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Accessibility for People with Reduced Mobility
Reciprocal Recognition of Parking Badges

In 1978, the ECMT Council of Ministers agreed that all Member Countries of the ECMT would grant the same parking concessions to people with disabilities as they offered their own nationals. These concessions usually allowed special parking in areas reserved for people with disabilities, or allowed longer parking periods or exemptions from charges.

This Resolution was updated and extended in scope in 1997. In addition to all the Member countries of ECMT this Resolution now applies also to the ECMT Associated Countries (Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and United States). This means that disabled motorists from all ECMT Member and Associate countries are now entitled to the same parking concessions as nationals in all ECMT Countries. The only condition is the display of a badge showing the international wheelchair symbol.

In 1998 the EU adopted a Resolution along the same lines for the Member countries of the EU. The badges to be displayed are to be standardized to facilitate recognition and to avoid difficulties at local level.
EU Blue Parking Badge

To facilitate the implementation of these decisions the following information is provided to help people visiting the various countries understand the local rules. At present different badges are used and where this information is available these badges are shown.

This page describes what the concessions are, where disabled people can park and where they can't.

Use the links below to go directly to the relevant country:

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | L | N | P | S | U

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited.
You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time.
In most areas you must pay to park on roads where payment is required. Check locally.
You may drive and park in pedestrian zones, but only during vehicle delivery access times. Check locally.

Parking in car parks: Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

Ms. Liliana PREROWSKY
Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology
International Department of Transport
Department II/A/2
Radetzkystrasse 2
A-1031 Vienna
Tel. +43-1 711 62 1207
E-mail: liliana.prerowsky@bmv.gv.at

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited.
You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time.
In most areas you must pay to park on roads where payment is required. Check locally.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.

Parking in car parks: Some car parks allow vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card to be parked free of charge but only in specific parking bays marked for disabled people. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant.

Parking badge: EU model

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

Contact point for further information

Senaida MEHMEDOVSKI
Ministry of Communications and Transport
Tel. +387-33 254 377
E-mail: s.mehmedovski@mkt.gov.ba

BULGARIA

Contact point for further information

Mr. Jordan STOYANOV
State expert in Transport Policy Directorate
Tel. +359-2 940 9488
Fax +359-2 987 8808

Parking badge policies vary in Canada from one jurisdiction to another, but there are some common elements:

Parking spaces

All Canadian jurisdictions provide designated parking spaces for motorists with disabilities according to the expressed needs of persons with disabilities living in the region.

The parking spaces are generally marked with the international wheelchair logo.

Cities are usually responsible for enacting and enforcing bylaws pertaining to the use of designated parking spaces for persons with disabilities. It is recommended that travellers contact local authorities to have more details on the conditions related to the use of such designated parking spaces.

Issuing parking badges

Canadian jurisdictions issue parking badges to both drivers and passengers who have disabilities that limit their ability to walk independently over short distances. The badge is awarded to an individual rather than to a specific vehicle.

There are generally two types of parking badges:
- short-term badges valid for up to one year depending on the duration of the temporary disability of the person;
- long-term badges valid for periods ranging from one year to life (varies among jurisdictions). Except for lifelong badges, long-term badges must be renewed regularly.

Misuse of the badge can result in its withdrawal.

Privileges associated with the parking badges

Persons with disabilities can park their vehicles in spaces designated for their use on condition that:

a valid parking badge is suspended from the rearview mirror or displayed visibly on the dashboard of the vehicle;

the person with a disability has to leave or board the vehicle while it is parked in the designated parking space.

Contrary to most European countries:

In Canada, persons with disabilities holding a valid parking badge cannot normally park their vehicles in pedestrian zones or zones where parking is prohibited (with some exceptions) or restricted to loading and unloading.

In most cities and municipalities, badge holders are usually not exempted from paying parking metre fees where such charges apply. It is recommended that travellers verify with individual communities as to whether special parking privileges such as fee exemption are available.

Canadian jurisdictions do not use any time limitation devices, parking discs or other devices in addition to the parking badge itself.

For more specific information on the policies of each of the Canadian jurisdictions, travellers are invited to contact the parking badge issuing office of the destination contemplated.

Transport Canada's commitment

Transport Canada, in co-operation with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), is committed to co-ordinating the implementation of the ECMT Resolution No 97/4 respecting the reciprocal recognition of parking badges between ECMT Member countries (through the ECMT Secretariat) and all the Canadian jurisdictions having the responsibility over these matters.

