The difference is whether your limitation is expected to improve. The practitioner decides which applies, based on your condition, not on which one you would prefer.
Who is the placard for?
If you qualify and book, the visit is $119.
A Florida temporary disabled parking permit is issued for up to six months, as specified by the certifying practitioner, and carries a $15 state fee. A permanent placard is valid for four years and is issued at no state charge. Which one you receive depends on whether your mobility limitation is expected to improve, and that is a clinical determination.
| Temporary | Permanent | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it lasts | Up to 6 months, as specified by the practitioner | 4 years |
| State fee | $15 | No charge |
| Typical situations | Recovery from surgery, a fracture, a severe sprain, an injury, pregnancy-related limitation | Arthritis, neurological conditions, cardiac or lung conditions, post-stroke limitation, legal blindness, long-term orthopedic conditions |
| Wheelchair symbol plate available | No | Yes, in lieu of the placard |
| Renewal | New application and certification | New certification every 4 years |
The certifying practitioner does, on the form, based on whether your limitation is expected to improve. It is not a preference you select. Asking for a permanent placard for a condition that is expected to resolve puts the practitioner in the position of certifying something they cannot support, and a form completed that way is the sort of thing that gets applications rejected.
Florida has a distinct application for expectant mothers, form HSMV 83040, with its own validity period. Only a physician or osteopathic physician may sign it. If you are pregnant, that is the route rather than the standard temporary permit.
If your limitation has resolved, nothing: the permit expires and you stop using it. If it has not resolved, you apply again with a fresh certification. If a temporary condition has become a lasting one, the practitioner assesses it as it stands at that point, which may mean a permanent certification is appropriate.
The check is free. No credit card. Nothing is charged today.
See if I qualify, it's freeThe practitioner specifies the period, up to six months. A shorter period may be appropriate for a limitation expected to resolve sooner. The county issues for the period certified.
Reviewed for accuracy against Florida Statutes and current FLHSMV forms by Dr. Barry Schapiro, MD (FL license ME92972) and Dr. Dean Fishman, DC (FL license CH00007509). Last reviewed August 2026. This page is general information about the Florida application process and is not medical advice.
Up to six months, as specified by the certifying practitioner. It is a maximum, not an automatic period.
The state fee is $15. Permanent placards are issued at no state charge.
The determination is clinical, not a preference. The practitioner certifies whether the limitation is expected to improve, and the county issues accordingly.
Florida has a separate application for expectant mothers, form HSMV 83040, which only a physician or osteopathic physician may sign.
Free eligibility check. No card required. Takes 2 minutes.
Check my condition, it's freeThe $119 fee covers the doctor's medical evaluation, not approval of a permit. Certification is at the doctor's discretion and is not guaranteed. Disabled parking permits and plates are issued by your county tax collector or tag agency, not by Provider Notes. Provider Notes is not affiliated with any government agency.
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