Blue Badges and car parking

Overview

The Blue Badge scheme is for drivers or passengers with severe mobility problems. The scheme provides a range of on-street parking concessions enabling Blue Badge holders to park closer to where they need to go. The scheme does not apply to off-street car parking, for example in privately operated car parks at supermarkets.

The scheme operates throughout the UK and is managed by councils who deal with applications and issue badges. You are expected to apply online here  Apply for or renew a Blue Badge – mygov.scot but you should ask your council for help or call us on 0300 323 9961

The council can charge you up to £20 for a blue badge.

Eligibility

Automatic eligibility

You are automatically eligible for a blue badge if you are over two years old and meet one of the following criteria:

you are blind or registered blind

you receive the war pensioners’ mobility supplement

you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

you receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and received at least 8 points in the ‘moving around’ activity in the PIP assessment

you receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment and received at least 12 points in the ‘planning and following journeys’ in the PIP assessment and 8 points or more in the mobility assessment

If you get Adult Disability Payment, you must have either:

• 8 points or more in the moving around activity
• 12 points in the planning and following a journey activity
• enhanced rate mobility awarded under special rules for terminal illness

you have been awarded a lump sum benefit from the Armed Forces Compensation scheme. You have also been certified as having a permanent or substantial disability which means you can’t walk or find walking difficult.

If you are applying under any of the disability benefit criteria you will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge, if you provide evidence of your current benefit award, proof of your identity and evidence of where you live. 

Other Eligibility Criteria

If none of the automatic eligible criteria apply to you, you may still qualify if you are more than two years old and you meet one of the following:

• you have a permanent or substantial disability which means you can’t walk or are virtually unable to walk
• you are unable to walk or virtually unable to walk because of a temporary but substantial disability which is likely to last for a period of at least 12 months but less than 3 years
• you have severe upper limb disabilities
• you are applying on behalf of a child under three with a medical condition that requires them to be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment or transporting bulky medical equipment.

If you may qualify under these criteria, your council will look at the evidence you have and assess whether you qualify. You may have a mobility assessment, usually carried out by an occupational therapist or a physiotherapist.

Mental Health Conditions

People who pose a risk to themselves or others in traffic because of a mental condition may be eligible for a Blue Badge.

If you want to apply for a Blue Badge on behalf of someone with a mental health  condition they must:

• have a diagnosed mental disorder (a legal term we have to use that means a mental illness, a personality disorder or a learning disability)
• lack awareness of danger from traffic, meaning something is likely to risk the applicant’s safety or the safety of other people during journeys

You will need to show that other strategies to control the risk do not work.

If you want to apply for a Blue Badge under the mental health criteria there is a different application process. Contact your local council about this. 

Applying for or renewing a Blue Badge

Applying for a Blue Badge

You can apply for a Blue Badge here Apply for or renew a Blue Badge – mygov.scot. If you are not able to use the online form contact your local council or call us on 0300 323 9961 for advice.

You will need evidence of your identity which may include: 

• National Insurance number 
• Driving License number
• a passport photo
• details of your current badge, if you have one.

Your council will get in touch if they need any more information, if they decide that you need a mobility assessment and to let you know whether your application has been successful.

Renewing your Blue Badge

The badge lasts for between 12 months and three years. You should re-apply a few weeks before it runs out. You will be sent a letter, text or email to remind you to reapply. If you use the badge after it has expired you may be fined. 

If your application is unsuccessful

If your council decides you are not eligible, they should tell you why. You can ask them to reconsider your case if you don’t think the information you provided was taken into account. You can re-apply if your mobility problems become more serious.

Parking concessions

When you park using the concessions your badge gives you, you must display the badge at the front of the car where it can be clearly read through the windscreen. If you do not display the badge correctly you may be fined. 

The badge and its concessions are for the badge holder’s use only. It is a criminal offence to misuse the badge. 

Blue badge holders can park on single or double yellow lines for as long as they need to, unless there is a ban on loading and unloading. Badge holders can also park at parking meters on the street and, at council pay and display machines and disabled parking bays for free as long as they want to. 

You can still get a parking ticket if  you park where there is a ban on loading and unloading during the prohibited times, or in other restricted areas such as a local permit holder bay and you don’t have a permit, Always check signs to see what the rules are when parking.

If you do receive a parking ticket you can appeal. 

Regional parking variations

Parking abroad

Acceptance of the Blue Badge varies, so check national and local rules before your travel. 

There is information about using your badge in the European Union and European Economic Area here Using a Blue Badge in the European Union and European Economic Area – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Further information and resources

Blue Badge Initial Enquiry Support Service

Telephone (Scotland): 0344 100 1001

Blue Badge Scotland

Transport Scotland / Blue Badge Improvement Service