or as a visitor coming into California — has its own rules: recognition is not the same as privilege, and California issues two different travel placards. See our Traveling With a Disabled Placard in California (2026) for the carry list, the rental-car rules, and what to check at each stop.
Permanent placard renewals are free and can be done online — the DMV mails renewal notices before expiration. One important rule: since 2023, if you’ve held a permanent placard for 6 or more years, you must provide a signature to renew (a fraud-prevention measure). The renewal notice will tell you if the signature requirement applies to you.
Temporary placards can’t simply be renewed the same way — if your condition persists beyond the original certification period, you’ll need a new medical certification.
For the full renewal steps — the six-year signature cycle, online, mail, and in-person routes, REG 195A for a missing notice, and temporary re-applications — see our Disabled Placard Renewal in California (2026).
Lost, stolen, or damaged — and still unexpired? That is not a renewal, it is a replacement: see our How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Disabled Placard in California (2026) for the REG 156 form, the online replacement service, the free permanent replacement, and the four-substitute cap.
Lending a placard, borrowing one, or parking in a blue space with no valid credential at all each carry a different penalty — and a misused placard can be confiscated and cancelled. See our Disabled Placard Misuse in California: Fines & Penalties (2026) for the three penalty ladders, kept separate, and the cure path if you have already been cited.
Placard or plates — or both? Our Disabled Placard vs Disabled Plates in California (2026) compares the two credential by credential: the same parking rights, different portability, costs, renewal clocks, and what happens when you sell the car.
Hang the placard on your rearview mirror only when parked — remove it before driving. Driving with it hanging is illegal in California (it obstructs your view) and can get you ticketed.
With a valid placard properly displayed, you may park in:
You may not park in:
And the big one: the placard is issued to you, not your car. Letting someone else use it — or using someone else’s — is misuse, and California fines for placard fraud are steep.
Veteran? If your disability is service-connected and meets Vehicle Code §295.7, Disabled Veteran license plates give you the same parking rights as a placard — plus a full registration and license fee exemption on one vehicle. A placard travels with you; DV plates stay with the car and carry the exemption.
| Type | Color | Validity | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent | Dark blue | 2 years (expires June 30, odd years) | Free |
| Temporary | Red | 180 days | $6 |
| Travel (resident) | — | 30 days | Free |
| Travel (nonresident) | — | 90 days | $6 |
Only one placard at a time. Works in all 50 states under ADA.
| Provider | Can Certify |
|---|---|
| Physician / Surgeon | Any condition |
| Nurse Practitioner / PA | Any condition |
| Chiropractor | Lower extremities / hands only |
| Optometrist | Vision / blindness only |
| Podiatrist | Foot / ankle only |
Warning: Illegible, incomplete, or unsigned forms are returned — the clock restarts. The medical certification must describe HOW your condition affects function, not just a diagnosis code.
Apply: Online (~2 weeks), mail (2–4 weeks), in-person (immediate). AAA Northern CA also accepts applications.
No. dmv.ca.gov states “no appointment is needed” — walk into any field office with your completed REG 195, or apply by mail or online.
A permanent placard is free. A temporary (red) placard costs $6.
Renewals are free and can be done online. Since 2023, holders of 6+ years must provide a signature when renewing. Watch for your renewal notice before the June 30 expiration.
Form REG 195 — Application for Disabled Person Parking Placard or Plates. Your medical provider must complete and sign the certification section.
On your rearview mirror when parked. Remove it before driving — it’s illegal to drive with it hanging.
Yes — metered spaces are free with a valid placard properly displayed. You can also park unlimited in green zones.
No. The placard is issued to you personally. Misuse carries heavy fines in California.
No appointment is needed for placard applications — but if you’re combining it with another transaction, booking ahead saves time. Appointments are booked on the DMV’s official scheduler.
Book on dmv.ca.govLast verified against dmv.ca.gov: October 2026