In the Vehicle Registration guide
California disabled person parking placards & plates
Reviewed by the DMVCA editorial team · updated June 29, 2026
A disabled person parking placard lets you use accessible parking — and because it’s a credential tied to you, not a vehicle, a placard moves with you from car to car. The alternative, DP plates, stays mounted on one vehicle. Both come from the same application and grant the same parking rights; the choice is about how long you’ll need it and whether it should follow you or live on a single car.
This cluster covers who qualifies, the three placard types, what each costs, and how to apply, renew, or replace one. The medical certification on the REG 195 is the gate for everything here.
Permanent placard
Free
valid 2 years
Temporary placard
$6
up to 180 days
Travel placard
30 days
CA residents
DP plates
Free
Application
REG 195
with medical certification
Renewal
No charge
Permanent expires
June 30
odd-numbered years
Decision guide
Which placard or plate do you need?
If you… → you need…
You have an ongoing disability Permanent placard — free, renewed every 2 years ›
You have a time-limited medical condition Temporary placard — $6, up to 180 days ›
You're visiting California (or traveling) short-term Travel placard ›
You're the disabled driver and want it on your own car Consider DP plates ›
You're a caregiver who drives different vehicles A placard — it moves between vehicles ›
Your placard was lost, stolen, or damaged Replace it (form REG 156) ›
Eligibility is the same across types — a licensed medical provider certifies your disability on the application. What changes is the type: how long you'll need it, and whether a moveable placard or vehicle-mounted plates fit better.
Who qualifies and the placard types
Eligibility is by medical certification; the type depends on how long you'll need it.
Who qualifies & how to apply
- A licensed provider — physician, surgeon, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or certified nurse-midwife — certifies your disability on the Application for Disabled Person Placard or Plates (REG 195)
- Chiropractors, optometrists, and podiatrists may certify only for the specific conditions within their scope (mobility, vision, or foot/ankle)
- If you apply in person with an obvious loss of, or loss of use of, a limb, the medical certificate may be waived
The placard types
- Permanent — for an ongoing disability. Free, valid two years, expiring June 30 of every odd-numbered year
- Temporary — for a time-limited condition. $6, valid up to 180 days (or your provider's end date, if sooner), renewable up to six times in a row
- Travel — a short-term placard for travel. 30 days for California residents; nonresidents up to 90 days
Placard or DP plates?
- A placard hangs from the mirror and moves between vehicles — good for a caregiver who drives more than one car
- DP plates stay affixed to one vehicle and renew with its registration — suited to the disabled driver's own car
- Both use the same REG 195 and grant the same parking rights. See license plates for the plate-side mechanics.
Placard fees
Cluster-level summary.
Permanent disabled person (DP) placard No fee
Temporary disabled person placard $6
How to
How to apply, renew, or replace
From certification to a placard in the mail — and what to do if it's lost.
1
Get REG 195 certified
Download the Application for Disabled Person Placard or Plates (REG 195) and have a licensed provider complete the medical-certification section (unless an in-person waiver applies).
2
Submit it
Mail it to the DMV or bring it to a field office. A permanent placard and DP plates are free; a temporary placard is $6.
3
Renew when it's due
Permanent placards renew every two years at no charge. There's one catch: if you've held yours for six or more years, the DMV asks for a signature before sending the new one — so it isn't fully automatic.
4
Replace a lost or damaged placard
File a REG 156 and mail it to DMV Placard, PO Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269-0001. Permanent and travel replacements are free; a temporary replacement carries a fee.
Related sub-topics
Other clusters in the vehicle registration pillar.
The bigger picture
How these connect to the rest of the DMV system
A disabled person placard is a parking credential, separate from your vehicle's registration — which is why a placard moves with you between cars. DP plates are the vehicle-bound alternative, sharing the same REG 195 application and the same parking rights. The medical certification is the gate for both; after that, the choice is simply how long you'll need it and whether it should follow you or stay on one car.
Frequently asked questions
Comparison and definitional — to help you pick the right type.
How much does a disabled person placard cost in California?
A permanent placard is free, and so are DP plates. A temporary placard is $6 (Vehicle Code §22511.59). There's no charge to renew a permanent placard.
What's the difference between a permanent and temporary placard?
A permanent placard is for an ongoing disability — it's free and valid two years (expiring June 30 of odd years). A temporary placard is for a time-limited condition — it's $6 and valid up to 180 days, renewable up to six times in a row.
Who can certify my disability?
A licensed physician, surgeon, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or certified nurse-midwife. Chiropractors, optometrists, and podiatrists may certify only within their scope. They complete the medical section of the REG 195 application.
How do I renew my disabled person placard?
Permanent placards renew every two years at no charge. If you've held a placard for six or more years, the DMV requires a signature before issuing the new one, so it isn't entirely automatic — watch for the notice.
How do I replace a lost disabled placard?
File a Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Documents (REG 156) and mail it to DMV Placard, PO Box 942869, Sacramento. Replacing a permanent or travel placard is free; a temporary replacement has a fee.
Should I get a placard or disabled person plates?
Get a placard if it needs to move between vehicles (for example, a caregiver who drives more than one car). Choose DP plates if it's the disabled driver's own car — plates stay on that vehicle and renew with its registration. Both come from the same REG 195.
I'm visiting California — can I use a travel placard?
Yes. A travel placard covers short-term use — 30 days for California residents, and up to 90 days for nonresidents (or your provider's end date, whichever is sooner).
Sources. California DMV — Disabled person parking placards & plates · California Vehicle Code §22511.55 (placard issuance & renewal) · California Vehicle Code §22511.59 (temporary placard, $6) · California DMV — REG 195 application
Last verified June 29, 2026 · reviewed quarterly and after any policy change.