The Alabama Department of Revenue is reminding individuals with a five-year disability access parking placards or license plates to renew those during their designated renewal month beginning January.

Expiration dates are located at the bottom of the removable windshield placard and on the month and year decals on the license plate. Before a new disability access parking plate or placard is issued, individuals must first renew their disability parking privileges, said the State’s revenue commissioner Julie P. Magee.

Dallas County License Commissioners Office chief clerk Bernice Ackron said individuals interested in receiving a plate or card must get a new application, which is available at the license office. The form, (MVR 32-6-230), must be completed by a licensed physician before an Alabama disability access placard and/or disability access license plate is issued.

“Each person that comes in January must have a new application to take to their doctor (for signature),” Ackron said. “The doctor fills out the form and (individuals) bring it back to the license office. Each month, we’ll have new renewals up until October.”

There is no charge for the placard, which will expire at the end of the person’s registration renewal month in 2017, but an annual registration fee of $23 will apply to the disability access parking license plate.  The plate is also renewed each year.

Ackron said the handicap placard is not registered to any vehicle but it’s registered to the handicapped person.

“You don’t need tag information for a placard,” Ackron said. “The owner of the vehicle has to be handicapped to get a plate.”

In addition, Ackron said renewal cards are sent at the first of the month and residents can either renew online at www.dallascountyproperty-tags.com or by mail to Edward L. Foster, license commissioner, P.O. Box 987, Selma, Ala. 36702.

According to state law, all owners listed on registration must present a valid driver’s license or photo ID card to purchase a tag.

One or more owners, who are deceased, divorced or separated, must transfer the title to the new owner of the vehicle.

Magee said there are no limits on the number of license plates that may be issued to an individual with disabilities if vehicle ownership qualifications are met.

“Someone with disabilities may obtain a maximum of two windshield placards but if an individual wants a placard and a license plate, only one placard may be issued,” Magee said.

A disabled individual, Ackron said, must be present inside the car in order to park in a designated handicap parking area.

For more information, visit www.revenue.gov/motorvehicle/disabilityaccess.htm.