Frequently asked questions

In this section

About applying for or renewing a Blue Badge

Do I have to provide a photograph?

Yes. Please provide a passport sized and passport standard colour photograph of your face and shoulders (with no filters or editing). The photograph can be digital or hard copy, but must be taken within the month before your application. Your photograph is used to identify you and to prevent misuse. It does not need to be displayed publicly.

If you or the person you're applying on behalf of, has a terminal illness, we still require a photograph where possible. If this is not possible due to the circumstances then please contact our team to make them aware.

Photographs are not required for an organisational applications.

Will I have to have an assessment by a health professional?

We will only ask you to have an assessment with a health professional if we need more information about how your disability or condition affects your mobility.

Sometimes we can get any additional information we need by asking you to complete an additional questionnaire. If not, we will arrange for you to attend a face to face assessment with one of our expert assessors. The expert assessor may ask you for:

your consent to contact a health professional that you have named in your application or supporting information, or
contact details for a professional contact if you did not provide one. We will ask your consent to contact the professional.

How much does it cost to get a Blue Badge?

There is a £10 administrative fee every time a Blue Badge is issued. You pay this:

When you first apply for your Blue Badge. We will refund the fee if your application is unsuccessful.
Whenever you renew your Blue Badge.
If you ask for a replacement Blue Badge, for example, if it is lost or stolen.

You can pay the fee:

online when you apply for or renew Blue Badge through the GOV.UK website.
online using our Blue Badge payment link.
by postal order or cheque payable to Gloucestershire County Council. Please label the postal order or cheque with your name and address if you apply by post. Please note: We cannot take cash or take payments over the phone.

How long will it take to get my Blue Badge?

Applications can take 12 weeks or more to process. They take longer if:

You did not fully complete the form or send all the information we need. It speeds up the process if you send us everything we need with your application.
We have to ask you to complete an additional questionnaire or arrange a face to face assessment for you with one of our expert assessors at a clinic before we can assess your eligibility. The expert assessor may need to contact your health care professional. We will ask for your consent to do this.
Note: We may decline your application if you don’t attend an appointment at a clinic without telling us in advance or without good reason.
We are dealing with a high volume of applications

We will write to you to confirm that you are eligible for a Blue Badge if your application is successful. Your Blue Badge will be sent to you by the Department for Transport. Badges are usually delivered within 7 to 10 days of our letter, but please allow up to 21 days for your badge to arrive.

How long are Blue Badges issued for?

Most badges are issued for three years, but badges:

For children under three expire on the day after the child’s third birthday.
Linked to HRMCDLA, WPMS or PIP awards which have less than 3 years left to run will expire at the same time as the award.

What if I forget to renew my Blue Badge?

So long as we have your current address, we will send you a renewal reminder 13 weeks before your Blue Badge expires.

Please apply as soon as you get our letter. We need time to deal with your application and carry out any assessments before your Blue Badge expires.

Keep your existing badge until the expiry date. Then return it to the Blue Badge team. You cannot use your Blue Badge once it expires.

My Blue Badge has expired. Can I still use it until I get my new Badge?

No. Do not use your Blue Badge after its expiry date. You may be prosecuted or fined if you use an expired badge.

I've moved to Gloucestershire. How do I renew a Blue Badge issued by another authority?

First contact the authority that issued your Blue Badge. They need your consent to transfer your record to us.

Then contact our Blue Badge team. We will need proof of your new address in Gloucestershire. We will send you a renewal reminder 13 weeks before your current badge expires.

I have been refused a Blue Badge. Can I appeal?

There is no right of appeal against a decision to refuse a Blue Badge.

You can ask the Blue Badge Team to review the decision if:

your mobility problems have become more serious; or
you have new or additional evidence to support your application that we did not consider at the time of assessment.

You can request a review by completing a review request form. Email or post the completed form to the Blue Badge Team. Please send all new or additional information with your request, for example reports from a health professional such as hospital consultant or physiotherapist.

Download the Review Request form (PDF, 54.1 KB)

Contact the Blue Badge Team if you cannot print the form. We will post the form to you.

Lost, stolen or damaged badges

What should I do if my Blue Badge is lost, stolen or damaged and hard to read?

Please report a stolen badge to your local police station. They will give you a crime reference number.

If you wish, you can register at https://www.reportmyloss.com/uk/register to report a lost badge. This system is connected to the Police database. Please note that there is a fee for this service.

You must return a damaged or hard to read badge to the Blue Badge team.

You can request a replacement Blue Badge online at GOV.UK. Replacement badges may take up to 21 days to be issued.

If your current Blue Badge expires in less than 3 months, you should apply for a renewal rather than a replacement badge.

Request a replacement badge on GOV.UK

You can also request a replacement badge by post, but this can take longer due to delays in the post. To make a postal request, download the replacement badge application form.

Download the replacement badge application form (PDF, 102 KB)

Contact the Blue Badge Team if:

You cannot print the form. We will post it to you.
You are not sure how to fill in any part of the form.

See the section on support in your local community if you need help to apply for a replacement badge. Please do not come to Shire Hall.

Post your completed application and your cheque or postal order to:

Blue Badge Team,
Gloucestershire County Council,
4th Floor, Block 4,
Shire Hall,
Westgate Street,
Gloucester,
GL1 2TG

Blue Badge Enforcement

Gloucestershire County Council manages Blue Badge responsibilities in Gloucestershire through its:

• Blue Badge team which administers the Blue Badge scheme

• Parking Services which are responsible for parking enforcement and investigating blue badge fraud and misuse.

For information about parking and enforcement, please see https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/highways/parking/.