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Special parking privileges for persons with disabilities

Persons who are certified by an authorized health care specialist as having a permanent or temporary disability that limits or impairs their ability to walk are eligible for a disabled parking identification (DISID) card, disabled license plates or disabled veterans license plates.

A motor vehicle displaying a DISID card, disabled license plates or disabled veterans 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.  

Parking limitations, restrictions and prohibitions

The following limitations, restrictions and prohibitions apply to parking of motor vehicles including those vehicles operated by or on behalf of persons authorized disabled parking privileges:

• When a city council of a 1st or 2nd class city enacts an ordinance imposing a 3-hour or less limitation on parking of a motor vehicle used by a physically disabled person upon any portion of a street, highway or parking facility reserved by the city for physically disabled persons by official traffic sign indicating the limitations or restrictions. To enact such an ordinance, the city council must comply with specific conditions pursuant to section 346.50(3m)(b)1 through (b)5, Wisconsin Statutes.
• Prohibited: Fraudulent reproduction, procurement, alteration or use of a DISID card or disabled license plates. Persons violating the aforementioned shall forfeit not less than $200 nor more than $500 per incident and the DISID card and/or disabled license plates may be canceled and ordered to be returned to the Department of Transportation (WisDOT).

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• Prohibited: Lending or selling a DISID card to a person knowing that the person borrowing the card is not authorized by law to use it. This prohibition also applies to allowing another person to operate their vehicle registered with disabled license plates and to park in spaces reserved for the physically disabled when the vehicle operator is not authorized to do so. Violators may be required to forfeit not more than $300.
• Prohibited: Displaying a DISID card upon a vehicle that is not authorized by law to have the card displayed upon. Violators may be required to forfeit not more than $300.
• Prohibited: Parking in certain specified places to include loading zones, an alley located in a business district, within 10 feet of a fire hydrant unless a greater distance is indicated by an official traffic sign, within 4 feet of the entrance to an alley or a private road or driveway, closer than 15 feet to the near limits of a crosswalk and upon any portion of a highway where parking is prohibited, limited or restricted by official traffic signs.
• Prohibited: Stopping or leave standing any vehicle on the left side of a highway except as provided in sections 167.30(4)(co) (physically disabled persons having a class a or b hunting license) or 346.54, Wisconsin Statutes (How to park and stop on streets).

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• Prohibited: Leaving or parking any motor vehicle on private property without the consent of the owner or lessee of the property.
• Prohibited: Leaving or parking any motor vehicle on public or private property when the owner or lessee of the property has posted a sign indicating for whom parking is permitted, limited, restricted or prohibited.
• Prohibited: Parking contrary to emergency snow removal ordinances, nighttime restrictions requiring a special permit, special events within the state when signs or bags are posted stating that parking is limited, restricted or prohibited or any other reason allowed by statute or local ordinances.
• Prohibited: Operating a motor vehicle when the DISID card is left hanging from the rearview mirror. Failure to remove the card when operating the vehicle creates an obstruction to a driver's clear view through the front windshield pursuant to section 346.88(3)(b), Wisconsin Statutes. Violators may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $100.

Disabled parking identification cards

WisDOT issues permanent disabled parking identification cards or temporary disabled parking identification cards to Wisconsin residents who are certified by a health care specialist to have a disability that impairs or limits their ability to walk. The cards are designed to hang from the rear view mirror of a vehicle.

Beginning September 1, 2006, DISID card applicants must keep a copy of the completed eligibility certification on their person or in the vehicle to provide to a traffic officer upon request. If you applied for the DISID card prior to September 1, 2006, make and keep a copy of the completed certification when you next renew the card.

The blue permanent DISID card identifies a person with a permanent disability. The holder must be recertifed every four years from the date of issue.  There is no fee for a card issued for permanent disabilities; however, there is a $3 counter service charge per application if the card is acquired at a DMV service center.

The red temporary card is valid for a period not to exceed six months. The cost for a temporary card is $6 plus a $3 counter service charge per application if the card is acquired at a DMV service center.

Eligible persons may have up to two cards unless they have disabled license plates or disabled veterans license plates, in which case they may have only one card.

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Disabled license plates

Disabled license plates are issued to persons who are certified by an authorized health care specialist that their disability impairs or limits their ability to walk. They allow the holder of the plates to park in parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities in accordance with current state and federal guidelines. Costs and validation period of the plates vary depending on the type of vehicle to be registered. Holders of these plates must recertify their disability every four years.

Disabled veterans license plates

Disabled veterans license plates are issued to persons who have served in any component of the United States Armed Forces and have a service connected disability that impairs or limits the veteran's ability to walk. A representative of the Veterans Administration (VA), Department of Veteran Affairs, must certify eligibility. These plates allow the holder to park in parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities in accordance with current state and federal guidelines. Costs and validation period of the plates vary depending on the type of vehicle to be registered. The disabled veteran must recertify his/her disability every four years. These plates are only available through WisDOT, DMV, Special Plate Unit in Madison.

NOTE: A vehicle displaying Military Group (MLG) license plates (i.e., Air Force Retired, Vietnam Veteran, Navy Cross Medal, etc.) are not authorized to park in spaces reserved for the physically disabled unless they display a disabled parking identification card from the rearview mirror of the vehicle.

Disabled plates and cards availability

Forms and information are also available at DMV service centers.

• Disabled parking identification cards are available at all DMV service centers.
• Disabled plates are available at all DMV "full service" centers.

If you have questions:

• E-mail: special-plates.dmv@dot.state.wi.us
• Call: (608) 266-3041
• Write to the address below:

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All external hyperlinks are provided for your information and for the benefit of the general public. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation does not testify to, sponsor or endorse the accuracy of the information provided on externally linked pages.

You will need the Adobe Reader (provided free of charge) to view PDF files. For more information about getting your free copy of the Adobe Reader, visit WisDOT's Software information page.

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