Parking badges

Alberta | British Columbia | Manitoba | New Brunswick | Newfoundland | Northwest Territories | Nova Scotia | Ontario | Prince Edward Island | Quebec | Yukon |

CZECH REPUBLIC

Card

People in wheelchairs are equipped with a card issued by the Czech Association for Environment of Disabled People. The card consists of 4 pages:

The Title Page refers to the organisation issuing the card, the card number, name and surname, the citizen's card-index number, address, holder's signature and seal of the issuing organisation.
The Second Page refers to the benefits for the card holder.
The Third Page contains instructions for the card holder.
The Fourth Page indicates the validity of the card.

At present the card does not have a pictogram of a person in a wheelchair, but later this year a pictogram - blue on a white background - will figure on the title page.

This pictogram is already in use elsewhere in the Czech Republic (in the metro, public areas, health institutes and transport infrastructure). It is regulated by Decree No 30/2001 to the Act No 361/2000 Coll.

Parking regulations for foreign visitors

Foreign citizens using wheelchairs and/or with mobility handicaps, have the same rights as Czech citizens in respect of parking, provided they are equipped with the document issued by the authorized organisation. This is regulated by Decree No 99/89 Coll., on traffic rules for road communications (the Traffic Rules), issued by the Ministry of the Interior.

In brief, people with mobility handicaps may park their vehicle wherever parking is generally permitted. As regards the parking fee, the owner of the parking place determines the amount.

Contact

Mr. Vlastimil SINDYLEK
Ministry of Transport
130 Odbor kolejovych vozidel
Nabrezi Ludvika Svobody 12
CZ-110 15 Prague 1
Tel. +420 972 231 458

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol.

Parking discs are required when drivers park in areas that are time limited. Foreign vehicles may display discs which are issued and accepted in the home country.

Parking on roads

Vehicles displaying a disabled person parking card:

may park for 15 min on roads where waiting or parking is prohibited. Parking discs are required;
may park for up to an hour where parking is limited to 15-30 min Parking discs are required;
may park for an unlimited time where parking is limited to up 3 hours;
may, in general on roads with parking meters only, park if the driver pay according to how long the vehicle is parked. Though in Copenhagen, vehicles displaying a disabled parking card may park free of charge in public parking zones. Check locally.
may be allowed to drive and park in pedestrian zones. Check locally.

Parking in car parks

In car parks where payment is required, the driver must generally pay according to how long the vehicle is parked. Though in Copenhagen, vehicles displaying a disabled person parking card may park free of charge in public zones. Check locally.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

The Ministry of Justice
Road Traffic Division
Slotholmsgade 10
DK-1216 Copenhagen K
Tel. +45 3392 3340
E-mail: jm@jm.dk Attention Road Traffic Division

Parking badge: National Model

Contact

Mr. Hellat RUMVOLT
Councillor to the Road Transport Department
Ministry of Transport and Communications
9 Viriu Street
Tallinn
Tel. +372 6 313 818
E-mail: hellat.rumvolt@tsm.ee

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number.

Parking on roads

You may park on roads where waiting is prohibited.
You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time.
You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads with parking meters or pay-and-display parking.
You may be allowed to drive and park in pedestrian zones. Check locally.

Parking in car parks

Vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card may be parked free of charge and beyond time limits.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

Ms. Anne JÄRVINEN
Senior Officer
Ministry of Interior
Säästöpankinranta 2 A
FIN-00530 Helsinki
Tel. +358-9 160 8281
E-mail: anne.jarvinen@poliisi.fi

FRANCE

Although there is a national system of parking concessions, local variations can apply. Check locally. In Paris, vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking car may be parked on roads free of charge.

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited.
You may park beyond the time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time.
You must pay to park on roads where payment is required (except in Paris).
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.

Parking in car parks

Car parks do not generally offer concessions to vehicle displaying a disabled person's parking car.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

Mme Michèle TILMONT
Déléguée ministérielle à l'accessibilité
Ministère de l'Equipement, du logement et des transports
Grande Arche, Paroi Sud
F-92055 La Défense cedex 04
Tel. +33-1 4081 9847
E-mail: michele.tilmont@developpement-durable.gouv.fr

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not, however, park on spaces marked with a parking card number reserving them for certain disabled people.

Parking on roads

You may park for up to 3 hours on roads where parking is prohibited - also in no-parking zones.
You may exceed the allowed parking period on roads where parking is restricted by time - also in restricted-parking zones.
You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads with parking meters or pay-and-display parking.
You may park up to 3 hours in resident's parking areas.
You may park outside the marked spaces in traffic-calmed areas without obstructing the traffic.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless it is expressly permitted by local concessions. Check locally. For even if it is permitted, you are only allowed to enter and park there during specific vehicle access times.
These concessions generally apply only when no other parking is available within a reasonable distance.

