How Do You Get a Disability Placard or Plates in Illinois?
File form VSD 62 with a medical professional certification, choose the placard tier that matches the certification, and know that only the meter-exempt placard exempts you from meter fees. Original placards are free; a replacement costs 10 dollars.
The Illinois rule in one table
| Form | VSD 62, March 2026 | | Validity | Temporary: 6 months from the physician signature. Permanent: 4 years | | Requirement | Applicant must hold a valid Illinois driver's license or ID card | | Parts | Part 1 applicant and Part 3 medical professional required. Part 2 for minors. Part 4 for meter-exempt | | Colors | Meter-exempt permanent: yellow and gray striped. Permanent: blue. Temporary: red. Organizational: green | | Temporary validity | Physician-indicated length, maximum 6 months if Secretary of State issued, up to 90 days if municipality issued | | Permanent validity | Until the date on the placard | | Meter rule | Blue, red, and green do not exempt from meter fees or time limits. Meter-exempt exempts except at meters or signs of 30 minutes or less. Display at meters even with disability or DV plates | | Replacement | Form VSD 415, 10 dollars. Original placards free | | Plates | A permanent-placard holder applies for a Persons with Disabilities plate at a local driver services facility with the permanent placard number and current plate number or vehicle identification number |
What makes Illinois different
Illinois is the color is the tier state. The placard color tells enforcement what the placard does: yellow and gray striped for meter-exempt permanent, blue for permanent, red for temporary, green for organizational. The meter rule follows the color, not the holder: blue, red, and green placards do not exempt the holder from meter fees or time limits, while the meter-exempt placard exempts except at meters or signs of 30 minutes or less, and must still be displayed at meters even with disability or DV plates.
The second Illinois difference is the two certification tiers, which must not be collapsed. Part 3 covers the base medical certification. Part 4 covers meter-exempt certification, and the confirmed criteria include inability to manage, manipulate, insert coins, or obtain tickets or tokens due to lack of fine motor control of both hands, inability to reach above the head to 42 inches due to finger, hand, or upper extremity strength or mobility, inability to approach a meter due to a wheelchair or mobility device, and inability to walk more than 20 feet due to an orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular, or lung condition almost completely impeding walking. The form shows further checkboxes beyond these four, so this page does not claim these are the only meter-exempt criteria. Temporary applications may go to any Secretary of State driver services facility or be mailed in, while permanent walk-in visits go only to the Flagship Center at 2701 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, or by mail to the Persons with Disabilities Placard Unit, 501 South 2nd Street, Room 541, Springfield. Misuse or a false application risks placard revocation, a 12 month suspension or revocation of the driver's license, and a fine up to 1,000 dollars. This page states the form eligibility standards and submission steps; it does not advise any individual on medical eligibility.
The process, step by step
- Complete form VSD 62, Parts 1 and 3, with Part 2 for a minor and Part 4 for meter-exempt certification.
- File a temporary application at any Secretary of State driver services facility or by mail. File a permanent walk-in only at the Flagship Center, 2701 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, or by mail to the Persons with Disabilities Placard Unit, 501 South 2nd Street, Room 541, Springfield.
- Display the placard as its tier requires, and remember only the meter-exempt placard exempts from meter fees, except at meters or signs of 30 minutes or less.
- For a lost, stolen, or damaged placard, file form VSD 415 with the 10 dollar replacement fee. For a Persons with Disabilities plate, bring the permanent placard number and current plate number or vehicle identification number to a local facility.
Related Illinois guides
See Small Claims for a Withheld Deposit in Illinois and New Resident Driver's License in Illinois, and the full hub at Illinois Admin Process Directory.
Source
Form, validity, parts, filing routes, renewal, replacement form, plate process, and misuse warning on this page come from the Illinois Secretary of State: form VSD 62, March 2026. Colors, validity labels, and meter rules come from the Illinois Secretary of State Guide to the Parking Program. The 10 dollar replacement fee comes from the Illinois Secretary of State disabilities FAQ and 625 ILCS 5/11-1301.2(d). Facts verified 2026-10-26.
This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to a lawyer or your state agency.
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