Blue Badge

Overview

The Blue Badge is a UK-wide parking concession administered by local councils under a national framework set by the Department for Transport, the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It gives the holder the right to park close to their destination under specific on-street parking rules, including free use of disabled parking bays, time-limited parking on yellow lines in many council areas, and exemption from certain time-limits on pay-and-display parking. The badge is issued to an individual, not a vehicle, and can be used in any car the holder is travelling in, as a driver or passenger. Automatic eligibility exists for people who receive certain disability benefits — most commonly Personal Independence Payment with high scores on the mobility activities, the higher-rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance or Child Disability Payment, the enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment, War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement, or certain Armed Forces Compensation Scheme tariffs — or for people registered as severely sight impaired. A discretionary route exists for those whose mobility is substantially affected but who do not qualify automatically, and since 2019 hidden-disability journeys (including certain cognitive impairments and mental health conditions) can be considered on discretionary grounds. Fees vary — up to £10 in England, up to £20 in Scotland, and free in Wales and Northern Ireland — and badges are valid for up to three years before reapplication. Applications and decisions are handled by the relevant local authority, which holds the final say on eligibility.

Applies in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. Administered by Council. This page is general information; contact Council for your individual circumstances.

Rates

Eligibility criteria include

• DISABILITY
  Automatically eligible if receiving PIP with 8 or more points in the 'moving around' mobility activity, or if PIP 'planning and following journeys' descriptor E, F, H, I, J is scored. ^[GOV.UK]
• DISABILITY
  Automatically eligible if receiving the higher-rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Child Disability Payment (Scotland) mobility component at higher rate, or the enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment (Scotland). ^[GOV.UK]
• DISABILITY
  Automatically eligible if registered blind (severely sight impaired). ^[GOV.UK]
• DISABILITY
  Automatically eligible if receiving a War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme tariffs 1-8 with a permanent and substantial walking disability. ^[GOV.UK]
• DISABILITY
  May be eligible on discretionary grounds if a permanent and substantial disability causes inability to walk, or very considerable difficulty walking, assessed by the local council. ^[GOV.UK]
• DISABILITY
  Hidden-disability extension (from 2019): people with non-visible disabilities, including cognitive impairments and certain mental health conditions, can be considered for a Blue Badge on discretionary grounds if journeys cause very considerable psychological distress or risk of serious harm. ^[GOV.UK]
• AGE
  Can be issued to children under 3 in specific medical circumstances requiring bulky medical equipment or quick access to a vehicle for emergency treatment. ^[GOV.UK]
• RESIDENCE
  Must be a resident in the council area where the application is made. Applies across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland but each administration runs its own scheme. ^[GOV.UK]

Sources