The above regulations apply unless there is another parking facility available at a reasonable distance. The maximum parking period is 24 hours.

Parking in private car parks

Ask the car park attendant on the spot whether disabled people are granted parking privileges.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs
Division A13
Invalidenstrasse 44
D-10115 Berlin
E-mail: Ref-A13@bmvbw.bund.de

GREECE

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number.

There are no concessions for street parking or parking in car parks.

You may park only where parking is permitted, and you must pay parking charges and observe time limits.

Parking badge: EU model

Parking badge: National model

Contact

Mr. Sandor RADAI
Hungarian Union of Associations of People with Mobility Handicaps
Tel. +36-1 361 0311
E-mail: sandor.radai@matavnet.hu

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a person's name or vehicle registration number.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited.
Fees and time limit concessions for vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card vary. Check locally.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.

Parking in car parks

Car parks do not generally give concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card, although some local variations may apply. Check locally.

Parking badge: EU model

IRELAND

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited.
Fees and time limit concessions for vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card vary. Check locally.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.

Parking in car parks

In some car parks, payment concessions are given to vehicles displaying the disabled person's parking card. Drivers should check with the car park notices or ask an attendant for details.

Parking badge: EU model

Issuing parking permits

The Road Traffic Regulations, 1997, govern the issue of disabled person's parking permits in Ireland. The permits are issued by local authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association. Permits are granted to all eligible disabled persons, irrespective of whether they are drivers or not, and they have National application. Any person who is suffering from a disability that prevents that person from walking or causes undue hardship in walking is eligible for a permit.

The permit complies fully with EU recommendation (98/376/EC) which allows for its recognition in other EU member States. The Irish legislation in this regard extends to all disabled persons' parking permits issued by any State provided the permit contains the recognized pictorial symbol of a person sitting in a wheelchair.

Contact

Ms. Ann CODY
Road Safety and Traffic Division
Department of Transport
44 Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Tel. +353-1-604-1669 E-mail: anncody@transport.ie

ITALY

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited unless signs clearly indicate otherwise.
You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time.
You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads with parking meters or pay-and-display parking.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless there is a sign showing exemption. Check locally.

Parking in car parks

One in 50 spaces in public car parks is reserved for use by vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Vehicles displaying a parking card may be parked there free of charge. If these spaces are occupied, vehicles displaying a card may be parked in other spaces free of charge.

In some private car parks, vehicles displaying a parking card may be parked free of charge, and often for longer periods than other vehicles. Check locally.

Parking badge: EU model

Parking badge: National model

LIECHTENSTEIN

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol.

Apart from reserved spaces, there are no concessions for street parking or parking in car parks.

You may park only where parking is permitted, and you must pay parking charges and observe time limits.

Parking badge: EU model

LITHUANIA

Lithuania has not yet introduced the special Parking Card for people with disabilities according the the European Union Council Recommendation 98/376/EC. According to the provisions of the Road Traffic Rules parking privileges are applied for vehicles bearing the wheelchair symbol.

A person driving a vehicle with the wheelchair symbol is allowed:

To park in an urban area which has no special parking space if this would not cause an obstruction for pedestrians and other vehicles;
To park in the area which has signs "No stopping (clearway)" and "No stopping except for as long as necessary to set down or pick up passengers (urban clearway)".

LUXEMBOURG

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited.
You must pay to park where payment is required and you must keep within the time limit.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.

Parking in car parks

Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card.

Parking badge: EU model

NETHERLANDS

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number.

Parking on roads

You may park for up to 3 hours on roads where parking is prohibited.
You must pay to park where payment is required and you must keep within the time limit. Local variations may apply, however. Check locally.
You may park without time limit o roads where parking is free but restricted by time.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.

Parking in car parks

Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

Mr. Gerard VAN EGMOND
Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat
Postbus 20901 NL-2500 EX The Hague
E-mail: gerard.van.egmond@minvenw.nl

NORWAY

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol. Do not park there if the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number. You may not use parking places reserved for other vehicles or vulnerable users.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where waiting is prohibited.
You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time, unless a time limit is specified for vehicles displaying the disabled person's parking card.
You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads with parking meters or pay-and-display parking.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.
You may park in residential areas where parking places restricted in time has been introduced.

Parking in car parks

In many car parks vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card are allowed to be parked free of charge and without time limit, but only in bays reserved for disabled people. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

As for where/who to contact for further information regarding the use of these parking badges in Norway, the local Authorities in which the parking badge has been issued, are responsible for giving information to the public.
However, the following general e-mail address for the Public Road Administration may be used:
firmapost@vegvesen.no

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol or signs D-18, D-18b plus plate T-29.
A driver of a vehicle with parking card does not pay for ferry passage.

