Blue Badge parking

The Blue Badge Scheme helps people with a disability or a health condition, which affects their ability to walk, to park closer to their destination.

A Blue Badge holder can park:

• free of charge at a parking meter or pay-and-display bays
• without a time limit at places where others are time-limited
• for up to 3 hours on single or double yellow lines (except where there is a ban on loading or unloading or other restrictions)

You can use your Blue Badge in any vehicle as long as the person who owns the badge is travelling in the vehicle.

Badge holders are not permitted to park in a way that might cause an obstruction or danger to other road users.

Who can get a Blue Badge?

You can check to see if you qualify for a Blue Badge at the GOV.UK website. 

Apply for a Blue Badge

There is a £10 charge for the Blue Badge. Each time you apply for or renew your Blue Badge, you will need to pay the £10 charge.

It can take up to 16 weeks for you to receive your Blue Badge.

If your application is for the Hidden Disability criteria, these applications are taking longer to process and our current processing times are 20 weeks.

You may be asked to do a mobility assessment. A health professional will look at your ability to carry out a range of mobility activities.

If we need any further information from you, we will contact you.

Once your application has been approved, you will receive a letter with a code and guidelines on how to make a payment online. We do not accept cash or cheques. If you apply and do not qualify, you will not need to pay the £10 charge.

Where you can use your badge

The Blue Badge is valid throughout the European Union (please check local area for parking restrictions).

With a Blue Badge, you can park:

• free of charge at a parking meter or pay-and-display bays
• without a time limit at places where others are time-limited, such as permit holder bays for up to three hours on single or double yellow lines, when the Blue Badge is accompanied by a correctly set and displayed time clock.

You cannot use your Blue Badge where a ban on loading or unloading is in force. This is indicated by either double kerb markings or single kerb markings and a corresponding time plate.

The concessions provided under the scheme do not generally apply to off-street car parks, such as those at supermarkets and hospitals, or privately owned roads.

Congestion charge discount

If you hold a valid Blue Badge and drive into London, you can register for a 100% discount on the congestion charge. There is a £10 fee for this discount. This scheme is run by Transport for London.

Renew your badge

To renew your badge you will need to make a new application.

Please apply at least 12-16 weeks before your current badge expires. It costs £10 to renew your blue badge.

Changing your vehicle

You do not need to tell us if you change your vehicle. A Blue Badge is issued to the individual, who can use it in any vehicle they are travelling in.

Report your badge lost, damaged or stolen

If your Blue Badge has been lost or stolen, you need to complete the Blue Badge replacement form.

There will be a £10 charge for all lost or damaged Blue Badges. 

If the Blue Badge holder has passed away, please return the Blue Badge to:
Independent Travel Team, 
Brent Civic Centre, 
Engineers Way, 
Wembley, 
HA9 0FJ 

We take Blue Badge fraud seriously.  All types of fraud and corruption allegations affecting the council are investigated, including those related to Independent Travel consisting of Blue Badge, Freedom Passes, Taxi-Card Service.

Please tell us if you know someone who:

• persistently and dishonestly displays a Blue Badge without the genuine holder being present
• uses a Blue Badge that has been reported lost or stolen, is counterfeit, forged or altered
• uses a Blue Badge where the holder is deceased.

If you are a Blue Badge holder and live in a Controlled Parking Zone in Brent and are eligible for a virtual Resident parking permit, you are also eligible for a virtual Resident Blue Badge free of charge. 

• View more information Resident Blue Badge Permits and how to apply