What Are Red Handicap Parking Placards For?

Handicap parking placards are used by people with certain medical conditions to allow them to park in designated handicap spaces, typically close to buildings or public areas, and in some cases, be exempt from restrictions when using local parking meters. In the United States, most states issue two colors of handicap parking placards: red placards for people with a temporary disability and blue placards for people with a permanent disability.

To be eligible for a parking placard, you must have a medical condition that meets the legal definition of disability as provided by The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Generally, anybody with visual impairment, mobility problems or a medical condition that requires them to use a wheelchair, brace, crutch or other assistive device is considered to have a disability. The department of motor vehicles in some states provides a list of impairments that qualify a driver for a parking placard.

A red handicap placard, which is valid for up to six months, is for a person who has a temporary disability that is expected to improve. In some states, a red parking placard may be renewed, while in others a new application must be made each time. On the other hand, a blue parking placard is for a person who has a permanent disability and is renewable every four years.

Read More: Are Handicap Parking Placards Valid in All States?

To apply for a red parking placard, you must obtain the relevant application form online or in person from your local county tax assessor-collector's office. Take the form to your doctor or health care provider to complete the disability statement section of your application. You then submit the completed application to your county tax office. Some states may require an application fee.

Red parking placards allow the driver to park in spaces marked with a wheelchair, the international symbol of access. Red parking privileges vary by local rules, partly because curb colors also vary. For example, a red parking placard allows a driver in California to park next to a green curb indicating limited time parking for as long as they wish. Whichever state you are driving in, a red handicap sign is designed to make parking easier for people with temporary disabilities.