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WE LOOK AT BLUE BADGE RULES FOR FRENCH VISITORS TO THE UK READER QUESTION: I AM FRENCH AND HAVE RECENTLY JUST MOVED TO THE UK. AM I ABLE TO USE MY FRENCH DISABLED PARKING BADGE HERE? The

British government states that it recognises French disabled parking badges and badges from any other European Union member state. Your badge should, therefore be recognised, having said

which, if you are becoming a resident of the UK you should apply for the British version of the card. French blue badge holders can normally park in disabled parking spots free of charge and

with no restricted hours. They can also park on yellow lines on roads for up to three hours or in free on-street spaces where there is a time limit for other drivers. Badge holders would

not normally be subject to the time limit in this case but there will be exceptions. Some areas in England and Wales may require you to indicate time of arrival by placing a cardboard

parking clock in view. Blue Badge holders can also park for free with no time limit – unless a time limit is displayed – in ‘on-street’ parking controlled by meters and pay-and-display

machines and in ‘on-street’ disabled parking bays indicated with a blue wheelchair symbol. These three spots are preferable to parking on yellow lines, as indicated by the Ministry For

Transport on its website. In private car parks, it is up to the owner to decide whether badge holders can park for free or not. However, the reverse is not true for UK blue badge holders in

France, as the French government has yet to recognise them. British people living in France may apply for a badge in France, the Department for Transport told _The Connexion_. Editor's

note: Since this article was published, the Department for Transport stated that, while it recognises EU badges on principle, local authorities administrate and enforce rules in their areas

of the UK and therefore acceptance of the badges is "ultimately a matter for them". RELATED ARTICLES USING FRENCH BLUE DISABLED PARKING BADGE IN UK THE 10 MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES TO

PARK YOUR CAR IN FRANCE