As a car owner, you're probably used to parking in designated disabled spots. You might have a blue badge to prove it. But what happens if you want to take your car on holiday to Europe? Will your blue badge still work there?
Here in the UK, my blue disabled badge allows me to park in designated disabled parking spots and sometimes I'm even allowed to park for free. So does my blue badge allow me to do the same thing when I'm on holiday in Europe?
We have had a look at the UK Government website and were shocked to find that this is a bit of a minefield. We are advised that negotiations are taking place about the recognition and use of UK Blue Badges in some European countries. Let's look at the detail provided:
| Country or territory | UK Blue Badge recognised |
| Austria | Yes |
| Belgium | Yes |
| Bulgaria | Undecided |
| Croatia | Yes |
| Cyprus | Yes |
| Czech Republic | Yes |
| Denmark | Yes |
| Estonia | Yes |
| Finland | Yes |
| France | Undecided |
| Germany | Yes |
| Greece | Undecided |
| Hungary | Yes |
| Iceland | Undecided |
| Ireland | Yes |
| Italy | Undecided |
| Latvia | Yes |
| Liechtenstein | Yes |
| Lithuania | Undecided |
| Luxembourg | Undecided |
| Malta | Yes |
| Netherlands | Yes |
| Norway | Yes |
| Poland | Yes |
| Portugal | Undecided |
| Romania | Undecided |
| Slovakia | Yes |
| Slovenia | Yes |
| Spain (including Balearics and Canary Isles) | Undecided |
| Sweden | Yes |
| Switzerland | Yes |
