A person with a disability (PwD) has a guaranteed right to reserved spaces on public streets with a permit — but whether they are also exempt from paying the rotational parking fee depends on each municipality's law. In other words: the right to a reserved space is national; the fee exemption is not necessarily. That's why you need to separate the two things.
What is guaranteed nationwide: the reserved space
The Brazilian Traffic Code and accessibility legislation ensure reserved spaces for people with disabilities in public parking areas. To use them, the driver needs the PwD parking permit, issued by the municipal traffic authority, which must be displayed visibly in the vehicle. This right applies regardless of the city — what changes is the procedure for issuing the permit.
What varies: paying the fee or not
The exemption from paying the rotational fee is each municipality's decision, set in local law or decree. There are three common scenarios:
- Full exemption: the permit holder doesn't pay the fee in reserved spaces (and sometimes also in regular ones).
- Partial exemption or with its own rules: pays at a discount, or is exempt only in marked spaces.
- No fee exemption: has the right to a reserved space, but must activate/pay the rotational fee normally.
That's why there is no national rule saying "PwD don't pay." The right to a space is national; the fee waiver follows the city's law.
How to get and use the permit
- Request the PwD permit from your municipality's traffic authority, with the required medical documentation.
- Keep the card valid and displayed on the dashboard when parking in the reserved space.
- The permit is personal and tied to the beneficiary, not to the vehicle — use it only when that person is being transported.
Even with a reserved space, confirm the fee
In cities served by Areatec, the Digipare app shows the local rules and, where the city requires payment even from the permit holder, allows you to activate the space. If your city grants an exemption, registering the permit with the operator is usually enough. The practical advice is: never assume you're exempt — confirm in the municipal law or with city hall.
Quick summary
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Right to a reserved space | National (CTB / accessibility), with permit |
| PwD permit | Issued by the municipality, displayed in the vehicle |
| Exemption from the rotational fee | Varies by municipality — check the local law |
| Not paying where it's required | Subject to regularization and the CTB Art. 181, XVII fine |
Have a disability and going to park outside your city? Check the destination municipality's PwD rules beforehand — you'll have the right to a space; the fee exemption only if their law provides for it.