Who Can Use the Blue Badge?

The badge is for your use and benefit only. It must only be displayed if you are travelling in the vehicle as a driver or passenger, or if someone is collecting you or dropping you off and needs to park at the place where you are being collected or dropped.

Do not allow other people to use the badge to do something on your behalf, such as shopping or collecting something for you, unless you are travelling with them.

Important Rules:

• You must never give the badge to friends or family to allow them to park for free, even if they are visiting you.
• You should not use the badge to allow non-disabled people to take advantage of the benefits while you sit in the car. Although it is not illegal for a badge holder, or a non-disabled person waiting for the badge holder to return, to remain in the vehicle while the Blue Badge is displayed, consideration should be given to using a car park whenever possible.
• It is a criminal offence to misuse a badge. This includes people other than the badge holder taking advantage of the parking concessions provided under the scheme.

How to Display the Blue Badge

When using the parking concessions you must display the badge on the dashboard or facia panel, where it can be clearly read through the front windscreen. If there is no dashboard or facia panel in your vehicle, you must still display the badge in a place where it can be clearly read from outside the vehicle.

Display Requirements:

• The front of the badge should face upwards, showing the wheelchair symbol
• The side showing the photograph should not be visible through the windscreen
• You must ensure that the details on the front of the badge remain legible
• If they become unreadable through fading or wear and tear, you must return the badge to your local authority so they can issue you with a new one

Blind badge holders: You need to ensure that people displaying the badge or clock on your behalf understand how to display them correctly.

Power to Inspect the Blue Badge

Police officers, traffic wardens, parking attendants and civil enforcement officers have the power to inspect the badge.

These people should produce an identity card with their photograph on it to prove they are who they say they are. If any of these people ask to see the badge, you must show it to them.

Reapplying for a Blue Badge

You should reapply for a new badge from your local authority some weeks before it runs out. You can reapply for a badge online at www.gov.uk.

The Blue Badge Improvement Service will send you a letter to remind you. If you provide your mobile telephone number or an email address when you apply, reminders can be sent to your email or mobile phone.

Returning the Badge

You must return the badge securely to your local authority if:

• The badge has expired
• Your medical condition or mobility improves and you are no longer eligible
• A replacement badge has been issued for one that is lost or stolen and the original is found/recovered (then the original badge must be returned)
• The badge becomes damaged or faded and is illegible
• The badge is no longer required, for example should you be confined to the house

Please note: The badge should be returned to the issuing authority on the death of the badge holder. If you continue to display the badge when you no longer need it, you may be committing an offence.

More Information

Check out these links for more information about Blue Badges:

• Using your Blue Badge
• Applying or Renewing your Blue Badge