When do you need to use a clock for a Blue Badge? All to know

The scheme is designed to help people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination.

Additionally, it allows people to park in specified Blue Badge parking spaces at supermarkets and other places.

The Blue Badge is linked to a person rather than a specific vehicle, so it can be used with any car.

If you’re using a Blue Badge to park on the street, you may need to use a clock alongside it.

When do you need to use a clock for a Blue Badge?

When you park on yellow lines or in other places where there is a time restriction, you need to display the blue parking clock to show your time of arrival.

“The clock should be set to show the quarter hour period during which you arrived,” the Government website shares.

“If you need to use a parking clock, you must display it on the vehicle’s dashboard or facia panel, so that the time can be seen clearly through the front windscreen.

“If there is no dashboard or facia panel in your vehicle, you must still display the clock in a place where it can be clearly read from outside the vehicle.”

If you don’t have the clock displayed, you may receive a parking ticket.

The parking clock is usually sent with the Blue Badge.

If not, you can request one from the same council that issued the badge.

Where can Blue Badge holders park?

A valid Blue Badge can provide a range of parking concessions, including:

• Parking in designated disabled bays.
• Free parking at many on-street pay-and-display bays – those on public roads administered by the council, not private companies.
• Parking on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours where loading restrictions do not apply – although check with your local council as this can vary.
• Access to council-operated disabled parking concessions, depending on local rules.

These concessions generally do not automatically extend to private supermarket or retail park car parks.

Recommended reading:

Who can use a Blue Badge?

“The badge is for your use and benefit only,” the Government website shares.

“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.”

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

Have you used a parking clock alongside a Blue Badge? Let us know in the comments.