Using your Blue Badge

How do I display my Blue Badge permit?

When you receive a Blue Badge, it should come with supporting documentation explaining how to use it. This document is also available for download on the gov.uk website.

Display your Blue Badge clearly on the car’s dashboard. Make sure the side showing the hologram is visible, and the side with the photograph is facing down.

In some council districts, you’ll be required to display a parking clock (a cardboard dial you’ll receive with your Blue Badge, if applicable in your region). This is used to indicate your time of arrival when you leave your car on yellow lines or anywhere that time restrictions apply.

Where can I park with a Blue Badge?

Single and double yellow lines: you can park on yellow lines for up to three hours, although it’s worth noting that you can’t park on the yellow lines in off-street car parks.

On-street paid bays: you can park free of charge, and for as long as you need to, in areas where on-street parking meters or pay-and-display rules apply.

On-street disabled bays: similar to regular on-street bays, you can park here free or charge. These spaces will be demarcated by a disabled parking sign. In some areas, there may be time restrictions, in which case you need to display the blue parking clock to show your arrival time.

Do these disabled parking rules apply nationwide?

There are several places in England where different disabled-parking rules may apply, for example:

• some supermarkets, hospitals, local authority car parks, airports and towns with alternative local disabled-parking schemes
• London borough red routes, with single or double red lines
• private roads, where you need to get permission from the owner.

If you’re concerned, contact the local authority (or the relevant organisation or individual) before you travel to make sure you’re adhering to the rules in the area you intend to park in.

You can also visit the gov.uk Blue Badge Scheme: rights and responsibilities page for more information.

How do I find disabled parking spaces?

There are various online tools you can use to find disabled parking spaces. For example, BlueBadgeParking.com is a user-driven online map that allows you to search by postcode to find disabled spaces in any area. You can also contribute by adding any that aren’t already listed.

How do I change the details on my Blue Badge?

You can use the gov.uk Blue Badge change of details form to update information (for example, name or home address). There will be a £10 fee, and the Blue Badge holder is allowed to continue using the existing badge until they receive the new one.

What do I do if I lose my Blue Badge?

The first thing to do is inform your local council to apply for a replacement. You can use gov.uk’s lost badge form.

What do I do if my Blue Badge is stolen?

Contact the police immediately to report the incident. You can call 101 or contact your local neighbourhood policing team. You’ll need to get a crime reference number before you contact your local council, and once you have that you can use it to fill in the lost badge form to apply for a replacement.