Temporary Disability Parking After an Arizona Injury

Choose the correct request

Start at the ADOT form library and open application 96-0104. The version checked for this guide is R09/25. Read both pages before completing it. The same form covers several requests, including disability parking and a separate deaf/hard-of-hearing credential.

A temporary placard is the option for a qualifying temporary physical disability. A permanent placard has different qualification requirements, and a disability license plate is for a qualifying permanent disability. An injury diagnosis alone does not establish entitlement. A.R.S. 28-2409 sets out the qualifying conditions and application requirements.

If you already have a placard, identify the problem before filling out another request. A lost or damaged placard calls for a replacement inquiry. Needing parking access after a temporary placard expires calls for a new application and medical certification, according to MVD’s disability-placard policy.

Arrange the certification

Ask the office handling your care whether an authorized professional can evaluate and complete the certification section. Under A.R.S. 28-2409(F)(1), that section can be completed by a hospital administrator, an authorized physician or physician assistant, a registered nurse practitioner, or a physical therapist. The law defines an authorized physician assistant as one supervised by an authorized physician.

The R09/25 form’s front panel omits physician assistants, while its reverse and the statute include them. The audiologist entry on the shared form concerns the hearing-related option. Give the office both pages of the current application so it can check the instructions for your request.

Use the form’s certification section. A separate medical letter does not substitute for it under MVD’s stated policy. Ask MVD about the applicable documentation if you already hold an out-of-state credential or qualify for the policy’s veteran exception.

Before leaving the paperwork with the office, ask how it will be returned and whom to contact about a missing item. Describe your mobility difficulties accurately. This guide cannot determine which qualification applies to you.

Check and submit the application

Review the applicant information and selected request on the completed form. Vehicle information is for a plate request. Check that the professional’s certification is complete, signed and dated. The application instructions say a signature stamp is not accepted.

The form provides a mailing route to MVD’s Special Plates Unit. For a placard-only request, it also permits fax or email. Check the address or destination printed on the current form immediately before sending it. Those fax and email instructions do not extend to a plate request, and downloading the form does not mean the entire application can be completed through an online portal.

Save a private copy of what you submitted and any transmission confirmation. If MVD requests a correction, keep that message with the application and note what you sent back. Ask the agency about the status of your request rather than relying on a delivery estimate for ordinary license plates.

Keep a readiness and follow-up record

This working record is an optional organizational aid. It does not replace the state application or certify eligibility. Use file references so your notes do not need another copy of your identification number or medical information.

The roles in this table follow the application and Arizona statute. The note fields are suggestions for your own use.

Choose a reminder that gives you time to ask about another application if needed. Your reminder does not extend the placard. Keep rental approvals and ride receipts in a separate record if those costs are also an issue. The transportation-cost guide covers that task.

Use the placard for the holder’s travel

The qualified holder can be a passenger. ADOT’s placard guidance permits moving the placard between vehicles when that person is present. It does not give another driver permission to use reserved parking on an unrelated errand.

For ordinary use of a designated disability parking space, the vehicle must transport the person issued the valid credential and display the required placard or registered disability plate. A.R.S. 28-884 contains a narrow exception for momentary loading or unloading of a person with a physical disability in a vehicle without the credential. That exception does not authorize waiting or running errands.

Keep the marked access aisle beside the space clear. The same statute prohibits stopping or parking there even with a disability placard. A parking credential also does not provide medical clearance to drive after an injury. ADOT’s driver Medical Review program addresses a separate subject.

Common application questions

Is there an MVD fee for a temporary disability placard?

MVD’s FAQ states that there is no fee for a disability placard. Ask the certifying office about any visit or paperwork charge. The agency’s no-fee rule does not establish that every application-related expense is free.

What happens if I still need a placard after six months?

Submit a new application with completed medical certification if you seek another temporary period. MVD’s policy treats this as another temporary request. Do not assume the old placard remains valid while a request is pending.

Does replacing a lost placard restart the six months?

A replacement addresses the missing or damaged credential. It does not establish another temporary period. Follow the form’s replacement instructions and confirm the expiration with MVD. If the agency cannot locate and verify the original application, the form says a new application is required.

Can a family member help with the application?

A helper can organize the paperwork, keep a contact log and help you communicate with the office. Leave certification to the authorized professional. If someone will sign or act for the applicant, ask MVD what authority and documentation it requires for that situation before submitting the application.