Anyone with a mobility impairment – regardless of whether or not that person is a Québec resident – may obtain a disabled parking permit if he or she travels in a vehicle as the driver or a passenger.
Parking permits may also be issued to public institutions that meet the eligibility conditions.
The permit is issued with an accompanying certificate, which the permit holder must carry at all times.
To be entitled to a disabled parking permit, a person must have a disability resulting in a loss of independence or risk to health and safety with respect to travelling short distances that do not require the use of a vehicle. For example, to get from a parking space to the entrance of a shopping centre.
You are required to submit, if applicable, an assessment showing a disability lasting at least 6 months.
Discuss the issue with a health care professional recognized by the SAAQ, who will fill out the Disabled Parking Permit Application (PDF, 360 KB) form if deemed appropriate based on your condition. You must then send us the form once it has been completed.
Persistent implies a notion of duration and continuity as opposed to temporary, without signifying permanence. Thus, the effects of impairment likely to disappear following surgery, medical treatment or rehabilitation must be taken into consideration when they lead to a handicap situation lasting at least six months.
An impairment which manifests itself episodically does not exclude the fact that it might well be seen as persistent, in that the impairment persists for as long as an end to the episodes is not foreseen. The episodic aspect of an impairment will rather affect its significant nature, depending on frequency.
Dangers to one's safety are more varied. Moving about in an environment such as a parking lot presents certain specific risks for persons with physical or mental limitations. That is why someone in a wheelchair requires a parking space wide enough to get in or out of a vehicle safely. Obstacles such as snow, ice or large puddles can make getting around with a wheelchair, walker or crutches quite hazardous.
People with certain behaviour problems may not be able to move about safely in such an environment even when accompanied. The presence of stimuli (engine noise, horns, glare from vehicle headlights) might trigger behaviour difficult for the escort to control, all the more when he or she is not in the habit of having to contend with this type of situation or more than one person at a time.
Disabled persons who do not drive can have access to public areas without needing to have a parking permit, even though they may experience some difficulty in getting around. The driver could, in fact, let the person out at a spot closer to the destination than the reserved parking spaces. Persons could, however, qualify for a permit if they cannot be left alone (behaviour problems, mental impairment, panic attacks or other).
Condition P printed on a driver's licence means that its holder must only drive vehicles equipped with hand-operated controls.
If this is your case, you must fill out the Disabled Parking Permit Application (PDF, 360 KB) form.
You must fill out the Disabled Parking Permit Application (PDF, 360 KB) form and provide us with proof that the purchase of the wheelchair was covered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).
You must have an assessment form filled out by an authorized health care professional: a special education teacher, an occupational therapist, a nurse, a physician, an optometrist, a physiotherapist or a psychologist.
Choose the professional who can best describe your disability as it relates to getting around.
It is not associated with the vehicle in which the person is travelling, regardless of who owns the vehicle.
Disabled parking permit holders who fail to comply with these conditions are liable to a fine of $200 to $300, in addition to other costs.
Fraudulent use of a disabled parking permit or the accompanying certificate is subject to a fine of $300 to $600.
Fraudulent use of a disabled parking space by someone who does not hold a disabled parking permit, or whose permit is not valid, is subject to a fine of $200 to $300.
It is important that you notify us as soon as possible.
Consult our section entitled Replacing a Disabled Parking Permit for the procedure.
You must always carry the accompanying certificate that is issued with the parking permit. The certificate is proof that you are authorized to use the permit.
The sticker, which must be placed on the licence plate of the motorcycle or scooter, is issued if you are:
If this is your case, you must fill out the Disabled Parking Permit Application – Motorcycles and Scooters (PDF, 109 KB).