South Dakota Disabled License Plates

A disabled plate or parking permit in South Dakota starts with a medical standard rather than with a vehicle. The state issues both a plate and a portable permit to residents whose walking ability is limited by a physical disability, and the county treasurer handles the paperwork at the local counter. The plate stays on one vehicle, as the portable permit moves with you into a car you ride in as a passenger. Both routes begin with the same physician certification, so the medical question comes before the plate question.

This page covers the application path for a disabled plate and for the portable permit, the five medical criteria a physician must certify, and the practical difference between the two items. It covers the second permit available to a driver with more than one vehicle, the organizations that can hold permits, the disabled veteran plate and the rule that requires a permit to be returned. The county treasurer confirms anything that depends on your own record, and every requirement below comes from the state’s own guidance.

How to Apply for a Disabled Plate or Parking Permit

The county treasurer is the office that accepts a disabled plate or portable permit request, and the medical form is what starts the process. You cannot file before a licensed physician signs the certification, since the clerk cannot judge the walking standard alone. Once the form is validated, the counter work is short and most applicants finish in one visit. The steps below follow the order the county office uses.

• Start with the medical form: Form 1305 must be completed and validated by a licensed physician before the county can act on the request.
• Choose the item you need: a plate stays on one vehicle, and a portable permit moves to another vehicle when you travel as a passenger.
• File with the county treasurer: bring the validated form to the office in the county where you live, since that office holds the record.
• Bring identification: the clerk matches the name on the form to the person filing the request.
• Ask about the second permit: if you have more than one vehicle, say so at the counter so the file reflects both vehicles.
• Confirm the charge: neither the plate nor either permit type carries an extra fee, and the clerk can confirm the total for your visit.
• Keep your receipt: the paper from the county office is the record you use if the plate or permit is delayed.

What to Bring to the Counter

Bring the validated Form 1305 first, since nothing else can move until the physician section is complete. Add a photo identification that matches the name on the form, and bring the registration or title details for the vehicle if you are ordering a plate rather than a portable permit. A driver filing for someone else should bring proof of that relationship. If you already hold a permit, bring it so the clerk can see the existing record.

What the County Clerk Reviews

The clerk reads the form for the physician signature and the certified criterion, then checks that the name matches your identification. For a plate, the clerk checks the vehicle record tied to the request. The office does not re-diagnose you, so a question about the medical standard belongs with the physician. If a field is blank, the clerk returns the form and the visit ends there.

Who Qualifies

Eligibility rests on a physical disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk. That is the single idea behind every rule on this page. The state does not issue a plate for a condition that leaves walking intact, and it does not issue one for a diagnosis alone. A label such as arthritis or a heart condition is not enough by itself. The condition has to produce a walking limit that matches one of the accepted criteria, and a physician certifies that limit on the form.

The Walking Standard

The walking standard is the heart of the program. A person qualifies when a physical disability limits or impairs the ability to walk, and the physician documents that limit against a specific measure rather than in general terms. Two applicants with the same diagnosis can reach different outcomes, since the question is how the condition affects walking today. A resident who uses a wheelchair for long distances meets the standard. A resident with a stable condition that does not restrict walking may not meet it. The form records the answer the physician gives.

Why Vision Alone Does Not Qualify

Blindness or impaired vision by itself is not a valid criterion for a South Dakota disabled plate or permit. The program is built around mobility, so a vision loss has to sit alongside a walking limitation that meets one of the five criteria before the form can be certified. A resident who is blind and has a qualifying walking condition can still apply, and the physician documents the walking condition rather than the vision loss. The clerk works from the criterion that is written on the form.

The Five Medical Criteria

The physician certifies at least one of five criteria, and any single one is enough to support the request. The list is specific on purpose, since it gives the clinic a clear test. Read the five below and note which one fits your situation before your appointment. A physician who knows the wording can complete the certification in one visit.

• Walking distance: the person cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.
• Assistive device: the person cannot walk without a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistive device.
• Lung disease: forced expiratory volume in one second is less than one litre, or arterial oxygen tension is below 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
• Cardiac condition: the heart condition is classified Class III or Class IV under the American Heart Association classification.
• Arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition: the person has a severely limited ability to walk since of an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition.

