How to use your Blue Badge

Who is this page for?

The information is for Blue Badge holders who need to travel and park within Cambridgeshire.

Where can I park with a Blue Badge?

Vehicles displaying a valid Blue Badge can park in:

• Resident Permit Holder Only bays for an unlimited time.
• Shared Use bays (permit holder/paid for parking) for an unlimited time.
• Pay and Display bays on the highway within Cambridge City for an unlimited time.
• On double or single yellow lines (where no loading restrictions are in place – indicated by single or double kerb markings) for up to three hours with a time clock set at arrival.
• Limited waiting bays (30 mins, one hour, etc.) for an unlimited time.
• Disabled badge holders only bays for unlimited time. View disabled bay locations in Cambridge City (opens as PDF).

Valid Blue Badge holders can park within some Cambridgeshire County Council operated on-street parking bays. A valid badge must be correctly displayed ensuring the expiry date and serial number are visible in the windscreen to prevent a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) being served. The vehicle must be correctly parked within the bay and not causing an obstruction.

Blue Badge holders are not permitted to park in a suspended bay, please check before parking the vehicle, or any bays which are reserved for other vehicles or used for a specific purpose.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Taxi ranks
• Bus stops/layovers
• Loading bays
• Electric vehicle charging bays
• Coach bays
• Car club bays
• Doctors bay
• Suspended bays
• Samaritans bays
• Motorcycle bays

Park considerately. Avoid parking where the vehicle may cause an obstruction or safety concern such as on school keep clear ways, zig zags and pedestrian crossings.

Find more information on Pay and Display bays in Cambridge.

Visit Cambridge Resident Parking schemes to find a Resident Parking bay location. Select a scheme to see which roads are included and operational hours.

If you are a valid Blue Badge holder who lives in a Cambridge resident parking scheme area you can apply for a visitor parking permit free of charge. Visit Cambridge Blue Badge holder visitor parking permits to find out more and apply.

Can I drive in bus lanes and bus gates with a Blue Badge?

In Cambridge there are several bus lane and bus gate restrictions. Blue Badge holders are not permitted to drive in bus lanes or bus gates.

Please see the Bus Lane and Bus Gate enforcement page for information regarding restrictions including location and the time of operation.

Mill Road bus gate exemption

Mill Road bridge in Cambridge is now a bus gate. The bridge is closed to all vehicles except buses, cyclists, emergency services, and taxis. Blue Badge holders, with a valid exemption permit can use the bridge bus gate.

When applying for the exemption, Blue Badge holders will need to provide relevant details such as name, address, Blue Badge number and appropriate paperwork. A maximum of two vehicles can be registered.

If you are a disabled person or resident’s carer living in the Mill Road area of Cambridge, you may be eligible to apply for exemption.

To apply, see list of permitted vehicles, and penalty charge information, please read Mill Road bus gate information, exemptions and online application.

Who can use the badge?

The badge is for your use and benefit only. It must only be displayed if you are travelling in the vehicle as a driver or passenger, or if someone is collecting you or dropping you off and needs to park at the place where you are being collected or dropped.

Don’t allow other people to use the badge to do something on your behalf, such as shopping or collecting something for you.

• You must never give the badge to friends or family to allow them to park for free, even if they are visiting you.

• You should not use the badge to allow non-disabled people to take advantage of the benefits while you sit in the car.

• It’s a criminal offence to misuse a badge. This includes people other than the badge holder taking advantage of the parking concessions provided under the scheme.

For further information visit The Blue Badge scheme, rights and responsibilities in England.

How to correctly display your Blue Badge and time clock

Display the Blue Badge on your dashboard or fascia panel so it can be clearly read through the windscreen. The front of the badge should face upwards, showing the hologram.

You must display your clock with your badge when you park on yellow lines or in a disabled space with a time limit. Set the clock to show when you arrived and put it next to your Blue Badge on the dashboard or fascia panel.

Using a Blue Badge in a private/off-street car park

It’s up to the car park’s owner to decide whether a parking exemption may be applicable for car park users who hold a valid Blue Badge. Please ensure you check the signs in the car park for details.

For off-street car parks within Cambridge City Centre including pay on exit you can find details for Blue Badge holder parking here; Cambridge City Council Free parking for Blue Badge holders.

Who can inspect a Blue Badge?

We work closely with the police and parking services. Police officers, traffic wardens, parking attendants, and civil enforcement officers have the authority to inspect the badge. They should produce an identity card with their photograph to prove their identity.

Civil Enforcement Officers may operate in plain clothes. If asked to show the badge, you must comply, or you could be fined up to £1,000. Enforcement officers can retain the badge without police presence if they have reasonable grounds, such as misuse. The badge will be sent to the Blue Badge Team for further investigation.

If you are a Cambridgeshire resident and your badge has been confiscated, please allow time for it to be received by the Blue Badge team and for an investigation to take place. The Blue Badge team will contact the badge holder once the process is complete.

If you suspect a Blue Badge is being misused, please read Report Blue Badge misuse for information on what to report and how.

International Blue Badge holders

If you are a visitor from abroad, you can use your valid disabled badge/parking card in Cambridge City. You can park in the bays outlined in the 'Where can I park with a Blue Badge?' section above on this page.

Penalty charge notice appeals

If you receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and wish to appeal, follow the instructions provided on the notice document. You will need to include a copy of your valid Blue Badge or parking card.

Getting help with Blue Badge forms

If you have any problems using our online forms, ask a family member or friend to assist you with your application. Our team can help support you too, find out how to contact the Blue Badge team.

Keep your details updated

It is very important that we have your correct details as an existing Blue Badge holder. If you have moved address, changed your name, email address, or there are changes in your health conditions please email Blue.Badges@cambridgeshire.gov.uk and provide your Blue Badge number.

Frequently asked questions

We understand there is a lot of information across our Blue Badge webpages. If you are struggling to find the answer to your question, visit our dedicated frequently asked questions webpage.