Information for Persons with Disabilities Regarding Parking Privileges

The following is intended to provide information regarding the application of disabled parking privileges. Applications can be obtained from any County Department of Motor Vehicle Office.

Qualifying Criteria

If the following criteria can be certified by a person fully licensed to practice medicine in Colorado, you can apply for a handicap placard at a Motor Vehicle Office in the County which you reside:

• Persons who cannot walk without the aid of another person, a guide dog, a companion dog, a walker, a cane, crutches, braces, prostheses, or a wheelchair.
• Persons are mobility impaired by best corrected central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye as measured by the Snellen Test, OR persons who have central visual acuity better than 20/200 with a limitation of the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle of 20 or less.
• Persons who are restricted by a pulmonary condition to the extent that the Arterial Oxygen Saturation, on room air, at rest, is 90 percent of less or the patient desaturates to 90 percent or less on mild exercise, OR who use prescribed portable oxygen during the day.
• Persons who have a cardiac condition to the extent that the person's functional limitations are classified as class III or IV according to the standards of the New York Heart Association.
• Persons who have a disability that would be aggravated by walking 150 to 200 feet under normal environmental conditions and a resultant mobility impairment of the same degree as described in the four criteria above.
• If someone other than the applicant comes to the office to pick up handicap placards or license plates, a power of attorney is required from the applicant

Please refer to Colorado Revised Statue 42-3-204 for additional information regarding definitions of a "person with a disability."

Fees

There are no additional fees beyond the regular license fees and ownership taxes.

Handicap Placard and License Plate options and requirements:

For all of the options listed below, an application must be submitted in the name of the person with the disability.

Permanent License Plates and/or Placards

• Enclose a photocopy of the title or registration to the vehicle along with the completed application
• A person with impairments may be issued:
  • One set of plates for their vehicle and a placard for use when they are driven in another vehicle, or
  • Two handicap placards
• A permanent placard is to be placed inside the vehicle in which the person with a disability is riding
• The placard is movable from one vehicle to another
• There are no fees for handicap placards

90-Day Temporary Placard

• The temporary placard is to be placed inside the vehicle in which the person with a disability is riding
• The placard is moveable from one vehicle to another
• The registration for the temporary placard must be in the vehicle with the placard

Disabled Veteran Handicap Plates

Qualified disabled veterans are eligible to receive one set of disabled veteran handicap plates at no expense from the State Department of Revenue. More Information »

Additional disabled veteran handicap plates are available at an additional cost from the county Motor Vehicle office.

In addition to the Disabled Parking Privileges Application, persons seeking Disabled Veteran handicap plates must also submit the following:

• A copy of letter from the Veteran Administration or letter from their branch of service stating that the qualifying person is 50% or more Permanent Service-Connected Disabled.
• A copy of their verified written physical impairment letter.