News & Features

The Latest DfT Figures for the Blue Badge Scheme in England: is the Scheme Still Fulfilling its Purpose? 

Posted in News on Friday, March 20th, 2026

The latest Blue Badge statistics for England, covering the year ending 31 March 2025, paint a clear picture; demand is rising and more Blue Badges are being issued than ever before. This means that yet again, accessible bay provision is under even more pressure. 

A Record Rise in Blue Badge Holders 

As of March 2025, 3.07 million Blue Badges were held across England. That’s an increase of 228,000 (8.0%) compared to the previous year continuing a steady upward trend since 2020. 

This means 5.2% of the population now holds a Blue Badge. The rise reflects both demographic pressures such as an ageing population and broader eligibility criteria. 

Breaking this down: 

• 39% of badges were held by people eligible without further assessment 
• 60% were held by people eligible subject to further assessment 
• 1% were held by organisations 

The dominance of assessed eligibility shows how crucial local authority evaluations have become in determining access. 

A Surge in New Badges Issued 

Between April 2024 and March 2025, 1.27 million badges were issued, marking a 12.3% increase (140,000 more badges) than the previous year. 
Of these: 

• 42% (531,000) were issued without further assessment 
• 58% (730,000) required further assessment 
• 1% (8,000) went to organisations 

Most badges issued without assessment (94.8%) were linked to recipients of disability-related benefits such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP), 
One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the inclusion of people with hidden disabilities, introduced in 2019. 

• In 2021: 2.2% (18,000) of badges were issued under this criteria 
• In 2025: 4.3% (55,000) of badges fell into this category 

While still a relatively small share, this substantial increase indicates growing awareness and recognition of these conditions. 

A Curious Gap: Eligibility vs Uptake 

Perhaps the most striking insight is not about the rise in the number of badges being issued but about missed opportunity. 

As of March 2025: 

• 3.22 million people (5.5% of the population) were entitled to a badge without further assessment 
• Yet only 1.20 million (37%) of them held one 

This marks a notable decline from 46% in 2020. 

Regional Differences Highlight Inequality 

Geography also plays a role in access and uptake: 

• North East: highest proportion of badge holders (6.1%) 
• London: lowest proportion (3.5%) 

These differences may reflect varying demographics, urban infrastructure, public transport availability, and awareness levels. 

Lost and Stolen Badges: A Small but Important Issue 

During the year, 6,600 badges were reported lost or stolen: 

• 78% (5,200) were lost 
• 22% (1,400) were stolen 

While small relative to the total number of badges, it is still thousands of individuals temporarily losing access to essential mobility support. 

What This Means Going Forward 

The data tells a nuanced story: 

• Demand is growing rapidly, with record numbers of badges issued and held 
• Eligibility is broader and, once again, this has lead to a rise in the number of Blue Badge holders with non-visible disabilities 
• But uptake is lagging behind eligibility, suggesting barriers still exist 

As we have reiterated many times now, for policymakers and local authorities, the challenge is ensuring that those who qualify for the Blue Badge actually benefit from the scheme. 
Improving awareness, simplifying application processes, and addressing stigma could help close this gap between eligibility and uptake, but that still leaves the problem of having enough accessible bays available to meet the ever-growing demand. 

The Blue Badge scheme remains a vital tool for enabling independence and mobility. However, the falling uptake among those automatically eligible is a reminder; access isn’t just about eligibility, it’s about trust in the system. DMUK CEO, Graham Footer highlighted the importance of respecting the scheme in light of these statistics saying: “Once again, these statistics reiterate that there simply aren’t enough Blue Badge parking bays to meet demand, so when these bays are abused by non-disabled people it puts disabled parking provision under even greater strain. With this in mind, it is now more important than ever for us to encourage local authorities and car park operators to enforce the Blue Badge scheme effectively as well as to educate the general public about the importance of keeping disabled parking bays free for those who are entitled to use them.”

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