The AA has called for councils to pay more attention to the use of ‘illegitimate’ blue badges.

With one in 20 (5.2% of people) having been found to hold blue badges in March 2025, the AA is urging local authorities to tackle the misuse of the parking permits, with some offenders holding fake or stolen badges.

According to recent figures from the Department for Transport (DfT), the number of blue badge holders across England in March 2025 had increased by 8% compared to the previous year, with a total of 3.07 million blue badges being recorded.

Blue badges allow for people with disabilities or health conditions to park closer to their destination, with the aim of improving accessibility.

However, it has been confirmed that over two fifths of badges were distributed without further assessment in 2024/25, according to The Standard.

AA president, Edmund King, said: ‘The blue badge scheme is a mobility lifeline for millions of legitimate users and their families. Some of the increase in badges issued is linked to a change in the application criteria in 2019 when it was extended to more people with non-visible and neurological disabilities and that has taken time to work through the system.

‘Our concern is not the absolute number of badges issued but the estimates that up to one in five badges may be used by someone other than the holder or authorised user.’

Mr King highlighted that fraudulent use of badges can include family misuse, use after death, theft and counterfeit badges, and badge resale.

‘We would welcome a crackdown on illegitimate use of badges to safeguard the deserving users’, he said.

A DfT spokesperson said: ‘Exploitation and abuse of the Blue Badge scheme is completely unacceptable and is a criminal offence. It is a vital lifeline that helps many disabled people and people with health conditions travel with confidence.

‘Local authorities have been given improved powers to crack down on fraud and misuse in their area, and work closely with the police.’