Drivers warned over £1000 fines as disabled parking bay abuse surges
Tue, 02 Jun 2026
Drivers are risking up to £1000 fines by taking liberties with disabled parking spaces they're not entitled to use.
Research by Mobility Solutions Direct has found that disabled bays are regularly being used for quick stops by motorists running errands who do not have a valid Blue Badge.
The retailer gathered Freedom of Information data from councils across the UK and discovered more than 100,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued during the 2024/25 financial year for vehicles parked in disabled bays without permission, or for Blue Badge misuse.
Capital gains more fines
Londoners were the worst offenders for misusing disabled parking spaces, with Waltham Forest in the northeast of the city gaining the dubious honour of being the capital’s hotspot for disabled parking fines.
No fewer than 6852 PCNs were issued during the financial year, or almost 19 per day and equivalent to nearly 79 penalties per 1000 vehicles.
Outside London, Swansea Council handed out 4683 fines, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council gave 2867 penalties while Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council issued 5694.
Other areas with particularly high rates of unauthorised disabled bay parking included Coventry, Trafford, Solihull and Liverpool, marking just how widespread the problem has become.
Penalties for blue badge misuse
The news comes as UK drivers seem increasingly sanguine about taking liberties with parking restrictions, with a recent survey revealing 60% of UK drivers admitting to parking illegally for convenience.
In England, parking in a disabled bay without a valid Blue Badge can mean a penalty of around £70. However, misusing someone else's badge is asking for more trouble, with up to £1000 fines being incurred and badges being rescinded.
Parking issues tend to be worse during the summer, when carparks are more crowded. However, industry insiders are keen to stress the importance of staying away from disabled bays.
"When people can’t find a space close to the shops, there’s always the temptation to pull into a disabled bay and think 'I’ll only be a minute'", says Lee Cartwright, owner of Mobility Solutions Direct.
"Most people wouldn’t knowingly make life harder for a disabled person. But if you take one of those spaces because the car park’s busy, there’s a very real chance somebody else misses out on being able to shop, meet family or even pick up essentials."