Parking on roads: A person driving a vehicle with a disabled person's parking car is allowed (provided that he/she drives with caution) to drive or park in the area which has following regulatory signs:

No vehicles
No motor vehicles
No bus
No motorcycles
No mopeds
No stopping
No parking during even days
No parking during odd days
Parking is restricted by time

Parking in car parks

Public car parks offer no concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Local authorities may establish: free parking only in marked places, free parking in whole area, reduced charges for the first hour, reduced subscription for parking.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

Ms. Malgorzata CHOINSKA
Ministry of Infrastructure
ul. Chalubinskiego 4/6 PL-00-928 Warsaw
E-mail: mchoinska@mi.gov.pl

PORTUGAL

On public roads and in car parks there are places designated for disabled people. Such places are marked with the wheelchair international symbol and they are provided for holders of a European Parking Badge. Under national legislation, this badge is issued without considering either who drives or who owns the vehicle, and it may be required by any disabled person, in order to make it possible for them to be transported in another person's car.

The badge guarantees the right to park one's own car of another person's car, both on designated places and places not designated for disabled people, when it is absolutely necessary and for a short time period, since this will not be to the detriment of the normal circulation of vehicles and pedestrians.

The current Highway Code has created another possibility of parking on-street and in car parks. Under this new disposition, disabled people have a right to park either their own vehicle, or the vehicle in which they are travelling, in new designated places provided in car parks and parking areas marked with the wheelchair symbol, as well as two other pictograms: a pregnant woman and a person carrying a child in their arms.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited.
You must pay to park on roads where payment is required and must not exceed the time paid for.
You must not exceed time limits on roads where time restrictions apply.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.
There are also parking regulations made by some local Councils, providing disabled residents with restricted parking places close to their residence and work place. These persons must comply with the following conditions: to have a mobility impairment; to be a vehicle owner; to possess the EU model parking badge.
Do not park where the space is marked with a name or vehicle registration number.

Parking in car parks

Car parks do not always offer concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres (IMTT)
Av. das Forças Armadas, 40
P-1649-022 Lisboa
Tel. +351-217 949 000
Fax. +351-217 973 777

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol.

Parking on roads

Do not park on roads where parking is prohibited unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally.
Fees and time limit concessions for vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card vary. Check locally.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally.

Parking in car parks

In most places car parks offer concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Check locally.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

Mr. José REDONDO
Centro Estatal de Autonomia Personal y Ayudas Tecnicas
c/de los Extremenos No 1
E-28018 Madrid
Tel. +34-91 380 7320 E-mail: ceapat@seg-social.es

SWEDEN

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol.

Parking on roads

You may park for up to 3 hours on roads where parking is prohibited (see the European traffic signs details).
On roads where parking is free but restricted by time the following time limits apply to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card:
- where parking is limited to less than 3 hours, you may park for up to 3 hours;
- where parking is limited to more than 3 hours, you may park for up to 24 hours.
You may be allowed to park free of charge on roads where payment is normally required for parking. Check locally.
You may drive and park for up to 3 hours in pedestrian zones.

Parking in car parks

Car parks often make concessions to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card. Check locally.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

Mr. Lars AHLMAN
Advisor at the Swedish Association of Local Authorities
Tel. +46 40 34 35 75
E-mail: lars.ahlman@svekom.se

SWITZERLAND

Contact

Mr. Stephan HALTINER
Federal Roads Office
Tel. +41-31 322 3843
E-mail: stephan.haltiner@astra.admin.ch

UNITED KINGDOM

On roads and in car parks, parking places reserved for disabled people are marked with wheelchair symbol.

In the United Kingdom the parking card is used in conjunction with a parking disc. However, people from other countries who display the disabled person's card without a parking disc will be given the same conditions.

Parking on roads

You may park for up to 3 hours on roads where parking is prohibited unless the signs say "No loading or unloading".
You may park free of charge and without time limit on roads with parking meters or pay-and-display parking.
You may park without time limit on roads where parking is free but restricted by time.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless there is a sign showing that vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking car are exempt.
The Scheme does not operate fully in Central London. Check locally in Central London about concessions.

Parking in car parks

Some car parks allow vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card to be parked free of charge. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant.

Parking badge: EU model

Contact

Ms. Helen GRECH
Accessibility & Equalities Unit
Department for Transport
Zone 2/23 Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
Tel. +44-20 7944 4140
E-mail: helen.grech@dft.gsi.gov.uk

For further information, please contact Mary CRASS