Vermont issues accessible parking placards free through the Department of Motor Vehicles, and grants holders an unusually generous parking privilege most people don’t know about. Here’s who qualifies, which forms you need, and how to apply without wasting a trip.
Who Qualifies
A licensed healthcare provider must certify that you have a qualifying disability. Vermont law covers people who:
- Cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
- Cannot walk without a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or another person
- Are severely limited in walking by an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition
- Have lung disease that significantly impairs breathing — forced expiratory volume for one second under one liter, or arterial oxygen tension below 60 mm/Hg
- Have a Class III or Class IV cardiac condition under American Heart Association standards
- Are legally blind — visual acuity no better than 20/200 in the stronger eye with corrective lenses
- Use portable oxygen
The Statewide Meter and Time-Limit Exemption
This is the benefit worth knowing about. Under Vermont law, anyone displaying a valid placard may park free of charge for an unlimited period in any zone otherwise restricted by a parking meter or a posted time limit.
It does not, however, override zones where parking is prohibited outright — fire lanes, loading zones, and winter parking bans still apply to everyone.
This is a Vermont rule — other states honor your placard, but their meter policies vary by city, so check local signs when travelling.
Types of Vermont Disability Permits
| Permit Type | Color | Validity | Form | Renewable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Placard | Red | Up to 6 months | VL-038 | No — reapply |
| Permanent Placard | Blue | 4 years | VD-120 | Yes |
| Disability License Plate | — | Tied to registration | — | With registration |
Placards are free. The license plate is a vehicle-specific alternative at standard registration fees that, unlike a placard, can’t move between cars. Picking the wrong placard type means restarting the paperwork, so be clear on whether your condition is short-term or long-term first.
How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Get Your Forms
Vermont splits this across two documents — the application and a separate medical form. Download both from dmv.vermont.gov or collect them at a DMV office:
- Form VD-120 — Disabled Parking Placard Application (permanent)
- Form VL-038 — Temporary Disabled Parking Placard Application
- Form VS-113 — Universal Medical Evaluation, required either way
Step 2: Get Medical Certification
Take Form VS-113 to your healthcare provider — you cannot self-certify. It can be signed by a licensed physician (MD or DO), podiatrist, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, who must provide their license number, contact details, the qualifying condition, and whether it is permanent or temporary.
Ask for this while you’re there. If your condition is long-term, ask your provider to mark it “Permanent and Stable.” That single checkbox is what lets you skip the medical form entirely at renewal, four years from now.
Step 3: Complete the Applicant Section
Fill in Form VD-120 or VL-038 with your name, Vermont driver’s license or ID number, date of birth, and mailing address. Applying for a minor or dependent? Include their details alongside yours as the authorized representative.
Step 4: Submit It
There is no fee for a Vermont handicap placard.
By mail is the easier route, and processing takes roughly two weeks. Send both completed forms to:
Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles 120 State Street Montpelier, VT 05603-0001
In person is faster if you need it immediately — but Vermont DMV offices do not accept walk-ins, so book an appointment first. Slots are in high demand, so unless it’s urgent, mailing is usually quicker overall.
Renewing Your Placard
Permanent placards expire every four years and the DMV won’t renew them for you, so start before the expiration date.
- Standard renewal: submit a new Form VD-120 and a new medical certification.
- The “Permanent and Stable” exemption: if your provider marked your condition that way on the original application, you skip the medical form entirely and submit only Form VD-120.
- Temporary placards cannot be renewed. If your condition continues past six months, you reapply from scratch with fresh medical documentation.
If you’ve moved since you last applied, update your address before renewing — otherwise your new placard goes to the old house.
Replacing a Lost or Damaged Placard
You do not need to go back to your doctor. Complete Form VD-120 for a permanent placard or VL-038 for a temporary one, check the “Replacement” box, and mail it to Montpelier. No new medical certification is needed while your original credential is active.
Rules and Penalties
The placard is issued to you, not to a vehicle. Use it in any car you’re riding in as driver or passenger — but you must be present, so a family member running errands on your behalf cannot use it. Hang it from the rearview mirror when parked and take it down before driving, since leaving it up obstructs your view.
Misuse carries civil penalties of at least $200 per violation, towing charges, and possible revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The signed original of Form VS-113 has to reach the DMV, so applications go by mail or in person only.
Yes — Vermont recognizes valid permits from all other US states, territories, and eligible foreign jurisdictions.
Generally no. Vermont’s Disabled Veteran plate requires the same Form VS-113 medical certification, so it functions as a full parking credential in its own right. A placard is still worth having if you ever ride in someone else’s car.
If it improves and you no longer need the placard, return it to the DMV. If a temporary condition becomes permanent, reapply as permanent with updated documentation.
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