How to use a Blue Badge

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A Blue Badge is not a licence to park anywhere. If you park where it would cause an obstruction or danger to other road users, you could be fined or have your vehicle removed. In many locations, parking is prohibited under any circumstances. You should always check about local arrangements.

How to display your badge

When you use a Blue Badge you must always display the badge on the dashboard or fascia panel so that all the relevant details are visible through the windscreen. The side showing the photograph should not be visible. You may receive a parking fine if you don’t display your blue badge correctly.

Parking benefits

In general, the scheme allows these parking benefits as long as you display your valid disabled parking badge:

Off-street car parks

Off-street car park operators should provide parking spaces for disabled people. However, it is up to the car park owner to decide whether badge holders can park without charge. Do not assume you can always park for free.

On-street parking

Blue badge holders can park free and without a time limit at parking meters or where there is 'pay and display' on-street parking. That is, unless a local traffic order specifies a time limit for blue badge holders. You should check local information, as restrictions can vary between locations.

Blue badge holders may be exempt from limits on parking times imposed on other motorists. As always, check local information before parking.

Single or double yellow lines

Usually, Blue Badge holders may park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours in England and Wales, or without limit in Scotland. The exception is where there is a ban on loading or unloading, and at certain locations where local schemes apply such as Central London.

Do not park where it would endanger, inconvenience, or obstruct pedestrians or other road users.

The misuse of Blue Badges

Blue Badges can be misused in several ways. These lists give examples of offenses.

A Blue Badge holder must not:

use an out of date Blue Badge
use a Blue Badge reported lost or stolen
let a friend or relative use the Blue Badge
use a copied Blue Badge
alter a Blue Badge’s details such as the expiry date
make a fraudulent application such as providing false information on the application form
make multiple applications
use a fraudulently obtained blue badge

Someone else must not:

use someone else's Blue Badge if the badge holder is not in the vehicle for the trip's entire duration, under any circumstances
use a Blue Badge specifically to pick up someone's prescription or shopping, for example, unless the badge holder is in the vehicle for the trip's entire duration
use a Blue Badge belonging to someone who has died
copy, alter or make Blue Badges
use a lost or stolen Blue Badge