Overview
- Recent reminders highlight 11 prohibited locations for badge use, including red routes, loading bays, temporary restrictions, kerb markings, reserved bays, clearways, bus or cycle lanes, double white line areas, school keep clear zones, suspended meters, and pedestrian crossings.
- Concessions typically allow free parking in on-street disabled bays, at meters and pay-and-display spaces without time limits, and up to three hours on single or double yellow lines where no loading restrictions apply and it is safe.
- Renewals are processed by local councils with eligibility checked at each application, and the replacement permit has a future start date so it cannot be used before it becomes valid.
- Badges are usually valid for up to three years with fees set nationally—up to £10 in England, £20 in Scotland, and free in Wales—while Northern Ireland applications run through NI Direct.
- Official figures indicate more than 3.2 million holders across England and Scotland, with Scottish totals possibly higher due to older published data.