Using your Blue Badge and the time clock correctly
A small piece of card, but getting it right keeps you on the right side of the rules.
In short
Display your Blue Badge face up on the dashboard so the wheelchair symbol and details are clearly visible and the photo side is hidden. Where a time limit applies (such as on yellow lines), also display the blue time clock set to your time of arrival, rounded up to the next quarter hour. Do not alter the badge or the clock in any way.
Displaying the badge
- Place it on the dashboard, face up, so the front (the wheelchair symbol, serial number and expiry) is clearly readable from outside.
- Keep the photograph side facing down, so personal details are not on show.
- Make sure it has not expired. An expired badge is not valid and using one can be treated as misuse.
Setting the time clock
Where a time limit applies, set the blue clock to your arrival time, usually rounded up to the next quarter hour, and display it next to the badge. This shows an enforcement officer when your permitted time started.
Never alter the badge or clock
Changing the expiry date, photo or any detail on a badge, or setting a false time, is not a minor matter. It can be treated as fraud. If your badge is damaged or unreadable, apply for a replacement rather than altering it.
Frequently asked questions
Which way up does the Blue Badge go?
Front face up, so the wheelchair symbol and details are visible from outside, with the photograph side facing down.
Do I always need the time clock?
Only where a time limit applies, such as on yellow lines or in time-limited bays. In free, untimed disabled bays you usually do not.
Last updated: 12 June 2026. We review our guides regularly, but rules change, so always confirm with the official source for your nation.