Montgomery — According to the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR), individuals who hold five-year disability access parking placards and/or disability access license plates need to renew their placards and license plates during their designated renewal month in 2012.  

Expiration dates are shown on the bottom of the removable windshield placard and on the month and year decals on the license plate.

Before a new license plate or placard may be issued, individuals first must renew their disability parking access privileges.  

Individuals seeking to renew disability access parking privileges must self-certify on the “Application for Disability Access Parking Privileges” form (MVR 32-6-230) to verify they continue to meet the requirements for the five-year placard and/or license plate.  The form is available at all county license plate issuing officials’ offices or may be downloaded from the department’s website at http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/motorvehicle/mvforms/MVR326230.pdf.

For those seeking disability access parking privileges for the first time, the signature of a licensed physician is required, verifying that the individual qualifies for the parking credentials prior to receiving them.  The MVR 32-6-230 form must be completed by a licensed physician before an Alabama disability access placard and/or disability access license plate is issued.

The new five-year removable windshield placard is issued free-of-charge and will expire at the end of the individual’s registration renewal month in 2017. The registration fee for the disability access parking license plate is the same as that of a standard license plate, $23 annually, plus a county issuance fee.  The license plate is renewed annually and will be replaced by a new five-year series in 2017.

Federal guidelines do not require vehicle ownership rights to obtain a disability access placard, but do require vehicle ownership rights to obtain a disability access license plate.

“A person with disabilities may obtain a maximum of two windshield placards; however, if an individual wishes to obtain a placard and a license plate, only one placard may be issued.  Note there are no limits placed upon the number of disability access license plates that may be issued to an individual with disabilities, provided vehicle ownership qualifications are met.  To obtain the license plate, the person with disabilities must have an ownership interest in the vehicle,” State Revenue Commissioner Julie P. Magee says.

For more information concerning disability parking access privileges, visit ADOR’s website at http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/motorvehicle/disabilityaccess.htm.