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Applying for an EU parking card for people with disabilities

Do you have a disability? Would you like access to parking spaces that make parking easier and are close to shops or your office? Then you can apply for a European Union (EU) parking card for people with disabilities. You can apply if you have had a disability for at least 6 months and with the help of crutches or a walking frame cannot walk more than 100 metres on your own.

You must be able to prove that you are entitled to an EU parking card for people with disabilities. This requires a medical examination by a medical examiner. The municipality will arrange this for you. To qualify for an EU parking card for people with disabilities you should not able to walk more than 100 metres on your own, even with aids such as crutches or a walking frame. Is your disability chronic? Is your municipality is already aware of your disability? Then a medical examination is not required.

There are 2 types of EU parking cards for people with disabilities: 

Driver’s card

  • You can drive yourself with a driver's card. These are the conditions for a driver's card:
  • you have a driving licence; 
  • the driver's card is registered to you as a person, so you do not need to have your own vehicle;
  • you cannot walk more than 100 metres, even with disability aids. 

Passenger’s card 

These are the conditions for a passenger card: 

  • you cannot drive yourself; 
  • you cannot walk more than 100 metres, even with disability aids; 
  • you always need your driver to help you from door to door; 
  • the passenger's card is only for your personal use.

Children under the age of 18 may also be eligible for their own passenger's card. They must meet the same conditions. 

A combined driver’s and passenger’s card is also available.

Do you have a disabled person's parking card from another country in the EU? In that case, this card is also valid in the Netherlands. Do you want to renew your disabled parking card? If so, you can apply for a new disabled parking card in the Netherlands. The Dutch conditions will then apply.

Your EU parking card for people with disabilities is valid for a maximum of 5 years. If doctors expect you to recover from your disability within 5 years, your card’s validity period may be shorter. You can apply to renew your EU parking card for people with disabilities through your municipality. Do so in enough time before the expiry date, as your municipality will need time to assess your application.

If you are not registered with a municipality, you will need to apply for an EU parking card for people with disabilities at the Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen – CBR (central office for driving licences).

This is how it works for you

Your (future) place of residence falls under:
Informatie:

Here is some information from your municipality.

EU parking card for people with disabilities

Are you unable to walk more than a hundred meters independently due to physical limitations? Then you can apply for a disabled parking card (GPK) at the municipality. This is valid for a maximum of five years.

Types of disabled parking card
There are three types of disabled parking cards

  • Driver card
    You can apply for this card if you have a disability and drive your own car. The parking card is personal. That means that only you can use the card. You can use the card in any vehicle.
  • Passenger card
    You can apply for this card if you need someone else to drive the car due to your disability and if you are constantly dependent on the driver's assistance for transport from door to door. A passenger card is personal. That means that only you can use the card. You can use the card in any vehicle.
  • Institution card
    This card is intended for institutions that transport residents. In this way, institutions can transport several people. The institution then does not have to apply for a separate card for each resident.

Do you meet the conditions?

For a driver card:

  • You have a demonstrable and long-term walking disability: you cannot walk more than 100 meters in a row, if necessary with an aid such as a walking stick or
  • You are permanently wheelchair bound or
  • You have another serious disability
  • You must have a driver's license

For a passenger card:

  • You are a passenger, not a driver
  • You have a demonstrable and long-term walking disability and you are constantly dependent on the help of the driver (see for futher  explanation)
  • You are permanently wheelchair bound or
  • You have another serious disability

When is the passenger continuously dependent on the driver?

  • The passenger cannot be left alone.
    Example: the passenger cannot wait on the walker until the driver has parked the car. Or the passenger will wander if left alone.
  • The passenger cannot independently bridge the distance from the front door to the car when the car has stopped at the nearest place.
  • Due to arthrodesis (surgical fixation of a joint) you need help getting in and out.

If you have applied for a disabled parking card for the first time, external advice will always be sought. This medical adviser, appointed by the municipality, advises the municipality. The council always accepts this advice. With an extension of the GPK, the medical examination can usually be omitted if you still meet the applicable criteria.

You can easily apply using an online form. You need DigiD for this

The costs for the first application, including the medical examination, are € 143,74. When extending your disabled parking card, you also pay € 143,74. You also have to pay this amount if you have to request a new card in the meantime because you have lost your card.

Questions about this topic?

Contact the Municipality of Heerenveen

Visiting address

Crackstraat 2

8441ES Heerenveen

Opening hours
Monday
08:30-16:00
Tuesday
08:30-16:00
Wednesday
08:30-16:00
Thursday
08:30-16:00
Friday
08:30-16:00
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Last updated on 26 September 2022