The Blue Badge parking scheme – meant to help people with disabilities get around – is being pushed to the limit, and it’s not just because more people are applying. Misuse and even outright fraud are skyrocketing, leaving many genuine badge holders with nowhere to park.
New figures show the number of people applying for Blue Badges has exploded – with nearly 3.3 million people now holding one across the UK. But here's the problem: there are only around 63,000 dedicated disabled parking spaces to go around. That’s basically one space for every 52 badge holders. No wonder it's such a nightmare to find a spot.
This surge in demand started back in 2019 when the government made the scheme more inclusive, extending it to people with "hidden" disabilities like mental health conditions, dementia, and Crohn's disease. It was called the biggest shake-up to the scheme since the 1970s – but it came with a massive spike in applications.
Between 2022 and 2024, applications jumped by 31%. In that time, over 1.3 million new applications were made, on top of 1.5 million renewals. But only 9% of all applications were rejected, often for things like missing documents, sending the form to the wrong local council, or failing to meet the criteria.
As if the lack of parking spaces wasn’t bad enough, a huge number of people are abusing the system. Misuse of Blue Badges has shot up by more than 1,000% since 2016, with more than 3,500 cases reported in 2023 alone.
Some people are committing full-on fraud – like stealing badges, faking documents, selling counterfeits online, or using a permit that belonged to someone who’s died. But the most common misuse is actually more casual: someone "borrowing Granny’s badge" for free or closer parking, thinking it’s harmless. Spoiler: it’s not.
Between 2022 and 2024, UK councils handed out over 705,000 fines for people misusing disabled bays. And in a survey of 2,000 drivers, over a third of Blue Badge holders said they’ve turned up somewhere and found non-badge holders parked in disabled bays. Many say there just aren’t enough accessible spaces where they live.
And it's not just annoying — it can actually be dangerous. Some disabled drivers have had to give up and park in normal bays (which often don’t allow room for a wheelchair), or drive elsewhere altogether.
Misusing a Blue Badge isn’t a harmless shortcut — it’s a criminal offence. You could get fined up to £1,000, have your badge taken away, and even face court if you lied to get one.
In London alone, Blue Badge thefts have increased by 400% since 2014. The British Parking Association (BPA) says this kind of behaviour completely undermines the scheme, and it's calling for councils to be given more power to crack down on it.
“The statistics around the level of Blue Badge misuse and fraud are shocking," said Alison Tooze, a policy officer at the BPA.
"We cannot continue to ignore this issue, especially when the victims are some of the most vulnerable in our society.
"Badge holders rely on accessible parking to carry out their day-to-day activities and for many it is a vital part of living an independent life.
"Perpetrators of blue badge misuse and fraud deprive genuine badge holders of this right to freedom, whilst costing ordinary taxpayers millions every year. This must stop.'
So What’s Being Done?
The Department for Transport says it’s working with local councils and the police to tackle the problem. It’s also backed stronger powers for councils to deal with fraud and misuse.
And to help genuine Blue Badge holders find available parking more easily, Confused.com has launched a parking space finder tool designed specifically for permit users.
Still, with demand rising fast and enforcement struggling to keep up, it’s clear the system needs a serious overhaul. Until then, the message is simple: if it’s not your badge, don’t use it.
