This page describes what the concessions are and where disabled people can park, where they can't, and the different parking signs to look out for.

Always read the concession details for the country you are visiting, and make sure you apply the rules when you park. Some countries operate local concessions and you may need to enquire locally before you park.

The fold-out back cover says, in the language of each country, that you are entitled to park in areas where there are concessions for disabled people. You may find it helpful to leave it open on the dashboard, with your parking card, to explain this to the local enforcement agencies.

If you are in any doubt about your rights, DON'T PARK

Countries

Austria
General

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.

Belgium
General

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 may park free of charge on roads where payment is required, for example at parking meters. 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.

Denmark
General

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

Parking discs are used in Denmark and can be bought wherever motor fuels are sold. Whenever drivers park in areas with time limits they are required to set the disc. However, vehicles may display discs issued outside Denmark.

Parking on roads

You may park for 15 minutes on roads where waiting is prohibited (see the European traffic signs details).

The following time limits apply generally to vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card:

where parking is limited to 15-30 minutes, you may park for up to an hour.
where parking is limited to 3 hours, you may park for an unlimited time.
On roads with parking meters or pay-and-display parking, you must pay according to how long you park, but if you make the maximum payment, you may park for an unlimited time.

You may be allowed to drive and park in pedestrian zones, but this will be only during specific vehicle access times, and for a maximum of 15 minutes. Check locally.

Parking in car parks

In car parks where payment is required, you must pay according to how long you park, but if you make the maximum payment, you may park for an unlimited time

Finland
General

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 (see the European traffic signs details).

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 Ð check locally.

Parking in car parks

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

France
General

Although there is a national system of parking concessions, local variations can apply. Check locally. In Paris, vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card 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. Check locally to establish what the concession is.
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 vehicles displaying a disabled person's parking card.

Germany
General

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 for up to 3 hours on roads where waiting is prohibited and in residents' parking areas (see the European traffic signs details).
You may park for up to 24 hours on roads where parking is free but restricted by time.
You may park free of charge and for up to 24 hours on roads with parking meters or pay-and-display parking.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones unless local concessions specifically allow it. Check locally. Where this entitlement applies, you are allowed to enter or park only during specific vehicle access times.
These concessions generally apply only when no other parking is available within a reasonable distance.

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 parking bays marked for disabled people. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant.

Greece
General

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.

Iceland
General

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.

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.

Ireland
General

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.
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. Check with car park notices or ask an attendant.

Italy
General

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 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.

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Liechtenstein
General

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

Luxembourg
General

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 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.

Netherlands
General

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 for up to 3 hours on roads where waiting is prohibited (see the European traffic signs details).
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 on 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.

Norway
General

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, 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.
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.

Portugal
General

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

Apart from reserved spaces there are no concessions for street parking.
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 paid-for time.
You must not exceed time limits on roads where time restrictions apply.
Do not drive or park in pedestrian zones.

Parking in car parks

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

Spain
General

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 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.

Sweden
General

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

Parking on roads

You may park for up to 3 hours on roads where waiting 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.

United Kingdom
General

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

Parking on roads

You may park for up to 3 hours on roads where waiting is prohibited unless the signs say ÔNo Loading or Unloading' (see the European traffic signs details).

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 card 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.

European Traffic Signs: Parking, Waiting and Stopping

Parking.


Waiting prohibited in some countries you may be allowed to park for a
limited amount of time, providing you don't cause an obstruction.




Waiting prohibited on odd numbered days.



Waiting prohibited on even numbered days.


No stopping. You must never park on roads where stopping is prohibited.

The basic signs are the red and blue roundels which are common to all countries.

In some places waiting is permitted on alternate sides of the road. The signs above show if the change is made daily.

If a different form of alternation applies, the numerals I and II are replaced by the appropriate dates; eg, 1-15 and 16-31 if the change is made on the 1st and 16th day of the month.

Plates may be mounted beneath any of the above signs to give details of the times when restrictions are in force, any exemptions for certain classes of traffic, and the length of road over which the restriction extends.

When the length of time vehicles may wait is limited, this may be stated on an additional plate or on the lower part of the red circle on a prohibitory sign.

General Advice
When you use the disabled person's parking card in any country you should exercise caution and park safely.

YOU SHOULD NOT PARK:

where you might cause a danger to others, such as at school entrances or pedestrian crossings

where road space is especially limited, such as at road works, or on narrow country lanes

where you may make it difficult for others to see clearly, such as near junctions

where you might cause an obstruction, such as at vehicle entrances

where space is needed for emergency vehicles

Anyone who misuses the disabled person's parking card will be liable to whatever penalties for unlawful parking apply in the country in question

If you are in any doubt about your rights, DON'T PARK

Further Information
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Disability Policy Branch, Mobility Unit
Zone 1/11, Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR

or by calling 020 7944 6800

For enquiries in respect of Scotland and Wales, please contact:

National Assembly for Wales
Transport Policy Division
Cathays Park
Cardiff CF10 3NQ

or by calling 02920 826501

Scottish Executive Development Department Transport & Local Roads Division
Area 2E
Victoria Quay
Leith
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ

or by calling 0131 244 0860/0869