One Criterion Is Enough

You do not need to meet all five criteria, and the form does not reward a longer list. A single certified criterion supports the application. The physician marks the criterion that fits, signs the form, and the county works from that entry. A driver who meets two criteria can still list both, but the extra entry does not change the outcome or the fee. The point of the list is clarity rather than volume.

When the Criteria Do Not Fit

Some conditions limit activity without matching any of the five measures. In that case the physician cannot certify the form, and the county cannot issue the plate or permit. That answer is not a judgment about how serious the condition is, since the program has a defined test. Ask your physician which criterion comes closest, and let the clinic decide whether the record supports it. A resident who does not qualify today can apply again if the condition changes and the measure is later met.

The Physician Certification

The certification is a medical statement, not a note that says you need a permit. The physician reviews your condition, applies one of the five criteria and validates the form. The clinic signs as the medical authority, and the county accepts that signature as the basis for the plate or permit. This division of work is why the treasurer cannot approve a request on a verbal account. The paper has to carry the physician’s judgment in the form the state provides, and the signature has to be current.

What the Physician Confirms

The physician confirms that a physical disability limits or impairs your ability to walk and that the limit matches a listed criterion. For the distance test, the clinic records the 200 foot limit. For the device test, the clinic records the need for a listed assistive device. For lung and heart measures, the clinic uses the numbers in the criteria. For an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition, the clinic records a severely limited ability to walk.

Filing Form 1305 With the County

Once the physician validates Form 1305, the paper goes to the county treasurer of your residence. That office is the filing point for both the plate and the portable permit, and it keeps the record after the request is approved. Bring the form in person and the clerk reviews it as you wait. A form that is complete usually produces a plate order or a permit in the same visit. Keep a copy for yourself, since the county file and your copy are the two records that matter if a question comes up later.

Plate vs Portable Permit

The plate and the portable permit carry the same medical standard and the same absence of a charge. They differ in how they travel. A plate is tied to a vehicle and stays with it. A portable permit is a separate item that you can carry into another vehicle when someone else is driving. Some residents hold both since they drive some days and ride on others. The table below sets the two side by side.

Choosing Between Them

Start with how you travel. If one vehicle carries you most days, a plate keeps the recognition on that vehicle and removes the need to hang or place a permit. If family members drive you in different cars, a portable permit follows you rather than the car. A resident who drives some days and rides on others can ask about holding both. The clerk confirms what your record supports before the order is placed.

Two Permits for Two Vehicles

An individual may request two permanent portable permits when they have more than one vehicle. The rule exists since a single permit cannot sit in two cars at once. Two permits solve that problem without a second medical review. The county treasurer handles the second permit as part of the same file. Ask for both at the first visit so the clerk can issue them together.

Asking for the Second Permit

Tell the clerk at the counter that you have more than one vehicle and want two permanent portable permits. Bring the registration details for both vehicles if you have them, and bring the first permit if it was already issued. The county file then shows two permits against one certified form. A resident who later adds a vehicle should ask the treasurer whether the file supports another request.

Organizations That Can Hold Permits

Nonprofit organizations, licensed hospitals, retirement homes, educational institutions and nursing facilities caring for disabled persons may obtain portable permits. The list is narrow on purpose. An organization qualifies since it transports disabled persons, not since it employs someone with a disability. The permit belongs to the organization and is used in the vehicles that carry those passengers. A business that offers rides to the public does not fit except when it matches a named category.

• Nonprofit organizations: a group that transports disabled persons as part of its mission can apply for a portable permit.
• Licensed hospitals: a hospital that moves patients or clients can hold a permit for the vehicles it uses.
• Retirement homes: a home that carries residents to appointments or activities fits the rule.
• Educational institutions: a school that transports disabled students can obtain a permit.
• Nursing facilities: a facility caring for disabled persons can hold a permit for its transport vehicles.

