Blue Badge Scheme and Parking

A Blue Badge, or Disabled Person's Parking Badge, will help you to park closer to your destination, either as the driver or passenger if you're disabled with a severe mobility problem, or non-visible (hidden) condition or disability causing you to severely struggle with journeys.

About the Blue Badge

Receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with:
- 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component
- 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the ‘planning and following journeys’ activity (due to overwhelming psychological distress)
Are registered blind (severely sight impaired)
Receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
Have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have a certified permanent and substantial disability affecting walking

Cannot walk at all
Cannot walk without help or mobility aids
Find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness, or time
Walking is dangerous to your health and safety and/or others
Have a life-limiting illness and an SR1 form (i.e. have a progressive disease and consequently you would not be surprised if they were to live for less than 12 months)
Have a severe disability in both arms, drive regularly, and cannot use pay-and-display machines
Have a child under 3 who:
- Needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment or
- Must be kept near a vehicle for emergency medical treatment
Are a constant significant risk to yourself or others near vehicles or in traffic
Struggle severely to plan or follow a journey
Find it difficult or impossible to control your actions and lack awareness of their impact
Regularly have intense and overwhelming responses causing temporary loss of behavioural control
Frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public/open spaces

You can apply for yourself, someone else or an organisation.

The Blue Badge is issued to a person, not a vehicle. The badge holder must be in the vehicle when it is being used unless they are being picked up or dropped off.

For more information about applying for or renewing a Blue Badge, reporting a lost or stolen Blue Badge, or reporting misuse of a Blue Badge, please visit the Blue Badge scheme pages on Lincolnshire County Council’s website.

Using the Blue Badge

As a Blue Badge holder there are several places you can park for free while displaying your badge (where there are no restrictions in place):

yellow or double yellow lines (for up to 3 hours)
on-street parking meters and pay-and-display machines
on-street disabled parking bays (you may park for free, unless signs say otherwise, you may park without time limit)

You must display your Blue Badge parking clock alongside your blue badge in your vehicle when you are in time limited areas or parked on yellow lines.

Some roads and car parks have additional restrictions and/or charges; you should check with operators, owners, or signage when parking:

in an off-street car park (such as a supermarket, hospital, or local authority car park)
in locations outside of Lincolnshire (specifically areas of London)
in town centres where local schemes are in operation
in on-street parking where all motorists park for free but only for a limited time
on road systems at airports
on private roads
on Red Routes or roads with single or double red lines

There are places you must not park and you must obey the rules of the Highway Code.

More information about your rights and responsibilities when using a Blue Badge is available on the gov.uk website.

Parking Permits

Parking permits for car parks are administered by District Councils and can reduce the cost of parking. You should ensure you have the correct permit for the car park you are using.

Residential permits are available from some district councils. There are reduced rates for Blue Badge holders in some cases. Visit your District Council website for details.

Using a Blue Badge outside of Lincolnshire

In the UK

Other local authority areas, specifically London boroughs, and those outside of England have different rules for Blue Badge parking. For more information about disabled parking in London you can visit the Transport for London website.

When travelling within the UK, the concessions may not always be the same. You should check with the relevant local authority in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

For more information on where you can park with a Blue Badge in the UK, visit the gov.uk website.

In Europe

You can use your UK Blue Badge when travelling in some countries in Europe.

You must check before visiting a European country outside of the UK as to whether your Blue Badge is recognised.

To find out more please visit the Using a Blue Badge in Europe page on the gov.uk website.

Blue Badge Discounts

Vehicle tax exemption

If you are a Blue Badge holder you may be eligible for exemption from vehicle tax (sometimes referred to as 'road tax'). People who do not hold a blue badge may also qualify for vehicle tax exemption. To qualify you must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WPMS)

You can only be exempt from vehicle tax for one vehicle at any one time. The vehicle must be registered in your name or someone authorised to act on your behalf.

For more information about vehicle tax if you have a disability, visit the gov.uk website.

Vehicle tax reduction

You can get a 50% reduction in vehicle tax if you get the PIP standard rate mobility component.

More information about how to make a claim for vehicle tax reduction is on the gov.uk website.

Toll Concessions

You may not have to pay the full fare at some bridges, tunnels, and river crossings if you hold a blue badge. In most cases, you have to apply in advance to get a concession.

More information about which tolls you may be exempt from are on the gov.uk website.

Getting a disabled residential parking space or parking permit

Not all district councils operate residential permits. There are reduced rates for Blue badge holders in some cases. For further information visit your District Council website.

Parking

Car parks are available across Lincolnshire, including council owned car parks and private car parks. Please ensure you check the signs in the car park regarding charges and time limits before leaving your parked vehicle.

Information on council owned car parks are available on each local authority website:

Parkopedia allows users to book a car space, find parking charges and opening hours on a map across the UK.

Park and Ride

For information on Lincoln Park & Ride, please see the public and community transport page.

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