How to Apply for Disability License Plates in Illinois: Eligibility, Process, and Benefits
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Whether you're dealing with a temporary setback or you have a permanent disability, it's crucial to understand how disability license plates in Illinois work. Accessible parking places are essential for anyone dealing with a physical handicap.
Residents of the Prairie State can get temporary disability placards, permanent disability plates, and organization disability plates, depending on their specific situation. Discover the plate types available to persons with disabilities, eligibility requirements, and the application process to ensure you get the access you need.
Types of Disability License Plates and Placards
In Illinois, there are four types of disability plates and placards available. Each is available as either a license plate or a placard, depending on the holder's budget and preference:
- Meter-exempt permanent disability plates/placards: Issued to persons with permanent disabilities; grant access to disabled parking spaces and exempt the authorized holder from parking meter fees and time limitations at parking meters that exceed a 30-minute time limit
- Non-meter-exempt permanent disability plates/placards: Issued to persons with permanent disabilities who still have the ability to access parking meters and grant access to disabled parking spaces
- Temporary disability placards: Issued to persons with a temporary disability for a length of time indicated by a certified physician and grants access to disabled parking spaces; may not exceed six months if issued by the Secretary of State or 90 days if issued by a local municipality.
- Organization disability plates/placards: Issued to organizations that transport persons with disabilities free of charge and grant access to disabled parking spaces
Eligibility Requirements for Disability License Plates in Illinois
Illinois only issues disability license plates to people with a permanent disability who own a motor vehicle, a vehicle owner who is a parent or legal guardian of a minor with disabilities, or an immediate family member who lives with a person with disabilities and owns a vehicle with which they transport that person.
For temporary disabled parking placards, you must have a certification note from a doctor and complete the Persons with Disabilities Certification for Parking Placard form.
To be eligible for any Illinois disability plates or placards, you must have a valid Illinois driver's license or ID card.
Application Process
Applications for Illinois disabled license plates can only be processed in the state capital of Springfield. You can apply in person or mail your Persons with Disabilities Certification, signed by a licensed doctor, to:
Secretary of State
501 S. 2nd St.
Howlett Building, Rm. 541
Springfield, Illinois 62756
If you need additional guidance, your local Illinois DMV can offer assistance.
Illinois Disability License Plate Requirements
Since disabled plates in Illinois are only issued to organizations or individuals with permanent disabilities, the requirements are stricter than they are for temporary disability parking placards. Eligible persons must:
- Have a permanent disability and own their vehicle, OR
- Be the parent or legal guardian of a minor with disabilities, OR
- Be an immediate family member who lives with the person with disabilities and is responsible for their transportation, AND
- Have a Persons with Disabilities Certification signed by a licensed physician
Qualifying permanent disabilities include:
- Lung disease that restricts a person's forced expiratory volume (FEV) to less than 1 liter per second and/or requires a portable oxygen device
- Class II or Class IV cardiac condition according to American Heart Association standards
- Inability to walk without assistance from a wheelchair, walker, crutch, brace, prosthetic device, or another person
- Inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest due to amputation, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, paraplegia, or cerebral palsy
Renewal Procedures for Disability License Plates
As with standard Illinois license plates, you must renew disability license plates and placards before the expiration date. The license plate renewal fee is $151. However, drivers who qualify for the Illinois Department of Aging's Benefit Access Program pay just $10 for license plate renewal. To qualify for the program, you must be at least 65 years old or 16 years old and disabled, meet income requirements, and have an annual household income of no more than $33,562.
You can complete your annual license plate renewal online, by mail, or by visiting an Illinois Secretary of State Office.
Rules and Restrictions for Disabled Parking Privileges
Disability plates in Illinois grant significant parking privileges in the state. However, while something like car insurance in Illinois is mandatory, disability plates are very much a privilege. Misuse or abuse of a disability parking plate is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second offense. Any of the following abuses may result in significant fines, license suspension, loss of disability plates, or even jail time:
- Using a deceased person's disability plates or placard
- Altering a disabled parking placard
- Possessing a fake, fraudulent, lost, or stolen placard
- Duplicating or manufacturing your own placard
- Selling or otherwise distributing a fake placard
- Obtaining a placard or plate under false pretenses
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Illinois — Find Your Best Match!
Whether you're dealing with a temporary physical setback or you're looking to get permanent disability plates in Illinois, everybody needs auto insurance in Illinois. It's legally required, so you owe it to yourself to protect not only your car but your physical well-being by getting the best coverage for your budget. Shop and compare custom rates with EverQuote's comparison tools.