Which Organizations Qualify

The test is the care and transport of disabled persons, and the named categories describe the kinds of organizations that do that work. A nonprofit with a driving program for disabled residents fits, and so does a hospital with a patient transport van. A retirement home that runs a shuttle fits. The county treasurer confirms the paperwork for an organizational request, and the organization should show which vehicles the permit will cover. The permit is not a general parking pass for staff.

Disabled Veteran Plates

A disabled veteran plate is a separate item from the standard disabled plate, and it runs on a different requirement. The state issues it after VA verification, and the plate recognizes the connection between the veteran’s disability and service. A veteran who meets the walking standard can still apply for the standard disabled plate, and one who wants the veteran design follows the VA route. The two paths can lead to different plates, so decide which one matches the record you can document before you file.

• VA verification: the state needs confirmation from the VA before the plate is ordered.
• Annual charge: the plate carries a yearly charge, listed in the table below.
• No registration fee: the plate carries no registration fee on top of the annual charge.
• Mailing fee: a mailing charge applies when the plate is sent, and the table below lists it.
• Vehicle types: the plate is issued for passenger vehicles and motorcycles.

VA Verification

The VA confirmation is the document that separates this plate from a standard veteran plate. The county treasurer works from that verification rather than from a discharge paper alone, since the plate is tied to a service-connected disability. A veteran who has the verification in hand can bring it to the counter with the vehicle details. A veteran who does not have it should ask the VA for the record before visiting the county office.

Cost and Vehicle Types

The disabled veteran plate carries a yearly charge, no registration fee and a mailing charge when the plate is sent, all set out in the table below. Those are the only charges tied to this plate. The plate is issued for passenger vehicles and motorcycles, so a veteran with a motorcycle can use the same design on two wheels. A veteran weighing this plate against the standard disabled plate should compare the documentation each one needs.

When a Permit Must Be Surrendered

A permit must be surrendered within 30 days to the county treasurer if the holder no longer has the disability, has died, or no longer transports disabled persons. The rule keeps the permit file accurate. The 30 day window applies to the portable permit, and the county treasurer is the office that receives it. A family member handling the paperwork after a death should treat the return as part of the other vehicle records.

• The disability ends: when the holder no longer has the disability, the permit goes back to the county treasurer.
• The holder dies: a family member returns the permit within the 30 day window.
• Transport ends: an organization that no longer carries disabled persons returns its permit.
• Keep the record: ask the clerk for a receipt when you hand the permit back.

The 30 Day Window

Thirty days is short, and the window starts when the change happens rather than when you find out about it. A family dealing with a death should put the permit with the paperwork they already gather. An organization that changes its transport program should assign one person to hand the permit back and keep the receipt. A permit that sits in a drawer after the reason has ended is the case the rule prevents.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions residents bring to the county counter most often. Each answer covers the general rule, and the county treasurer confirms anything that depends on your own record. Read them with your own paperwork nearby.

Do disabled plates cost more in South Dakota?

No. There is no additional charge for disabled license plates, and there is no cost for either type of disabled parking permit. The medical visit may carry a charge from the clinic, but that is a medical bill rather than a state fee. Ask the county treasurer to confirm the total for your visit before you pay.

What form does my doctor fill out?

The form is Form 1305, and a licensed physician validates it. The physician certifies at least one of the five medical criteria and signs the paper. Bring the validated form to the county treasurer of your residence. A form with a blank field is returned, so read it before you leave the clinic.

Can I get a permit for more than one vehicle?

Yes. An individual may request two permanent portable permits when they have more than one vehicle. Ask for both at the same visit so the county file shows the full request. The second permit does not need a second medical review, since the certified form already supports it.

Does blindness qualify me for a disabled permit?

Not by itself. Blindness or impaired vision is not a valid criterion for the program. A resident who is blind and has a walking limitation that meets one of the five criteria can apply, and the physician documents the walking condition. The vision loss alone does not support a certification.

Where do I return a permit I no longer need?

Return it to the county treasurer within 30 days. That office issued the permit and keeps the record. The same rule applies when the holder has died or when an organization no longer transports disabled persons. Ask for a receipt when you hand the permit back so your file shows the return.