Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Childhood Cancer Lantern
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South Carolina program

A disabled parking placard

A disabled parking placard can help when your child’s condition makes walking difficult and a clinician certifies eligibility.

What it is

A disabled parking placard can help when your child’s condition makes walking difficult and a clinician certifies eligibility.

Parking closer can matter during treatment. The diagnosis alone does not decide eligibility. A clinician documents the child’s limitations and how long they are expected to last.

Eligibility rules
  • The limitation must be expected to last at least four months.
  • A licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant or physical therapist may certify under the May 15, 2026 law. A physical therapist may certify only the initial temporary placard, not its renewal.
What you get
  • A $1 disabled parking placard when the medical criteria are met.
What the help includes
  • The placard belongs to the eligible person; a parent or legal guardian can complete the child’s signature.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask a clinician to certify your child’s placard form.
  2. Have the child’s details and $1 fee ready. A parent or legal guardian can sign and take the completed form to a DMV branch.

The Department of Motor Vehicles · Official page ↗

If you decide to go ahead
  • DMV says it mails the placard five to ten business days after submission at a branch.
Good to know

A physical therapist may certify only the initial temporary placard, not its renewal. The child’s limitations, rather than treatment phase, decide whether a clinical review is relevant.

Other details
  • The test is walking, not the diagnosis: for example, not being able to walk 100 feet without stopping, or needing a person or a device to walk. The placard's expiry date is printed on it and may be shorter than the doctor's estimate.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could our child’s current limitations qualify for a parking placard? Could you explain the criteria and help with the form if it fits?”

Why I’m asking: I want to know whether closer parking is available when getting from the car is difficult.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Take Form RG-007A to clinic, get it certified, sign it and hand it in.

Your social worker

A clinician certifies what the child cannot do and for how long.

The care team

The certifier states the expected duration, which must be at least four months.

Who decides
The Department of Motor Vehicles.
Ask the care team
“Could you certify the disabled parking form for my child at this visit? The condition needs to be expected to last at least four months.”

How to apply

First step: Take Form RG-007A to the next clinic visit.

  1. Ask the team to certify Form RG-007A at the next clinic visit and hand it in at a branch.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Ask a clinician to certify Form RG-007A and hand it in at a branch.

What to gather

  • Form RG-007A
  • The child's details
  • A dollar

How long: Posted five to ten business days after the form is handed in at a branch.

What a yes looks like

A placard in the post.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Usually the four-month expectation. Ask the clinician what they can certify.

Watch out

  • The diagnosis alone does not settle it; the clinician certifies what the child cannot do.
  • A physical therapist may certify only the initial temporary placard, not its renewal.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

A $1 temporary placard requires a qualifying limitation expected to last at least four months. DMV confirms the actual validity and delivery dates.

  • $1 — Fee
  • $4 — Least time the impairment must be expected to last

Legal protection: A parent or legal guardian signs the application for a child

What it costs the family: One dollar.

The eligibility facts, as published

Duration
The temporary impairment must be expected to last at least four months and meet a statutory limitation. The clinician’s estimate is separate from the issued placard’s expiry; DMV confirms validity and renewal.
Certifiers
Under the May 15, 2026 law, a licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant or physical therapist may certify. A physical therapist may certify only the initial temporary placard, not its renewal.
Fee
$1
Signature
a parent or legal guardian may sign for a child

The trap: The certifier must expect the impairment to last at least four months, and the form's certification runs from four months to a year. A cancer diagnosis by itself does not settle it; the clinician certifies what the child cannot do.

Where I read this

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