Photo: Jan van der Wolf / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
A Blue Badge belongs to the disabled person, not to a car, so in Great Britain you can display your own badge whenever you are travelling in the vehicle, whether you are a passenger or the driver, including as a learner on a lesson. A badge costs up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, and is free in Wales (as of November 2026). It usually lasts up to 3 years.
Who automatically qualifies in England
You qualify automatically if you are aged 3 or over and at least one of these applies:
- you get the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with 8 points or more in the “moving around” activity
- you get PIP with 10 points for descriptor E of “planning and following journeys”, because of overwhelming psychological distress
- you are registered blind (severely sight impaired)
- you get War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
- you got an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme lump sum in tariff levels 1 to 8 and have a permanent and substantial disability
A score of 12 in “planning and following journeys” does not qualify automatically on its own. Scotland and Wales publish their own eligibility guidance, so check the rules for where you live.
Qualifying after an assessment, including non-visible conditions
If you do not qualify automatically, your council can assess you. People with non-visible (hidden) conditions can apply. GOV.UK says you will be asked how your condition affects the journey between your vehicle and where you are going, for example:
- struggling to plan or follow a journey
- often becoming extremely anxious or fearful in public or open spaces
How to apply
- Apply on GOV.UK (“Apply for or renew a Blue Badge”). Your local council deals with the application.
- Have ready: a recent digital photo of your head and shoulders, a photo or scan of proof of identity and address, proof of any benefits, and your National Insurance number if you have one.
- Pay the fee your council charges (England up to £10, Scotland £20, Wales free).
- Reapply before it runs out. If you are refused, your council should explain why.
In Northern Ireland the scheme is run separately through nidirect: see the Northern Ireland guide.
Using a Blue Badge as a learner or new driver
| Situation | Can the badge be displayed? |
|---|---|
| You hold the badge and are driving (on a lesson or after passing) | Yes |
| You hold the badge and a parent drives you | Yes, while you are travelling in the car or being dropped off or collected |
| A parent uses your badge to shop for you while you stay home | No |
| A family member holds a badge and you drive them | Yes, while they are travelling with you |
| You borrow a relative’s badge to park for free | No: this is misuse |
Misuse is a criminal offence and could lead to a £1,000 fine and the badge being taken away. If an enforcement officer asks to see your badge, you must show it.
Parking rules to know in England
- Yellow lines: badge holders can park on single or double yellow lines for up to 3 hours, unless there is a ban on loading or unloading.
- Parking clock: set it to the quarter hour you arrived, and display it with the badge.
- Central London: the scheme does not fully apply in the City of Westminster, the City of London, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and part of Camden. These areas run their own concessions.
- Private car parks: supermarkets, hospitals and shopping centres set their own rules.
The parking rules in the Highway Code still apply: see where you must never park.
Back to the GB medical conditions and disability guide. Related: learning to drive with a disability, limb differences and wheelchair users, licence codes for adapted cars.
Sources
- GOV.UK, “Apply for or renew a Blue Badge” (gov.uk)
- Department for Transport, “Can I get a Blue Badge?” (gov.uk)
- Department for Transport, “The Blue Badge scheme: rights and responsibilities in England”, updated 9 July 2020 (gov.uk)