The Blue Badge scheme helps you park closer to your destination if you’re disabled, providing you with a guaranteed space.

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Primarily, those with a condition that affects their walking ability are prioritised for blue badges.

But if you have a hidden illness, such as dementia, autism or Parkinson’s, then you may also be able to get a Blue Badge to help you with parking.

A Blue Badge holder travelling either as a driver or passenger can park for free in disabled parking bays and may even be exempt from other parking restrictions.

Many people who have a Blue Badge, however, are unaware that it can also be used with any car that you are travelling in – including taxis – at any time of the day.

You can check your eligibility and apply for a Blue Badge online if you live in England, Scotland or Wales through the Gov.uk website.

A Blue Badge costs up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, whereas it’s free in Wales.

The permits usually last up to three years.

However, different application rules apply for England, Scotland, and Wales.

Below is a full list of everyone who can automatically qualify for a blue badge parking permit.

You will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge in England if you:

• have a disability which means you are not able to walk
• have a disability and have a great difficulty walking from your
  car to where you want to go
• have a disability which means that you are likely to come to
  harm when you are walking
• have a disability and you are likely to harm someone when you
• are registered blind, or are getting certain benefits
• if you get the Higher Rate of Mobility Component in your Disability Living Allowance
• if you get some categories of PIP
• if you became disabled while you were serving in the armed forces
• if a child is over 2 years old and has a great difficulty in walking
• if you drive a vehicle and have a disability in both of your arms
• if you have a disabled child under 3 years old

You will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge in Scotland if you:

• are under 16 and have a letter confirming your eligibility from your visual impairment care team
• are 16 or over and registered or certified as severely sight impaired
• get the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and scored 8 points or more in the ‘moving around’ area of your assessment
• get PIP and scored 12 points in the ‘planning and following a journey’ area of your assessment
• get PIP and used to get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA on an indefinite or lifetime basis
• get PIP, used to get the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA, and your PIP decision is being appealed
• get Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and have been awarded either 8 points or more in the Moving Around activity or 12 points in the Planning and Following a Journey activity or enhanced rate mobility without reference to points
• get the higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment
• get War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• got a lump sum payment from tariffs 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability

You will automatically qualify for a Blue Badge in Wales if you receive the following disability benefits or have sight impairment:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at the following levels: 12 points for Planning and Following a Journey, 8 points or more for moving around
• Higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMCDLA)
• Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Tariff 1 to 8 (inclusive) and includes Permanent Mental Disorder under Tariff 6
• War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
• “Registered blind” or have a “severe sight impairment”

Who else could qualify for a Blue Badge?

• If you are not automatically eligible, you may be able to get a Blue Badge in certain circumstances. For example, if you:
• have a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months that means you cannot walk at all
• have a substantial disability lasting at least 12 months that means you’re virtually unable to walk
• regularly drive and cannot use parking meters because of a severe disability in both arms
• are responsible for a child under 3-years-old who needs to be kept close to a vehicle for medical treatment
• are responsible for a child under 3-years-old who uses bulky medical equipment that cannot be carried around
• have a mental health condition that means you lack awareness about the danger of traffic when making journeys

Having a blue badge parking permit doesn’t let you park anywhere, however, and there are still some restrictions.

Find out where you can park with a blue badge parking permit here.

And you can find out how to apply and what the restrictions are on blue badges here.