LifestyleMotoringDisabilityThe Department for Transport said this is the most common forms of Blue Badge misuse13:08, 02 Jun 2026Blue Badge holders in England could face a £1,000 fine and risk having their parking permit withdrawn if they permit friends or relatives to misuse it, according to official government guidance. The Department for Transport (DfT) highlighted that one of the most frequent types of Blue Badge abuse involves family members or friends using a disabled person's permit when the badge holder isn't part of the journey.‌Guidance on GOV.UK states that using another person's badge without the holder being present in the vehicle at some stage during the trip constitutes misuse. It also cautions against lending a badge to a friend or relative, using an out-of-date permit, altering badge information, or using a copied or counterfeit badge.‌The Blue Badge scheme assists people with disabilities or health conditions to park nearer to their destination, but councils throughout the UK are being urged to crack down on exploitation of the scheme.‌As reported by the Daily Record, the online guidance explains that local authorities can pursue a variety of enforcement measures depending on the situation.These include issuing Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for parking violations, prosecuting offenders and, in certain instances, confiscating Blue Badges being used improperly.‌People found guilty of particular offences involving Blue Badge misuse can face fines of up to £1,000. More severe cases involving fraud can result in steeper penalties.The guidance also grants enforcement officers powers to examine Blue Badges and verify whether the person using the permit is authorised to do so. Officers are entitled to request sight of the badge and verify its details, including the photograph of the badge holder. Anyone who fails to produce a badge when asked, without a reasonable excuse, may be committing an offence and could face a fine of up to £1,000.Following changes introduced in 2013, enforcement officers can also confiscate a Blue Badge without police involvement if they have reasonable grounds to believe it is being misused, has been cancelled, should have been returned to the issuing authority, or is fake.‌The DfT warned that misuse of the scheme can make it increasingly difficult for legitimate badge holders to find accessible parking spaces, undermining the entire purpose of the Blue Badge programme.Examples of misuse highlighted in the guidance include:Article continues belowLetting a friend or relative use a Blue BadgeUsing a badge that has expiredUsing a badge that has been reported lost or stolenUsing a copied or fake badgeAltering details such as the expiry dateUsing a badge belonging to someone who has diedMaking a fraudulent application for a badgeThe guidance further states that councils across England should actively work to prevent abuse and ensure that Blue Badge parking spaces remain available for those who genuinely need them.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Department for TransportDisabilityHousingMoney MattersMotoring mishaps