Overseas Blue Badge User

mhm45

I live in Canada but visit the UK every year. I now have a Blue Disabled Permit ("Blue Badge"). I have been trying to find out how I can use this in the UK. I have contacted my local municipality in the UK (Gateshead) but have not had a relevant reply (I asked them at least a couple of months ago). My flight date is approaching soon so I'm hoping someone on this site might help.
As far as my research has shown, I am able to use my permit as I do here - parking in a marked bay. But do I need any extra paperwork/permit to use my Canadian permit?

DUTR

Isn't the permit assigned to the car?

EssexExile

People are disabled, not cars.

According to the Citizens Advice

If you are from outside the EU and other listed European countries you are not entitled to any parking concessions. However, if you have a disabled parking badge you can bring it with you and check with local police or the highways authority in the areas you’re visiting to see if they would recognise it.

That doesn't help much! I'll keep looking.

Edit: OK, it seems there was an agreement drawn up in 1997 to make blue badges work across boundaries, including Canada & the UK. However it seems that although the UK has the power to implement it & has promised to do so I can find no evidence that it has. That's very British. The latest guidance from the government to local authorities says it would be difficult to implement as foreign badges are different & leaves it up to them. In other words you'll have to ask the local authority, but that hasn't worked has it?

marlot

DUTR wrote: »

Isn't the permit assigned to the car?

No. My mum has a blue badge but no car. It allows me or my sister to take her in ours, and help her into the shops etc. If the disabled area is busy and we'll be a little while, I often go back to the car and move it to a regular slot - I get some very strange looks when I do!

interstellaflyer

DUTR wrote: »

Isn't the permit assigned to the car?

I think the old orange badge system was assigned to the car, the blue badge is assigned to the person with the disability and it carries their photo.

Muskey

As a badge holder myself, I can advise you that the UK now operates the European Blue Badge system.

Website www[dot]disabledmotorists[dot]eu will give you full details of our rules.

I've had a quick look and it appears Canadian Blue Badges are usually accepted, but you may need to visit a UK Police station to obtain a "parking clock" which shows time of arrival when you park on double yellow lines, which have a 3-hour parking limit.

Unfortunately, Blue Badges are rarely honoured off road or on private car parks....even for UK holders!

Hope this helps.

PasturesNew

If you do manage to resolve this, also be aware that in many car parks blue badge holders still have to pay to park, so read the signs at every one.

trinidadone

Have you tried contacting the British high commission in in canada for advise?

George_Michael

EssexExile wrote: »

People are disabled, not cars.

Not always the case:

Nilrem

interstellaflyer wrote: »

I think the old orange badge system was assigned to the car, the blue badge is assigned to the person with the disability and it carries their photo.

I don't think the orange badge was assigned to the car even.

I suspect some people are getting confused between the UK system (which has as far as I'm aware been for the person) and some of the U.S, versions where you get disabled tags/plates for the car.

mhm45

Thank you for all the advice. I will follow through on those that I can. Here's hoping. My flight's in just under two weeks!