Overview
- Holders must reapply around 12 weeks before expiry because renewals are not automatic, and councils reassess eligibility each time.
- Displaying an expired badge is treated as misuse that can lead to prosecution or fines up to £1,000; keep the old badge until the new one’s start date and allow extra time over bank holidays.
- Common concessions include free parking in on-street disabled bays and at meters or pay-and-display spaces, plus up to three hours on single or double yellow lines where no loading restrictions apply and it is safe.
- Prohibited locations include red routes during operating hours, loading bays without explicit allowance, bus, tram or cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings and zigzags, school keep-clear zones during hours, clearways, suspended bays, temporary restrictions, double white line sections, residents or taxi spaces, and kerbside loading markings.
- Badges are typically valid for three years and cost up to £10 in England, £20 in Scotland and are free in Wales, with applications via GOV.UK in Great Britain and NI Direct in Northern Ireland, and some off-street car parks may still charge.