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Disabled parking license plates

Vehicles that qualify

• Automobiles
• Motor homes (annual registration only)
• Motor trucks
  • 4,500, 6,000 or 8,000 pound gross weight including dual purpose farm and dual purpose motor home
  • 12,000 pound gross weight farm truck
  • Motorcycles (non personalized only)

People that qualify

A "disabled" license plate may be issued for a person with a permanent disability that limits or impairs ability to walk, who is the:

• Owner of a vehicle
• Lessee of a vehicle
• Person who is regularly transported by the owner or lessee of a vehicle
• Employee who is provided a vehicle owned or leased by the employer
• Beneficiary of a trust that owns or leases a vehicle

Any person certified by an authorized health care specialist as having a permanent disability is eligible for the disabled parking license plates. By legal definition, this includes any person who:

• Cannot walk 200 feet or more without stopping to rest
• Cannot walk without the use of, or assistance from, another person or brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistance device
• Is restricted by lung disease to the extent that forced expiratory volume for 1 second when measured by spirometry is less than one liter or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest
• Uses portable oxygen
• Has a cardiac condition to the extent that functional limitations are classified in severity as class III or IV, according to standards accepted by the American Heart Association
• Is severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition

If the disability that qualifies you for disabled parking privileges is a result of an injury incurred in active U.S. Military service, you may apply for disabled veteran license plates. Disabled veteran license plates provide the same parking privileges as the disabled parking license plates.

A person having a temporary disability does not qualify for the Disabled license plate, but may qualify for a temporary disabled parking identification card.

Things you should know:

• Only one disabled parking identification card may be issued to persons with Disabled license plates.
• If you prefer, you may receive up to two disabled parking identification cards instead of disabled parking license plates. These can be used in any auto, light truck or motor home providing transportation to a person with a disability.
• WisDOT may cancel a Disabled license plate which was issued as a result of fraud or error or that is used by anyone not authorized.
• If you are a licensed driver, WisDOT may review your disability relating to your ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control over a motor vehicle. If the certifying health care specialist recommends a re-examination, you will be required to complete a knowledge, highway signs and road test to determine appropriate license restrictions.
• Disabled plates can be issued at DMV service centers that offer registration services.

Use of disabled license plates

A motor vehicle displaying Disabled license plates issued by Wisconsin or any other state or country, is subject to all Wisconsin motor vehicle laws and is granted the following privileges.  Read this important information about authorized disabled parking privileges.

How to apply

1. Complete the Disabled Parking License Plates Application MV2162 Applicant Section. (page 1)
2. Have your health care specialist complete the "Eligibility Section." (page 2)
3. If you wish to receive one disabled parking identification card, indicate this on your application. When using the ID card, individuals must keep a copy of the completed eligibility certification on their person or in the vehicle to provide to a traffic officer upon request. Please make and keep a copy of the certification, signed by your health care provider, before submitting the application to DMV.
4. If you want personalized Disabled plates, check the "I would like personalized Disabled plates" box and complete the Personalized Disabled License Plate Application. (page 3)
5. If the vehicle that you wish to register with Disabled plates is already titled in your name, send the following items:

• A copy of your Certificate of Registration OR complete the vehicle description on the application
• The annual registration fee if the current plates expire within the next 3 months
• An additional $15 if applying for personalized plates

6. If the vehicle is NOT titled in your name, send:

• A completed title application MV1  (313 KB) or MV11 (available though a car dealer)
• All required fees, including your annual registration fee
• An additional $15 if applying for personalized plates

7. Make check or money order payable to: Registration Fee Trust
8. Mail with payment to:

Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Special Plates Unit - DIS
P.O. Box 7306
Madison, WI  53707-7306

Personalized disabled plates (not available for motorcycles)

• A $15 personalized plate fee is required each year in addition to the regular annual registration fee.
• No refund or adjustment will be made for a change of choice or spacing after the plate has been ordered, or if the application is incorrectly or unclearly completed.
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) may refuse to issue OR may recall after issuance, a request which that is misleading or may be offensive to good taste or decency.
• Allow approximately 4-6 weeks for the plates to be manufactured after you have received your Certificate of Registration.  If you do not currently have disabled parking plates or an ID card, we will send a temporary disabled parking ID card for use until the personalized plates arrive.

Temporary plate required

Changing from personalized to regular disabled plates

If you wish to re-register your vehicle with regular Disabled license plates at renewal time or within three months of the renewal expiration date, send a copy of your Certificate of Registration or renewal notice with a request for regular Disabled plates along with the registration fee. Subtract $15 from the fee shown on the renewal notice. If you wish to re-register other than at renewal time, submit the request and a copy of the Certificate of Registration.

Release of information

WisDOT uses the information on the MV2162 form to issue disabled parking license plates. Under open records laws, WisDOT must make nonexempt information available upon request. WisDOT makes some information available to companies for business purposes. If you want your name and address withheld from such mailing lists, complete the "Release of Nonexempt Information" portion on the application form.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you have questions:

• E-mail: special-plates.dmv@dot.state.wi.us
• Call: (608) 266-3041 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
• Fax: (608) 267-5106
• Write to the address above

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Questions about the content of this page:
Special Plate Unit, special-plates.dmv@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: January 18, 2008