Blue Badges are parking permits issued to people with disabilities to help them get closer to their destination. They allow the holder to park in designated disabled bays as well as often on double yellow lines or other restricted areas.

It can save the holder money in some circumstances as parking can be free in some locations. However this is not always the case so holders must check before risking it.

The permits are automatically awarded to people with certain conditions such as people with severe sight impairment. Those with other health issues may qualify if their mobility is seriously affected.

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They are administered by local authorities, which decide if you are eligible and set the price. They cost up to a maximum of £10 in England, £20 in Scotland but free in Wales.

However those who are awarded one of the Blue Badges must follow a series of strict rules. Failure to do so can leave the holder with a £1,000 fine and repeated misuse can lead to a criminal record.

One offence even includes if the holder is in the vehicle. According to the Department of Transport the badge must be used for the holder to access their destination and not given to someone else, even if they are doing a task for them.

This means someone who parks in a restricted area to allow someone else to benefit - such as they remain in the vehicle while a non-holder gets out to go somewhere - it is considered to be "misuse".

The DoT website sets out three rules on who can use the badge. It warns holders: "The badge is for your use and benefit only. It must only be displayed if you are travelling in the vehicle as a driver or passenger, or if someone is collecting you or dropping you off and needs to park at the place where you are being collected or dropped."

Regulations are set out on who can and cannot use the badge once it has been issued. It warns: "Don’t allow other people to use the badge to do something on your behalf, such as shopping or collecting something for you.

• You must never give the badge to friends or family to allow them to park for free, even if they are visiting you.


• You should not use the badge to allow non-disabled people to take advantage of the benefits while you sit in the car.


• It’s a criminal offence to misuse a badge. This includes people other than the badge holder taking advantage of the parking concessions provided under the scheme.

It adds: "You must use the Blue Badge properly. The badge and its concessions are for your use only. It is a criminal offence for you or anyone else to misuse the badge. Doing so could lead to a £1,000 fine and confiscation of the badge. Making sure that the scheme is not abused will benefit genuine badge holders, such as yourself.

"If you are using the parking concessions as a passenger, it is your responsibility to make sure that the driver is aware of all the rules set out in this guidance. You must never give the badge to friends or family to allow them to have the benefit of the parking concessions. You must never use a copied badge to park or try to change the details on a badge.

"The badge remains the property of the issuing local council. They can ask for the badge to be returned if it is being misused."