ORLANDO, Fla. – News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road every week, helping Orlando-area residents become better drivers by being better educated.
Thursday, a viewer asked, “If I have a wheelchair symbol on my plate, do I need to still have the placard?”
The quick answer: You only need one!
In the state of Florida, the answer is straightforward: You only need one of these items to legally park in a designated disabled parking spot.
Both the disabled parking placard and the disabled license plate offer similar privileges, but each serves a unique purpose.
The disabled license plate: Assigned to your vehicle
If you have a license plate with the wheelchair symbol, you’re set! This plate is permanently assigned to your vehicle, meaning anyone driving or riding in that specific car can legally park in disabled parking spaces if the person assigned with the disability is present.
However, the plate stays with the vehicle, so if you’re hopping into someone else’s car for the day, this plate won’t transfer with you.
The disabled parking placard: Assigned to you personally
On the other hand, the disabled parking placard works differently. This placard is assigned to you as an individual and not to a specific vehicle. This means you can take the placard with you when driving or riding in any car, giving you the flexibility to park in designated spaces no matter which vehicle you’re in.
Simply hang the placard on the rearview mirror when parked and remove it while driving.
A special note for disabled military veterans
For our disabled military veterans, Florida offers a special disabled military veteran license plate. This plate works the same way as a standard disabled license plate, granting you the same parking privileges.
Just as with the regular disabled plate, this special military plate is tied to your vehicle, not to you individually.
In summary
In Florida, whether you use a disabled parking placard or a disabled license plate, each provides legal access to designated disabled parking spaces on its own. Your choice depends on your needs and lifestyle:
• The disabled license plate: Stays with one vehicle.
• The disabled parking placard: Travels with you, giving you flexibility across different vehicles.
And if you’re a disabled military veteran, your special license plate provides the same privileges as the standard disabled plate.
So, no need to double up! Choose the option that best fits your parking needs and hit the road with peace of mind.
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