What are the rules for using my purple badge?

  • apart from badges held by organisations, all other badges must have your photo on them
  • you must display the purple badge on your vehicle's windscreen or dashboard, facing the front. This is so anyone can read the expiry date, vehicle's registration number and serial number from outside the vehicle
  • purple badges are normally valid for three years, apart from any purple badges we have given to people who do not live in the area and these are valid for one year
  • if your 'nominated' driver lives in the Royal Borough and does not have off-street parking available to them, they must have a residents' parking permit
  • you must ensure the Purple badge is renewed before it expires

 

You should send us your badge when:

  • you don't need it any more
  • it has run out
  • the details are faded or can't be read
  • the badge holder has passed away
  • the vehicle registration is no longer valid
  • a badge that you had lost is found, but it has already been replaced by another one

You must make sure that other members of your family do not use your badge when you are not travelling in the vehicle. You need to make sure that your badge is used properly. This is particularly important if you are issued with a purple badge and you are a passenger. To reduce the risk of someone else using your badge, you should take the badge out of the vehicle whenever you are not using it

Please note: you must return your badge within 48 hours if we ask you to do so.

 

We can refuse your application for a purple badge if:

  • we have reasonable grounds to believe that you are not who you say you are
  • we suspect that you would allow another motorist to display the badge in their vehicle
  • you have not used a disabled parking badge properly and/or the Council has reasonable grounds to believe you would allow someone else to use the purple badge in your absence