Apply for a disability placard or license plate

Disability plates and placards are issued to qualified Massachusetts residents who meet the eligibility requirements.

Please allow at least 30 business days for processing. Processing time varies based upon application volume.

RMV - Medical Affairs

The Details   of Apply for a disability placard or license plate

What you need   for Apply for a disability placard or license plate

To apply for a disability plate or placard, you must:

  • Complete an Application for Disabled Parking
    • Your healthcare provider will have to fill out a section to verify your disability status
    • Retain a copy of your 2-sided placard application
  • You also need a Service-Connected Disability Breakdown letter from the VA that shows your combined service connected disability rating and lists each condition along with the associated percentage.  If the letter does not list each condition and its percentage, we will not be able to process the application and more information will be required.

Fees   for Apply for a disability placard or license plate

A disability placard has no fee.

Name Fee Unit
Disability Passenger Plate Fee (2-year) $60 each
Disability Motorcycle Plate Fee (annual) $20 each

How to apply   Apply for a disability placard or license plate

Send the completed, original application and any supporting documentation to:


Registry of Motor Vehicles

Attn: Medical Affairs
PO Box 55889
Boston, MA 02205-5889

Note: The RMV encourages you to retain a copy of the 2-sided placard application.

Next steps   for Apply for a disability placard or license plate

Placard/Plate Renewal

Disability Placards

If your temporary disability placard is nearing expiration or requires re-certification, you will need to submit a new application for your placard for to stay valid.

If you have a permanent disability placard, a new placard will automatically be mailed to you when it expires. 

Disability Plates

The RMV will mail you a registration renewal reminder approximately 6 -  8 weeks before expiration. 

More info   for Apply for a disability placard or license plate

Disability plates

Disability plates are issued to qualified Massachusetts residents who are primary owners of a registered passenger vehicle or a motorcycle. A holder of a passenger vehicle disability plate is entitled to a temporary disabled placard. A person must demonstrate "good cause" or need for the placard in writing to the medical affairs. "Good cause" means a valid reason why the plate cannot be used and duration of the need. Placards may be issued for up to 24 months.

Disability placards

Disability placards are issued to qualified applicants on a temporary or permanent basis. A person may be issued only one valid placard at a time.

Disability Veteran plates

Disability Veteran plates are issued only to qualified Massachusetts resident veterans who meet the following three conditions:

  1. Qualify for permanent Disabled Parking Privileges
  2. Have a minimum of a 60% service-connected disability rating as determined by the VA and listed on the disability breakdown letter.
  3. One or a combination of your listed services connected disabilities totaling 60% must be conditions that affect ambulation and would qualify for disabled parking privileges.  Conditions that do not affect ambulation may not be considered for this condition.

These plates are issued only to qualifying persons who are the primary owner of a registered passenger vehicle.

This approval also means that you meet the eligibility standards in M.G.L, Chapter 60A Section for an exemption from the Motor Vehicles Excise Tax.  You do not need to register your vehicle with Disabled Veteran plates to be eligible for the excise tax exemption.  Chapter 60A states, in part: “This exemption shall apply to not more than one motor vehicle owned and registered for the personal non-commercial use of such a veteran or person.  If you choose not to register your vehicle with the disabled veterans plates and are only applying for the approval letter for excise you must still meet all listed requirements for disabled veteran plates.

Downloads   for Apply for a disability placard or license plate

Contact   for Apply for a disability placard or license plate

Address
Mailing Address
PO Box 55889, Attention: Medical Affairs, Boston, MA 02205-5889
Physical Address
136 Blackstone Street, Haymarket Center, Boston, MA 02109

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