DID YOU KNOW: Disabled Parking Placards in Illinois

Many people are familiar with the blue disability parking placard, but did you know Illinois actually has four different types of disabled parking placards.?

Even more exciting, a new Illinois law has expanded eligibility for the yellow & gray meter-exempt placard for some families, and applying for a placard is becoming easier, too!

Here’s a quick guide:

 Yellow & Gray – Meter-Exempt Permanent

 •  Park in accessible parking spaces

 •  No parking meter fees (except where parking is limited to 30 minutes or less)

 • NEW: Illinois now issues meter-exempt placards to (1) a parent of a person with a disability who is under 18 and incapable of driving, or (2) the legal guardian of a person with a disability incapable of driving, at any age.

  Blue – Permanent

 •  Park in accessible parking spaces

 •  Parking meter fees still apply

 Red – Temporary

 •  Park in accessible parking spaces during a temporary disability

 •  Parking meter fees still apply

 Green – Organizational

 • Used by organizations that transport people with disabilities.

Another helpful change…

Illinois has also begun expanding walk-in services for permanent and meter-exempt placards. Instead of relying only on mailing paperwork to Springfield, families can now apply for or renew eligible placards at several Driver Services facilities—including Champaign.For many families, especially those transporting children or adults who cannot drive because of blindness, developmental disabilities, or other significant disabilities, these changes could make a real difference.

If you’re a parent of a minor who can’t drive because of a disability — or a legal guardian of someone of any age who can’t drive — it may be worth asking again about meter-exempt eligibility. Recent changes in Illinois law (HB 4843) may now apply to your family.

As always, the placard belongs to the person with the disability, not the driver or the vehicle, and it may only be used when that person is being transported.

Sources & More Information:

New Law -

House Bill 4843 (now Public Act 104-0682) took effect on July 31, 2026.

Among other changes, it directs the Illinois Secretary of State to issue meter-exempt parking placards to:

● a parent of a child under 18 with a disability who is incapable of driving, and

● a legal guardian of a person with a disability who is incapable of driving.

Source: Illinois General Assembly

HB 4843 Bill Status — Illinois General Assembly

Public Act 104-0682 — Full Text

On August 6, 2026, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced:

● expanded eligibility for caregiver meter-exempt placards, and

● a pilot program allowing walk-in applicaSons and renewals for permanent and meter-exempt placards at 14 Driver Services faciliSes, including Champaign.

Source: Illinois Secretary of State

ILSOS News Release — Giannoulias Launches Disability Parking Placard Pilot

Official Information:

● Illinois Secretary of State — Persons with DisabiliSes Parking Program

● Disability Parking Placard applicaSon (Form VSD-62)

● Frequently Asked QuesSons

Available at:

ilsos.gov/services/persons-with-disabiliSes/disabiliSes.html