Using your Blue Badge

A Blue Badge is registered to a person, not a car.

The Blue Badge is not a license to park anywhere. You can be prosecuted or given a parking ticket if you break the rules.

You should only use your Blue Badge if:

you're travelling in a vehicle as a driver or passenger
someone is collecting you or dropping you off and needs to park

A Blue Badge should not be used to park in a restricted area if the badge holder is not leaving the car.

Blue badge holders are also entitled to free bus and coach travel

Parking

You can use your Blue Badge to park in certain restricted areas for free, including:

at on-street parking meters
in pay and display bays
in disabled parking spaces
on single and double yellow lines if there are no loading restrictions

You cannot use your Blue Badge to park:

in loading/unloading bays unless nearby signs specify time limits for badge holders
where there are one or two yellow markings on the kerb (nearby signs will show the times when badge holders can or cannot park in these areas)
at parking places reserved for specific users such as residents' bays or taxi ranks
at pedestrian crossings (including zebra, pelican, toucan and puffin crossings) and areas marked with zigzag lines
at clearways (no stopping)
at a bus stop
at double or single red lines during their hours of operation
at an urban clearway within its hours of operation
at school 'keep clear' markings during the hours shown on a yellow no-stopping plate
at bus, tram or cycle lanes, cycle tracks - badge holders are not entitled to drive in bus lanes during their hours of operation
where there are double white lines in the centre of the road (even if one of the lines is broken)
at suspended meter bays or when use of the meter is not allowed
where temporary parking restrictions are in force along a length of road, for example as indicated by no-waiting cones

You might have to pay to use off-street car parks, such as:

shopping centres
hospitals
supermarkets.

These rules can change from car park to car park and are usually displayed on signs.

You must use a parking clock when there's a limit on how long you can park.

How to display the badge

You must display the badge so that someone can read it from outside the vehicle. The front of the badge should face upwards, showing the name of your local council.

Find out more about displaying your badge.

If you display the badge in the wrong way you could get a parking fine.

Using your badge in the UK and abroad

You can use your Blue Badge in most other countries.

If you're using your Blue Badge in England or Wales you will need to use a parking clock.

Tourists visiting Scotland

If you're visiting from the EU, you can use your disability parking card instead of a Blue Badge.

If you're visiting from a non-EU country, you should contact the local council of the area you're staying in. They will be able to provide you with more information.

Contact your local council

Report a lost, stolen or misused Blue Badge

Eligibility