How to Fill Out REG 195: Apply for a California Disabled Person Parking Placard

If you or a family member needs a disabled person parking placard or license plates in California, the form you are looking for is REG 195. Its full name is the "Application for Disabled Person Placard or Plates," and it is issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The current version is REG 195 (REV. 11/2023).

This guide walks through the form the way it is actually printed: what you fill in, what a licensed medical provider has to complete, and how to review your answers and produce a clean copy before you submit it to the DMV. The goal is a complete, signed, legible application that will not be returned to you.

A quick note on what this article is not: Fylune is a document editor, not a government agency. This guide is informational and does not give medical or legal advice, and it does not guarantee that the DMV will approve any application.

An older adult and her son sit at a kitchen table reviewing a single printed one-page application together, with a pen on the paper and a laptop open beside them.

What REG 195 is and who should use it

REG 195 is a three-page California DMV form. You use it to apply for one of these:

A Disabled Person (DP) parking placard (permanent, temporary, or travel), or
DP license plates, or
Reassignment of existing DP plates to a different vehicle.

Page 1 of the form lists who may qualify. In short, you may be eligible if you have impaired mobility (for example, the loss or loss of use of one or more lower extremities or both hands, a diagnosed disease that substantially impairs mobility, or the inability to move without an assistive device), specific documented vision problems such as low vision or partial sightedness, or certain cardiovascular or respiratory conditions. The eligibility rules are set by the California Vehicle Code (CVC) sections 295.5, 5007, and 22511.55.

Two situations use a different form, so check these before you start:

To replace a lost, stolen, or damaged placard or plates, use REG 156 instead of REG 195.
If you are a disabled veteran with a service-connected disability, you may qualify for Disabled Veteran License Plates. That is a separate process: page 1 of REG 195 states you need a completed DMV REG 256 A form plus certification that you are a disabled veteran under CVC 295.7, from a county veterans service officer or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Here is how the credential types on the form compare:

Credential type (Section 2)	Who it is for	Validity	Fee on the form
Permanent DP parking placard	Permanent qualifying disability	Two years; expires June 30 of odd-numbered years, with two automatic renewals	No fee
Temporary DP parking placard	Temporary disability	Up to 180 days, or the date your provider notes, whichever is sooner; cannot be renewed more than six times in a row	$6.00 fee
Travel DP parking placard	A resident who already holds a permanent DP placard, DP plates, or Disabled Veteran plates, or a qualifying nonresident traveling in California	Up to 30 days for a California resident; up to 90 days for a nonresident	No fee
DP license plates	A vehicle registered to the qualified person (see Section 3)	Tied to the vehicle registration	No fee
DP plates reassignment	Moving existing DP plates to another qualifying vehicle	n/a	No fee

Fees above are the amounts printed on REG 195 (REV. 11/2023). Always confirm current fees on the DMV website before you send payment.

Before you start: what to gather

A little preparation prevents the most common reasons an application comes back. Before you open the form, collect:

A flat-lay of items to gather before filling a form: a blank ID card, a pen, a phone, a blank sheet of paper, and a folder with a sticky note.

Proof of your legal name and date of birth. California law requires you to enclose a copy with the application. A valid driver license (DL) or identification (ID) card works, or any document the DMV accepts to apply for a DL or ID. Without this copy, the application is rejected.
Your prior placard or plate number, if you have one. If you have ever been issued DP license plates, Disabled Veteran plates, or a permanent DP placard in California, you enter that number in Section 2. This matters: when a valid prior credential is on record, a new doctor's certification is usually not required.
A licensed medical provider. The medical certification (Sections 5, 6, and 6A) must be completed and signed by a licensed provider. You cannot certify your own disability on this form.
A pen. The DMV requires the form to be completed in ink with original signatures. Photocopied or faxed signatures are not accepted, and any alteration, crossover, or whiteout voids the form.

