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What is the Blue Badge scheme?
The Blue Badge scheme is an initiative across the UK to help people with limited mobility to park closer to where they want to go. It is a laminated card that you put on the dashboard of your car, not an actual badge with a pin.
Blue badge holders are allowed to park:
- In disabled-only parking spaces
- On single or double yellow lines as long as there isn’t a ‘no loading’ sign. You can park here for up to three hours and should not be within 15 metres of a junction, or at a bus stop. In England and Wales, you will need a parking disc to show your time of arrival
- For free in council-operated ‘on street’ parking areas. In council-operated ‘off street’ parking areas, such as multistorey car parks, you can park in disabled spaces but still need to pay.
The blue badge can be used by either the holder or somebody who is driving them. It is issued by your local council and some have different rules about where you can park, particularly in central London and at airports.
Who qualifies?
Some people are automatically given a blue badge. These include:
- Those who receive certain benefits, including:
- The higher rate of the Mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and scored more than 8 on the ‘moving around’ part of your mobility assessment. In Scotland and Wales, you can also receive a blue badge if you score higher than 12 on the ‘planning and journeys’ part of your PIP mobility assessment
- Those who receive war and military related payments, such as:
- A War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
- You have been left with a permanent and substantial inability to walk due to your time in service and received a payment from the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme. In Wales, this also includes a permanent mental disorder from war or service
- Those who are registered blind
Others can apply for a blue badge if they feel they need one, but are not guaranteed to be accepted.
Hidden disabilities
The Government revised the eligibility criteria in 2019 to allow people with hidden disabilities, such as dementia or learning disabilities, to apply for a blue badge as well. At the time, there was concern that this would mean so many people having a blue badge that there wouldn’t be enough disabled parking spaces to accommodate. However, councils regularly review how much disabled parking is available and how many people need it.
As of August 2019, you may be eligible for a blue badge if:
- You cannot walk or have difficulty walking due to pain, a terminal illness or can only walk with mobility equipment, such as a walking frame
- Have a child under 3 who needs bulky disability equipment at all times when out, such as a wheelchair, or they need to be close to the car at all times in case of emergency medical treatment. Children aged 3 or over can have their own blue badge
- You have a condition which affects your self-awareness or ability to control your actions and behaviours when overwhelmed
- You are constantly at risk to yourself near vehicles and roads.
Organisations can also be eligible for an organisational blue badge if they regularly care for, assist or transport people who are eligible for individual blue badges. Home care agencies and care homes can often get these, while taxi companies don’t usually qualify.
How do I use a Blue Badge?
You must display your blue badge clearly in your front windscreen, or that of the person who is driving you, when parking. The details on it must be easy to read and you must place it somewhere it won’t fall off before you return to the vehicle.
If you live in England or Wales, you may also need to display your parking disc to show what time you arrived, which you can also get from the council. It is your responsibility as the badge holder to make sure it is displayed correctly, or that the person who is displaying it for you knows how to.
Police officers, parking attendants and enforcement officers have the right to inspect your badge, so you must show it to them if they ask to see it. This is to protect blue badge holders and minimise forged or misused badges.
How can I apply?
You can apply for a blue badge online. You will need to show proof of your eligibility, such as medical letters or benefits letters. If your condition is not visible, you will also be asked questions about how your condition affects you when driving or walking. You will also need your National Insurance number.
Costs:
- England: Up to £10
- Scotland: Up to £20
- Wales: Free
- Northern Ireland: £10
To apply for a blue badge in England, Scotland or Wales, click here.
To apply for a blue badge in Northern Ireland, click here.
When does a Blue Badge expire and how do I renew it?
Most blue badges last 3 years before you need to renew them. The expiry date will be clearly displayed on the badge itself. It is a criminal offence to use an expired badge, so you should apply for a new one in good time before the old one expires. You will need the details from your old badge when applying for a renewal.
To renew your blue badge in England, Wales or Scotland, click here.
To renew your blue badge in Northern Ireland, click here.
If your badge becomes damaged and no longer completely legible, you must contact your local council for a replacement.
You must return expired or damaged badges to the council. If you lost your badge, got a replacement then found the original, you must return the original badge.
You should also contact your local authority if you move house and are now under a different council. You will need to get a new badge from the new council and return the old one.
Can I lend my Blue Badge to somebody else?
It is considered a criminal offence to let somebody else use your blue badge if they are not driving you. Even if they are your usual driver, if they are not driving or collecting you, they do not have the right to park in disabled spaces, on yellow lines or for free.
Misusing your blue badge could lead to a fine of up to £1000 and you may have it confiscated by the council. It is the responsibility of the blue badge holder to make sure their badge is not misused.