The Misused Parking Report

For millions of motorists, having access to a priority parking space is what makes a journey possible. Whether it is a Blue Badge holder needing extra room to safely deploy a wheelchair, or a parent navigating a busy car park with young children, dedicated bays can be a lifeline.

Yet finding an available space is becoming increasingly difficult. MoneySuperMarket’s latest research reveals that more than eight in 10 drivers (83%) believe accessible parking in the UK is currently falling short, highlighting widespread driver frustration.

To understand the impact on drivers, we surveyed 2,000 UK motorists, including Blue Badge holders and parents, to explore their experiences, challenges, and concerns around priority parking. Submitting Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to local councils across the country to analyse key local authority data, we’ve also created a Priority Parking Index, ranking the best and worst areas for accessible disabled parking.

The misuse of priority parking bays is on the rise

Drivers who rely on priority parking spaces face two overlapping challenges: a shortage of available bays and increasing misuse of the spaces that do exist.

Almost three in five priority drivers (Blue Badge holders and parent drivers) say they often or always struggle to find a priority space because there simply are not enough bays available. However, availability is only part of the problem, with 63% saying they regularly struggle to park because priority spaces are being used by drivers who are not eligible to use them.

The issue appears to be worsening, with 74% of priority drivers noticing an increase in misuse in recent years. Meanwhile, 77% believe the current enforcement of priority parking rules across the UK is not strong enough to deter misuse.

The misuse of priority parking spaces is causing stress and driving anxiety amongst those who need them

The difficulty of finding a suitable priority space can have a significant emotional impact, influencing when and where people choose to travel.

More than three-quarters (77%) of priority drivers say misuse of these bays causes them stress or frustration, while 68% worry about finding a suitable space before they even begin their journey. To manage this uncertainty, 72% avoid travelling during peak times, and 63% have avoided certain destinations altogether due to parking concerns.

Despite the frustration caused by misuse, 70% of priority drivers feel uncomfortable confronting someone using a priority bay incorrectly, meaning many are left to deal with the impact quietly.

Priority drivers are also losing out on hours every year trying to find a suitable space

Finding a suitable parking space is a significant time drain for priority drivers. One in five (20%) estimate that they spend a total of more than 30 minutes every month searching for an appropriate bay, while 7% lose over an hour each month driving around car parks looking for a space.

The impact is greatest for disabled drivers, who spend an average of 29 minutes per month searching for an accessible bay - around six hours a year. Parents face a similar challenge, losing around 23 minutes each month (roughly five hours annually) searching for parent-and-child spaces. Beyond the time lost, these delays can add stress and make everyday journeys feel more difficult.

Blue Badge holders face the steepest barriers

A missed space is frustrating for a parent carrying toddlers across a busy car park, but for a Blue Badge holder, it can mean turning back home altogether. Our survey shows that while both groups struggle with priority parking, disabled drivers have higher rates of travel anxiety and social exclusion.

The biggest gap appears around independence, with 87.4% of Blue Badge holders saying parking is a major barrier, compared with 76.5% of parents. This suggests that for many disabled drivers, access to suitable parking is closely linked to their ability to travel freely and participate in daily life.

Blue Badge holders were also more likely to change their behaviour to avoid parking difficulties. More than three-quarters (76%) avoid travelling at peak times to reduce stress, while 74% worry about finding a suitable space before setting off.

Properly designed accessible parking gives drivers the freedom to travel with confidence. Alongside better infrastructure, having the right car insurance for disabled drivers plays an important role in protecting that independence, offering tailored support, financial protection, and total peace of mind whenever you take to the road.

The Priority Parking Index: Where does your city rank?

To reveal where accessible parking is under the greatest strain, we analysed Freedom of Information (FOI) data from local councils across the UK, looking at the number of Blue Badge holders per designated parking spaces and the number of penalty charge notices (PCN) per bay for the misuse of these spaces in the past 12 months.

(Note: Due to a lack of centralised local authority data regarding parent-and-child spaces, this index focuses exclusively on council-provided accessible bays for disabled drivers.)

The UK's best council areas for Blue Badge parking

1. Portsmouth City

Portsmouth tops the ranking with 2,290 disabled bays serving 8,397 registered Blue Badge holders, meaning just four badge holders are competing for each bay - the lowest ratio in the ranking. While the council issued 2,004 penalty charge notices (PCNs) for disabled-bay misuse in the past 12 months, equivalent to 0.9 PCNs per bay, its high level of accessible parking helps make it the UK's best-performing location for Blue Badge holders.

2. Fife

Fife takes second place with 4,197 disabled bays, equating to just seven badge holders competing for each bay, helping to improve accessibility for those who rely on them. The council also recorded a relatively low level of misuse, issuing 1,690 PCNs in the past year for disabled-bay parking offences, equivalent to just 0.4 PCNs per bay.

3. Richmond upon Thames and Haringey

Richmond upon Thame and Haringey come in joint third place. Richmond upon Thames has 499 disabled bays serving 6,450 registered Blue Badge holders, equating to 13 badge holders per space. The London borough also recorded just 402 PCNs for disabled-bay misuse, or 0.8 penalties per bay, suggesting accessible parking is comparatively well respected despite more limited spaces.

