Car badges for disabled people

Who is entitled to a badge?

You could have a car badge if one of the following applies:

• you receive Mobility Allowance or the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
• you use a disabled person's car provided by the Welsh Assembly Government (or the government in England), or you get a grant for your own car from them
• you have a vehicle excise duty exemption certificate
• you are registered as blind
• you receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement (not a War Disablement Pension)
• you are a driver with very severe upper limb disabilities
• you have some other permanent and substantial physical disability which means you can't walk or you find it very difficult to walk

If you qualify for one of the first five reasons we would need copies of the documents from you to confirm this. If you think you qualify for one of the last two reasons then you would need to ask your doctor or another health professional to fill out a form to confirm this.

What would the badge let me do?

If you are using a car you (or the driver) can park:

• at parking meters, for free and for as long as you need to
• at limited waiting places for as long as you need to
• on some yellow lines for up to 3 hours (the details are in a leaflet you would get with the badge)

There are other benefits, such as not having to pay some road tolls, and being able to use reserved parking bays.

I've got my own car, but I often get lifts. Can I still use the badge?

You can use your badge on any car, but we need to know the registration number of the car you use most.

I've seen someone who's not disabled using a badge, what should I do?

It's not always obvious that someone has a disability. Many people can walk short distances but need the badge because they couldn't visit places without such help. Look at the photograph on the badge and see if it matches someone in the car.

If someone is misusing a badge it should be reported.  Make a note of the details including the badge details if you can and tell the police.

How do I apply?

Contact Connect to Cardiff and they will send you a form.
029 2087 2087
c2c@cardiff.gov.uk

You will need to send us the fee (£2) and two signed copies of a passport style photograph.

How do I renew my badge when it runs out?

Badges usually run out after three years, but sometimes they are issued for less than that. You can find the the actual expiry date on the badge. We normally send a reminder and a new form in time for you to renew it. If you don't get a reminder contact us at least 8 weeks before the badge is due to expire and ask for an application form.

If you move house don't forget to tell us your new address. If you move out of Cardiff, the badge will still be valid but you will have to reapply to your new council when it expires.

I've lost my badge, or it's been stolen, what should I do?

Report this to the police and apply for a new one. Ask the Police for a crime number and quote this when you apply. You will need to send two new signed copies of passport style photographs and the £2 fee.