REG 195 section by section

The form is organized into numbered sections. Sections 1 through 4 are completed by the applicant (or an organization's authorized representative). Sections 5, 6, and 6A are completed by the medical provider. Pages 2 and 3 must both be submitted; the application cannot be processed without both.

Rendering of the official California DMV REG 195 form, page 2, showing Sections 1 through 5: applicant information, placard or plate type, vehicle information, the applicant signature, and the medical provider's information.

Section 1: Applicant or organization information

Enter your true full name as Last, First, Middle (or the organization name), your date of birth (individuals only, in MM/DD/YYYY format), your physical address, and your driver license or ID card number (individuals only). Fill in city, county, state, and ZIP code. Add a separate mailing address only if it differs from your physical address, and include a telephone number. Remember to enclose the proof of legal name and birthdate described above.

Section 2: Type of placard or plates

Check every box that applies: Permanent DP Parking Placard (no fee), Temporary DP Parking Placard ($6.00 fee), Travel Parking DP Placard (no fee), Disabled Person License Plates (no fee, then complete Section 3), or Disabled Person License Plates Reassignment (also Section 3).

This section also asks: "Have you ever been issued DP License Plates, Disabled Veteran License Plates, or a Permanent DP parking placard in California?" If yes, write the plate or placard number in the space provided. Per the form, a doctor's certification is not required unless that credential was cancelled by the DMV or is no longer on record, or four replacement permanent placards have been issued during the two-year renewal period.

Section 3: Vehicle information (DP license plate applicants only)

Skip this section unless you are applying for or reassigning DP plates. If you are, enter the license plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), vehicle make, and vehicle year. Organizations confirm the vehicle is used exclusively to transport disabled persons. There is also an optional commercial-vehicle weight fee exemption for one vehicle under 8,001 pounds unladen; check Yes or No.

Section 4: Applicant certification and signature

By signing here, you certify under penalty of perjury that you have read the disclosures on page 1 and that you are a disabled person under CVC 295.5 (or an authorized representative of a qualifying organization). Sign on the line marked with an X, add the date, and optionally an email address. Use ink.

Section 5: Authorized medical provider's information

Your medical provider fills in their name (Last, First, Middle), medical license number, address with room or suite, daytime telephone, and city, county, state, and ZIP code.

Rendering of the official California DMV REG 195 form, page 3, showing Section 6 and 6A: the medical provider's certification of disability, the qualifying conditions, the description field, and the provider's signature.

Sections 6 and 6A: Medical certification of disability

This is the heart of the form, and it is the provider's responsibility. The provider prints the patient's name, then indicates whether the patient is eligible for a permanent placard or plates, a temporary placard (with an end date that cannot exceed six months), or a travel placard (end date not to exceed 30 days for a resident or 90 days for a nonresident).

The provider then checks the qualifying condition. Items 1 through 3 are specific (visual acuity, class III or IV cardiovascular disease by American Heart Association standards, and a defined lung disease). For items 4 through 8, which cover mobility-related conditions, the provider must also write a full, legible description in Section 6A. The form is explicit that descriptions like "trouble walking," "back pain," "weakness," or a bare code such as "R60.9" are not acceptable; acceptable examples include "Parkinson's Disease," "arthritis of ankle and foot," or "diabetes mellitus with peripheral vascular disease."

Not every provider can certify every item. According to page 1 of the form:

A licensed physician, surgeon, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife may certify items 2 through 8.
A licensed chiropractor may certify items 6 through 8 only.
A licensed podiatrist may certify a disability related to the foot or ankle.
A licensed physician or surgeon who specializes in diseases of the eye, or a licensed optometrist, may certify item 1 only.

Finally, the provider marks their license type, signs under penalty of perjury on the line marked with an X, and adds a printed name or stamp and the date.