Meanwhile, Haringey has 2,085 disabled bays for 11,744 registered badge holders, equating to around six people per bay. However, it also recorded 4,094 PCNs for disabled-bay misuse, almost two penalties for every disabled bay, suggesting misuse is slightly more prevalent compared to the rest of the locations in the top three.

The UK's most challenging council areas for Blue Badge parking

1. Durham County

Durham County ranks as the UK's worst authority for Blue Badge parking. Despite having 35,697 registered Blue Badge holders, the council provides just 320 disabled bays, leaving an average of 112 badge holders competing for every space. It also recorded 3,445 PCNs for disabled-bay misuse, equivalent to 10.8 PCNs per disabled bay, highlighting the pressure on its limited accessible parking network.

2. Redbridge and Blackpool

Redbridge and Blackpool come in joint second. Redbridge has one of the highest levels of demand for disabled parking in the study. The London borough has just 183 disabled bays for 18,129 registered Blue Badge holders, equating to 99 badge holders per bay. It also issued 3,705 PCNs for disabled-bay misuse, more than 20 penalties for every disabled bay, the highest rate of any authority analysed, suggesting significant pressure on accessible spaces.

Meanwhile, Blackpool has just 91 disabled bays serving 11,438 registered Blue Badge holders, meaning there are an average of 126 badge holders competing for each space. The council also issued 892 PCNs for disabled-bay misuse, equivalent to 9.8 penalties per disabled bay, reflecting the strain on its limited provision.

3. York

York comes in third with 133 disabled bays available to 8,422 registered Blue Badge holders, leaving an average of 63 badge holders per space. The city also recorded 1,788 PCNs for disabled-bay misuse, equating to 13.4 penalties per disabled bay, the second-highest misuse rate in the ranking.

Modern cars are outgrowing UK parking bays, contributing to parking issues for priority drivers

Priority parking spaces are under pressure not only because of high demand and misuse, but also because parking infrastructure has failed to keep pace with modern vehicles. While cars have become wider to accommodate improved safety features and passenger comfort, standard UK parking bays have remained largely unchanged, typically measuring around 2.4 metres wide.

As vehicles take up more space, standard bays are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. Tighter spaces make it harder for drivers to open doors safely, increasing the risk of accidental damage and encouraging some motorists to park across multiple bays or use larger priority spaces.

Why extra parking space is essential for priority drivers

For Blue Badge holders and parents, the additional space provided by priority bays is not a luxury, but a necessity. Accessible bays allow drivers who have a disability and passengers to open doors fully, deploy mobility equipment, use ramps or hoists, and safely enter and exit vehicles. Parent-and-child spaces provide similar support, giving families room to load children, access car seats, and use prams.

When these spaces are misused or when surrounding vehicles encroach into the available area, priority drivers can lose the extra clearance they rely on to travel independently.

The insurance cost of cramped car parks

Smaller parking spaces are not just inconvenient; they can increase the likelihood of vehicle damage. Car insurance claims data from Ageas shows that 22% of all car insurance claims relate to a ‘vehicle hit whilst parked’*.

From scraped bumpers and clipped wing mirrors to door dents and trolley damage, tight parking environments create more opportunities for minor collisions. These repairs can also be more expensive than expected, as modern vehicles often contain sensors and cameras that require specialist recalibration.

Alicia Hempsted, Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket, explains:

“As vehicles have increased in size, navigating tight parking spaces requires extra care. Even minor contacts can be costly to repair, as modern automotive technology means scratches or dents may involve replacing or recalibrating specialist equipment.

"To manage these situations effectively, there are three practical steps motorists should consider:

1. Weigh up the repair cost against your excess: Get an initial quote from a reputable local repairer before making an insurance claim. If the repair cost is only slightly higher than your excess, paying out-of-pocket can help protect your No Claims Discount at renewal.

2. Gather immediate evidence: If your car is damaged while parked, take photos of the bay layout and close-ups of any damage, and check whether local premises or car park operators have CCTV footage available.

3. Review your policy features: When comparing insurance options, consider features such as No Claims Discount Protection or adjusting your voluntary excess to better suit your day-to-day driving and parking habits."

Methodology and sources

MoneySuperMarket created the UK Misused Parking Report by combining local authority data, internal insurance insights, and a nationwide consumer survey. Locations were evaluated across structural, infrastructural, and behavioural measures to establish our final index rankings.

Local authority data and index metrics

We submitted Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to UK local councils, receiving 64 usable responses. The gathered metrics included:

• Demand: 816,819 registered Blue Badge holders reported across 51 councils.

• Infrastructure: Physical counts of council-maintained disabled bays across 19 reporting authorities.

• Enforcement: 134,201 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for disabled bay misuse across 55 councils over a 12-month period.

These data points established local ratios of badge holders per dedicated bay. Potential council penalty revenue was calculated using a standard baseline fine of £100 per PCN. Incomplete responses were excluded to ensure fair comparison.

Driver survey

MoneySuperMarket surveyed 2,000 UK adult drivers who regularly use priority parking. The survey was conducted between 24 June 2026 and 29 June 2026. Respondents were an equal split of 1,000 Blue Badge holders and 1,000 parents using parent-and-child bays. 

*Ageas claims data submitted in the period October 2024 - September 2025.