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Disability parking permits

An Australian disability parking permit, also called a mobility parking permit, is for people with certain disabilities.

They allow the permit holder to:

  • park in specific spaces
  • park longer than the signposted time limit
  • park for free in ACT Government operated car parks.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for a disability parking permit if you are an ACT resident and one or more of the following apply to you:

  • You require continuous use of a wheelchair.
  • You have temporary or permanent loss of use of one or both legs.
  • You have a chronic and debilitating respiratory, cardiac, or arthritic condition that affects mobility.
  • You use walking aids.
  • You have significant cognitive, behavioural or neurological impairment that prevents walking safely without the continuous support of a carer or support person.
  • You are permanently blind.
  • You have other conditions you can describe in the application.

If your organisation provides transport for people who meet the eligibility criteria, it can also apply for Australian disability parking permits. The organisation must be based in the ACT.

Permit categories

There are 3 categories of mobility parking permits available in the ACT.

  • Temporary permits: require certification from a medical practitioner and automatically expire after the set period, which can be 3, 6 or 12 months.
  • Long-term permits: require medical certification every 3 years.
  • Permanent permits: only require an initial medical certification.

Pension cards with 'Blind' endorsement

A person who holds a Centrelink disability pension card, endorsed as 'Blind' is not required to be examined by a doctor, however the person's Centrelink disability pension card must be provided on application.

Apply for a disability parking permit

You can apply for a disability parking permit as a driver, as a passenger in a vehicle that will display the permit, or as an organisation.

If you are the parent or carer of an eligible individual, you can apply on their behalf.

You can apply for a permit to commence on a future date.

To apply as an individual:

  1. You and your doctor or specialist eye doctor need to complete an Application for an Australian disability parking permit (PDF 240KB). If you have a Centrelink disability pension card endorsed as 'Blind', you don’t need a doctor’s examination; provide a copy of the card.
  2. Provide your ACT driver licence number as proof of identity. If you’re unable to, you’ll need to provide full proof of identity.
  3. If applicable, provide your Centrelink disability pension card.
  4. Submit your application:

View acceptable proof of identity.

To apply as an organisation:

  1. Complete the Application for Australian disability parking permit (Organisations only) (PDF 214KB) form
  2. Submit your application:

Your permit is issued on the spot if applied for in person or allow 10 business days for it to be posted to you.

There is no fee for an Australian disability parking permit.

Displaying your permit

In the ACT a mobility disability parking permit consists of the ACT mobility parking permit, displaying the permit number and expiry date, inserted into the clear plastic pocket of the Australian disability parking permit holder.

Both the permit and the holder need to be displayed together as a single permit and the permit number and expiry date must be clearly visible from outside the vehicle.

Display the permit on the dashboard, attached to the windscreen, or as close as practical to the front left side so it’s clearly visible from outside the vehicle.

Using your permit

Mobility parking permits are valid for use by the person to whom they are issued and no one else.

If you aren’t in the vehicle, it’s an offence for any other person to display and use the permit.

In the ACT, a mobility parking permit allows you to park in the special wide bays reserved for mobility parking permit holders.

Each parking bay consists of a dedicated car park with a shared area on one side, marked with diagonal lines. The shared area is not for parking; it’s to allow enough space for the person to get in and out of the vehicle, including with a wheelchair or walker.

When travelling interstate, you should check local parking arrangements as they may vary.

Some of the mobility parking permit spaces have a time limit which you need to observe.

Mobility parking permits don’t allow you to park in specific specialised parking spaces such as loading zones, medical practitioner parks or bus stops.

ACT government-operated car parks

If you’re parking in any ACT government-operated car park you can park for free.

If you’re parking in an ACT government-operated time restricted but free parking area, the time limit on the sign determines how long you can park. If the sign indicates a time limit of:

  • 30 minute or less: you can park there for up to 2 hours.
  • More than 30 minutes: you can park there for as long as you need to.

Some privately operated car parks may charge parking fees.

Renew, update or replace your permit

Depending on the type of permit you have, you may need to have another doctor’s examination when you apply for renewal.

  1. Use the Application for an Australian disability parking permit (PDF 240KB) or the Application for Australian disability parking permit (Organisations only) (PDF 214KB) form
  2. If applying as an individual, select the relevant Application type and provide your current permit number. If applying as an organisation, list the permit numbers you currently have.
  3. Submit your application: