If you live in the State of Wisconsin, and you have a disability, then you could be entitled to certain privileges and rights accorded to you by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Division of Motor Vehicles. Both organizations offer special permits for both permanent and temporary disabilities.
The permits
WisDOT (Wisconsin Department of Transportation) provides special permits for people who are permanently or temporarily disabled. If you have a disability in the State of Wisconsin, you can obtain:
- A special license plate for a permanent disability
- A placard for a permanent or temporary disability Provided that you either own or lease your vehicle or drive a company car.
Visitors
If you are just visiting the State of Wisconsin, and you have a handicap permit from another state, Wisconsin will honor that permit and give you the same rights and privileges as if you were a resident of Wisconsin.
Your rights
Your disability plate or placard entitles you to:
- Park in disability spaces
- Park in other spaces that have time restrictions, without having to obey those restrictions
- Park for free in metered spaces
- Get your car gassed up in a full service space for the self-serve price
To benefit from these privileges, you do have to display your disability placard.
Applying
You can apply for a disability permit in person or by mail. You will have to complete the Permanent Disabled Parking Identification Permit Application, or the Temporary Disabled Parking Identification Permit Application and have a doctor or other health professional certify that you are disabled.
Fees
Fees must be paid by money order or check made out to “Registration Fee Trust.” Cash is not accepted. Bring you application and fees to your local DMV office, or mail it to:
WisDOT
Special Plates Unit – DIS ID
P.O. Box 7306
Madison, WI 53707
Renewal
Disabled parking permits will expire, and will have to be renewed, depending on the type of plate or placard you have. Permanent placards must be renewed every four years. Temporary placards are good for six months. License plates are good for a year.
All disabled parking permits must be renewed. The length of validity depends on the type of placard or plate you have:
Replacement
If you lose your special permit, or if it is stolen or lost, or damaged to the point where it cannot be identified, then you will have to replace it. There is no easy way around this – you will have to re-apply, and go through the whole application process again, including the medical verification. Needless to say, it’s better if you take care of it in the first place.
As a resident of Wisconsin, if you are disabled, you are entitled to a range of rights and privileges. You have to apply for them, though, and if you are awarded special plates and permits, you have to take care of them. Otherwise you will have to re-apply.
