52 blue badge holders competing for each blue badge parking bay in UK¹

• The rate of new applications for blue badge permits increased by 31% between 2022 and 2024
• Meanwhile, nearly 250,000 applications have been rejected over the same period (2022-24)
• When it comes to the misuse of blue badge spaces, 705,310 penalty charge notices (PCNs) have been distributed between 2022 and 2024
• Further research finds almost 2 in 3 (65%) blue badge holders have had no choice but to park in a standard space due to no accessible spaces available
• Confused.com has created a look-up tool to help blue badge holders find out how many blue badge parking bays are available in their local council area, and to locate blue badge spaces on the map.

For every blue badge parking bay in the UK, there are currently 52 permit holders who require accessible parking¹.

That’s according to new data obtained by Confused.com through Freedom of Information requests to UK councils. The data found that there are over 3.2 million blue badge permit holders in the UK, in comparison with 63,000 blue badge parking bays.

And it seems that the demand for accessible parking is increasing. That’s as the rate of new applications for blue badge permits has increased by 31% between 2022 and 2024. In total, 1.3 million new applications were made between 2022 and 2024. And that’s on top of the 1.5 million renewal applications also made for existing holders.

Of the 2.8m applications, both new and renewals, 245,566 were rejected. These were recorded as having various reasons for denial. The reasons included not meeting the criteria, unreceived payments, applications made to incorrect local authorities, and failure to provide all information as part of health assessments.

As of 2024, the number of blue badge spaces and badge holders across the UK are as follows:

When it comes to the number of blue badge spaces available for those who need it, it seems to already be limited. But the issue could be made worse by people wrongly using them when they shouldn't. There have been 705,310 PCNs distributed for the misuse of blue badge parking bays. With this, blue badge holders might be feeling limited in their access to these spaces. This might even be leading to anxieties when leaving the house.

Blue badges are designed to make life easier for people with mobility issues. But for many, finding a space can sometimes be the opposite. According to further research of 2,000 UK drivers, 1 in 10 (11%) are currently blue badge holders. But even with the right permit, parking isn’t always guaranteed.

In fact, a third (36%) of blue badge holders say they’ve turned up somewhere needing to park, only to find someone without a badge already in the space. And around the same number (34%) say there simply aren’t enough accessible spaces in their area in the first place.

When there’s no space available, two-thirds (65%) say they’ve had no choice but to park in a standard space. But that doesn’t always work—especially when extra room is needed to get out of the car. Worryingly, 2 in 5 (40%) have even had to leave a car park altogether because there were no accessible bays free.

That lack of confidence in finding a space is putting people off going out full stop. That’s as a third (36%) say they’ve avoided visiting certain places because they weren’t sure they’d be able to park nearby.

In response to their findings, Confused.com have created a look-up tool to help blue badge holders find out how many blue badge parking bays are available in their local council area. Users can also use the tool to look up blue badge spaces in their area using the map.

But it’s not just about how many blue badge spaces are available—it’s also about how they’re used. Our research found that just under a third (29%) of people say they regularly see blue badge bays being used by drivers without a badge. So it’s no surprise that nearly 2 in 5 (39%) say it makes them feel infuriated when they see it happening.

Our research found that nearly 1 in 10 (8%) drivers admitted to parking in a blue badge bay without a permit. The top reasons included that they were only going to be a few minutes (25%), there weren’t other spaces available (23%), and they were in a rush (20%).1 in 10 (11%) said they used the space because they had kids with them and there weren’t any parent-and-child spaces, another parking problem.

With 1 in 5 (21%) blue badge holders living with a hidden disability, there’s more need than ever for clearer rules and better access. But more than 1 in 5 (22%) say they find the eligibility criteria confusing. Nearly a third (29%) think councils should extend the number of blue badge bays to keep up with changing needs.

Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance comments: “Blue badge parking spaces are essential for millions of drivers across the UK—but our latest research shows how easily that system struggles. This is especially highlighted when there isn’t enough availability, and other drivers take advantage of the spaces.

“Shockingly, for every one blue badge parking bay in the UK, there are 52 permit holders who need access to it. If you’re using a blue badge space without needing one, even for just a few minutes, you could be stopping someone from being able to work, shop, or attend a medical appointment. It’s clear that more needs to be done—both to increase the number of accessible bays and to prevent misuse. And if you’re caught using a blue badge space without a permit, you could receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) costing between £70 and £100.

“But in the meantime, our look up tool will help those with blue badges to find out how easily they can access a blue badge parking bay in their local council. They can also look up blue badge spaces in their area using the map on site.”

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Notes to editors