If you're traveling from out of state be aware that California does not accept out of state Disability placards as valid! (You CAN be tickets for parking in a disabled spot even with an out of state placard!) You have to go to the CA DMV website and print and have your doctor complete the Disability form and mail it in or take it to the DMV when you arrive to receive a temporary travel placard. The placard is free, but its only good for 3 months from date of issue, and it can take them several weeks to process it so you have to time it right if you're trying to do it by mail. Its a real pain!