Blue Badges
A Blue Badge lets someone with a disability or health condition park closer to where they're going, as a driver or as a passenger. For many families, it makes trips to the shops, the GP or the hospital far easier.
Who gets one automatically
Someone aged 3 or over qualifies automatically if, for example, they:
- get the higher rate of the mobility part of Disability Living Allowance
- get Personal Independence Payment because they can't walk more than 50 metres
- are registered blind (severely sight impaired)
Who else can get one
Others may qualify, for example if they:
- can't walk at all, or can't walk without help from someone else or a walking aid
- find walking very difficult because of pain, breathlessness or the time it takes
- find walking dangerous to their health and safety
- have a life-limiting illness that makes walking very difficult
- are a constant significant risk to themselves or others near vehicles, in traffic or in car parks
- struggle severely to plan or follow a journey
Since 2019, people with non-visible conditions such as dementia have been able to apply in England. The local council decides who's eligible.
How to apply
Apply on GOV.UK in England, Scotland or Wales. You can apply for yourself or on behalf of someone else. You'll need:
- proof of identity and proof of address
- a recent head-and-shoulders digital photo
- their National Insurance number, if they have one
- proof of benefits, if they get any
- for non-visible conditions, details of medicines, treatments and the health professionals involved
It can take 12 weeks or longer for the council to decide. If they say no and you think they missed something, you can ask them to look again.
A Blue Badge costs up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, and is free in Wales. It usually lasts up to 3 years, so remember to reapply before it runs out.
Using it: the rules for family drivers
The badge belongs to the person, not the car. It can be used in any car they're travelling in, but only when they're in it, as driver or passenger, or when someone is dropping them off or picking them up at that spot.
- Never use it to park while doing shopping or errands for them, or lend it to family or visitors. Misuse is a criminal offence, with a fine of up to £1,000.
- Display it on the dashboard so it can be read through the windscreen, front side up showing the hologram, with the photo side out of view.
- When parking on yellow lines or where time is limited, also display the blue parking clock showing when you arrived.
Where you can park (England)
- on single or double yellow lines for up to 3 hours, but not where there's a ban on loading or unloading (shown by yellow marks on the kerb)
- free, and for as long as needed, at on-street parking meters and pay-and-display
- free in on-street disabled bays, usually with no time limit unless signs say otherwise
- not in bus lanes while they're in operation
Supermarket, hospital and other private car parks set their own rules, so don't assume parking is free. Parts of central London have their own schemes. GOV.UK can show where Blue Badge holders can park in each council area of England and Wales. The rules can differ slightly in Scotland and Wales, so check locally.