Disabled veteran parking

Eligibility requirements

You are eligible to apply for parking for individuals with disabilities if you are a veteran and:

  • You have received a qualifying discharge with a 70 percent disability rating or higher from the U.S. Armed Forces or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • You use a service animal.

If you can provide proof of both items and your application is approved, your parking will be valid for 5 years.

How to apply for a permit

If you have a permanent disability and meet the disabled veteran parking eligibility requirements, you can apply for one of the following:

  • 1 to 2 blue placards.
  • 1 blue placard and 1 set of disabled veteran parking license plates (fees apply).
  • 1 blue placard and 1 disabled veteran parking tab (fees apply).

You can order the disabled veteran parking tab for vehicles with:

You can't order the disabled veteran parking tab for vehicles with:

  • Regular (mountain) background plates
  • Disabled (non-veteran) parking plates
  • Exempt plates (for state or publicly owned vehicles
  • Collector vehicle plates
  • Horseless carriage plates
  • Rideshare plates

Gather the necessary documents

  1. You must complete the Disabled Parking for Veterans Application.
  2. You must provide a letter from the U.S. Armed Forces or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs proving your 70 percent disability rating.

Bring all documents and fees to a vehicle licensing office or mail them to:

Application & Issuance
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9043
Olympia, WA 98507

When you get to a vehicle licensing office, the vehicle licensing representative can help you determine your fees.

Wait for us to process the application.

We will send you the placards, plates, or tabs after we process the application. It should take about 7 to 10 days to process.

We will send you a "veteran with disabilities parking privilege" ID card separately in 2 to 3 weeks. Keep it with you to provide to law enforcement upon request.

How to renew your permit

You must renew your disabled veteran parking privileges every 5 years. We will send you a renewal notice and application 45 days before it expires. You must provide a completed application and a current letter from the U.S. Armed Forces or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs showing a qualifying 70 percent disability rating or higher.

You must renew your plates and tabs every year. We will send you a renewal notice before it expires.

Using your disabled parking

You are the only one authorized by law to use your parking benefits. You must be the registered owner of the vehicle they are placed on.

Identification card

Keep your parking ID card with you at all times. You must provide it to law enforcement when requested.

Placard

If you requested a placard, make sure you hang it on the rearview mirror of any vehicle you're transported in.

Parking decal

If you requested a disabled parking tab and placard, you'll also receive a blue decal, which is optional. You can place this decal between the bolt holes on the bottom of the license plate for added visibility.

Where to park

You can park:

  • On the street, for free, in any parking space that is time-restricted (including metered parking).
    • This doesn't apply to privately-owned parking lots or areas reserved for special types of vehicles (fire lanes, loading zones, etc.).
  • In any specially-designated disabled parking space.
    • Van-accessible spaces are designed for use by wheelchair vans. Use them only if you drive a wheelchair van or no other disabled parking spaces are available.

You can't park in zones or areas:

  • Where stopping, parking, or standing of all vehicles is prohibited.
  • Reserved for special types of vehicles (fire lanes, loading zones, etc.).

Contact your local police to report individuals who are abusing disabled veteran parking privileges or parking in a disabled space illegally.

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