Vehicles

Persons with Disabilities plate and sticker

*Please note there are different requirements depending upon plate choice. Be sure to review the specific information for each plate.

Who is eligible Qualified persons with disabilities.
Requirements A statement on letterhead stationary from someone licensed to practice medicine stating that the applicant is a person with a disability and that the disability is permanent. Persons licensed to practice medicine include physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists, physician assistants or advanced nurse practitioners. A parent or guardian of a disabled child may qualify if the child resides with them and submits a proof of residency form.

Stickers may be issued to an owner of a motor vehicle who is a person with a disability who does not want a persons with disabilities license plate. The sticker is placed on the license plate in the lower-right corner of the rear plate. The sticker can be placed on any type of regular, special or personalized license plate in the lower-right corner of the rear plate.

Plate requirements A statement on letterhead stationary from someone licensed to practice medicine stating that the applicant is a person with a disability and that the disability is permanent. Persons licensed to practice medicine include physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists, physician assistants or advanced nurse practitioners. A parent or guardian of a disabled child may qualify if the child resides with them and submits a proof of residency form.
Sticker requirements
Persons with Disabilities Sticker

Persons with disabilities plate stickers may be issued to an owner of a motor vehicle who is a person with a disability who does not want a persons with disabilities license plate. The sticker is placed on the license plate in the lower-right corner of the rear plate. The sticker can be placed on any type of regular, special or personalized license plate in the lower-right corner of the rear plate. To apply for a persons with disabilities sticker, complete the Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Permit for Iowa Residents.

Eligible vehicles Automobiles
Multipurpose vehicles
Sport utility vehicles
Vans
Motorcycles
Trucks
Motor homes
Trailers and travel trailers
Numbered plates
  • No initial or validation fee at time of renewal
  • Annual registration renewal fee

Numbered plates must be ordered through your county treasurer's office.

Personalized plates
  • $25 initial fee
  • $5 annual registration fee at time of renewal
  • Annual registration renewal fee (paid to county treasurer)

Personalized license plates may consist of up to five characters and numbers. All personalized plate choices must have at least two characters.

  • No punctuation marks are allowed.
  • No denoting a government agency (i.e., DOT).
  • No display of characters that are sexual in connotation.
  • No characters suggesting profane, obscene or inflammatory words or phrases, or those contrary to public policy.
  • No characters or words defined in dictionaries as a term of vulgarity, contempt, prejudice, hostility, insult, or racial or ethnic degradation.
  • No characters considered to be offensive.
  • No characters that conflict with the regular license numbering system.
  • Recognized as a swear word.
  • Reference to an illegal substance or criminal act.
  • Any foreign word falling in any of these categories.
  • Cannot be all numbers.
How to apply Complete the Special Plate Application form, print and mail with the fees that are due.

Vehicle & Motor Carrier Services
Iowa Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 9278
Des Moines, Iowa  50306-9278

Your plates will be sent to your county treasurer's office and staff will notify you when your plates are available. Typical processing time is 3-6 weeks. Plates must be assigned to a vehicle within 90 days or the plates will be voided and no refund issued. Your current plates must be exchanged for your new plates.

For questions

Telephone: 515-237-3110
E-mail:  dot.plates@iowadot.us

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