Common mistakes to avoid

Trying to self-certify the medical part. Sections 6 and 6A must be signed by a licensed provider. There is no applicant self-certification path for the disability itself.
Choosing the wrong credential type. A travel placard requires that you already hold a permanent DP placard, DP plates, or Disabled Veteran plates. Checking it without that existing credential will stall the application.
Leaving out a prior placard or plate number. If you have held a valid credential, entering its number can spare you a new certification. Omitting it can trigger an unnecessary medical visit.
Submitting an unsigned or incomplete provider section. An unsigned medical block, a missing Section 6A description, or the wrong provider certifying an item they are not authorized for will all cause problems.
Sending only part of the form. Both pages 2 and 3 are required. Include your proof of legal name and date of birth.
Writing in a way that voids the form. No whiteout, no crossed-out corrections, no pencil. Complete it in ink with original signatures.

Fill, review, and produce a clean copy with Fylune

A disabled placard application in California is easier to get right when you can read each field clearly, fill it at your own pace, and check your work before you print. That is what the REG 195 template in Fylune is for. It opens the official three-page PDF in a browser editor so you can complete the editable applicant fields and review every page.

On that page you can either start in the standard editor or choose "Fill with AI," which uses an assistant named Faye. Faye helps with the editable applicant fields and begins by asking whether you are applying for a parking placard, disabled person plates, or reassignment of existing plates. It works only from facts you provide, and you review every entry yourself.

Two limits are worth repeating, because they appear on the template page too: Faye cannot complete the medical certification, which needs a licensed provider's signature, and Fylune does not issue a placard or submit your application. When your applicant fields look right, you download the completed PDF, print it, sign in ink, keep pages 2 and 3 together with your proof of name and birthdate, and submit through the DMV.

Core editing in Fylune is free. Free PDF exports include a watermark; clean exports, Premium, and AI credits are paid options. Check current pricing in the app before you buy anything.

After you fill it: submitting your REG 195

Once the form is complete and signed (including the provider's part), submit it with a copy of your proof of legal name and date of birth. The REG 195 form lists these channels:

In person: at a DMV field office. No appointment is needed.
Online: through the DMV virtual office at virtual.dmv.ca.gov.
By mail: DMV Placard, P.O. Box 997600 M/S D238, Sacramento, CA 95899-7600.

Submission steps and fees can change, so confirm the current process on the DMV page for disabled person parking placards and plates before you send anything. And again: if you are a disabled veteran seeking DV plates, that is a separate application (REG 256 A plus veteran disability certification), not REG 195.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fill out the medical section myself? No. The medical certification in Sections 5, 6, and 6A must be completed and signed by a licensed medical provider, such as a physician, surgeon, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, chiropractor, podiatrist, or optometrist, within the limits of what each may certify.

Is REG 195 for placards or for plates? Both. In Section 2 you choose the credential type: a permanent, temporary, or travel parking placard, DP license plates, or reassignment of existing DP plates.

Do I need a doctor's certification if I already have a permanent placard? Usually not. If you enter the number of a valid prior credential in Section 2, a new certification is not required unless it was cancelled by the DMV, is no longer on record, or four replacement permanent placards were issued during the two-year renewal period.

Does Fylune submit the form to the DMV? No. Fylune helps you prepare and review the application and download or print it. You sign it yourself in ink and submit it to the DMV through one of the official channels above. Fylune does not issue placards or file the form for you.

Sources

California DMV, Application for Disabled Person Placard or Plates, REG 195 (REV. 11/2023), official PDF (read 2026-10-31): https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/application-for-disabled-person-placard-or-plates-reg-195-pdf/
California DMV, Disabled Person Parking Placards & Plates (read 2026-10-31): https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/license-plates-decals-and-placards/disabled-person-parking-placards-plates/
Fylune REG 195 template page (read 2026-10-31): https://www.fylune.com/tools/forms/ca-reg-195

Written by Nina@Aurcue, Chief Marketing Officer at Aurcue, who edits practical form and document guides for Fylune. This article is for general information only, is not legal or medical advice, and Fylune is not affiliated with or endorsed by the California DMV.

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