Councils in England have been urged to crack down on the misuse of blue badge parking permits, as new data shows that one in 15 adults now holds one. The AA has called for stronger action against offences involving fake or stolen badges, which are used by people with disabilities or health conditions to park closer to shops and services.
Department for Transport figures reveal that 3.07 million blue badges were held as of March last year, representing over 6% of England's estimated 46 million adults. The AA's president, Edmund King, warned that up to one in five badges may be used by someone other than the authorised holder, including cases of family misuse, use after death, and counterfeit or stolen badges.
The eligibility criteria were expanded in 2019 to include non-visible conditions such as Parkinson's, dementia, and epilepsy. More than two-fifths of badges issued in 2024/25 were awarded without further assessment. The north-east has the highest proportion of badge holders at 6.1%, while London has the lowest at 3.5%.
Recent prosecutions include cases in Croydon, where seven offenders were ordered to pay nearly £6,000 in fines and costs for using stolen or counterfeit badges, and in Oxfordshire, where a man was convicted for using his deceased grandmother's badge. A Local Government Association spokesperson urged the public to report suspected misuse, noting that genuine need may not always be visible.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said exploitation of the scheme is a criminal offence and that local authorities have been given improved powers to tackle fraud. The AA estimates that blue badge fraud cost £46 million per year in 2011, though no recent figures are available.
