France - blue badge holders

[Boxster5]

We’re off to France again (via Holland & Belgium) in September.
My wife has a blue badge and is recovering from a triple ankle fusion (in plaster for 14 weeks but comes off next Monday hopefully).
I’m trying to find out whether France accepts the UK blue badge following good old Brexit and it says “may not recognise non EU issued parking cards”.
It then links you to an FIA site for France - Driving with a disability. Reading that to my mind it looks like they DO recognise non EU issued badges.
Would be grateful for confirmation from the PH massive.

[geeks]

Advice is very unclear and very French, if you get an answer please update the thread, we are taking mother in law out there next year to see her Grandfathers grave who was killed in the Battle of The Somme, Mrs geeks has a Blue Badge and it would be handy to know where we stand

[the-norseman]

Not France but wife has used hers in Italy and Spain recently with no issues.

[Mr Magooagain]

My sister used a Uk one when she lived here/there for two years around 2008/10. No problems.

[Boxster5]

Mr Magooagain said:

My sister used a Uk one when she lived here/there for two years around 2008/10. No problems.

It wasn’t a problem then - Brexit has changed the rules!

[omniflow]

You can download a translation which you need to display in the window along with your UK Blue Badge.

We used a UK Blue Badge in June of this year (so definitely post Brexit) in Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Belgium with zero issues. We had a translation relevant to each country.

[rdjohn]

I searched in French and this was the vague response translated.

No, British Blue Badges for disabled people are not generally accepted in France as automatic recognition, following Brexit. Drivers holding a British Blue Badge should check local rules with the French authorities or embassy before their trip.
Detailed explanation:
Brexit and mutual recognition:
Before Brexit, British blue badges were recognized across the European Union, including France. However, since the end of the Brexit transition period, mutual recognition has been affected.
No automatic recognition:
France no longer automatically recognizes British blue badges, meaning that holders of these badges cannot automatically use parking spaces reserved for disabled people.
Negotiations in progress:
The British government is in discussions with the French authorities to try to find a mutual recognition agreement, but so far no agreement has been reached.
Travel advice:
British Blue Badge holders travelling to France are advised to check the latest guidance with the French authorities or embassy before their trip, and to consider alternative accessibility arrangements during their stay.
Exceptions locales:
It is advisable to check the specific rules with the town hall of the city you plan to visit, as some cities may have specific local policies regarding the recognition of blue badges.

From my knowledge of living there, I do not believe any authorities in France are particularly looking to deter tourism by ticketing disabled holidaymakers.

I think that they might only become suspicious if the car did not look appropriate e.g. a Boxster, or if the car was left partially obstructing the carriageway.

Handicap spaces in supermarket car parks are not enforced.

Sum up, I really do not think that you will have an issue, everyone knows that the Brexit negotiation was a total FUBAR.

[Puggit]

Top advice in the post above. Legally a UK blue badge is not recognised, in practice people have little bother as long as they use it properly (source, I read a lot of French-related Facebook groups)

[Antony Moxey]

We were in France this time last year and used my daughter’s blue badge without any issues. I guess as said above if you use it as you would in the UK you’re probably going to be OK. Us being us it never occurred to us that her badge wouldn’t be valid so didn’t bother doing any research. I guess sometimes ignorance is bliss! Although it should be noted we didn’t visit any of the major cities while we were there, we were out in the sticks the whole time where I’d imagine they’re more relaxed about such things.

[Boxster5]

rdjohn said:

I searched in French and this was the vague response translated.

No, British Blue Badges for disabled people are not generally accepted in France as automatic recognition, following Brexit. Drivers holding a British Blue Badge should check local rules with the French authorities or embassy before their trip.
Detailed explanation:
Brexit and mutual recognition:
Before Brexit, British blue badges were recognized across the European Union, including France. However, since the end of the Brexit transition period, mutual recognition has been affected.
No automatic recognition:
France no longer automatically recognizes British blue badges, meaning that holders of these badges cannot automatically use parking spaces reserved for disabled people.
Negotiations in progress:
The British government is in discussions with the French authorities to try to find a mutual recognition agreement, but so far no agreement has been reached.
Travel advice:
British Blue Badge holders travelling to France are advised to check the latest guidance with the French authorities or embassy before their trip, and to consider alternative accessibility arrangements during their stay.
Exceptions locales:
It is advisable to check the specific rules with the town hall of the city you plan to visit, as some cities may have specific local policies regarding the recognition of blue badges.

From my knowledge of living there, I do not believe any authorities in France are particularly looking to deter tourism by ticketing disabled holidaymakers.

I think that they might only become suspicious if the car did not look appropriate e.g. a Boxster, or if the car was left partially obstructing the carriageway.

Handicap spaces in supermarket car parks are not enforced.

Sum up, I really do not think that you will have an issue, everyone knows that the Brexit negotiation was a total FUBAR.

Thanks for that comprehensive summation of the current situation.
Ha ha yes we will be in a Boxster (hopefully) - we were in France last year and didn’t even think about using disabled spaces even though my wife had a walking stick.
We love France (we go every year) but you could guarantee they’d be a bit arsy following Brexit - “the gift that keeps on giving” - but we’ll not go there!

[omniflow]

Try reading this:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-ba...

[geeks]

the-norseman said:

Not France but wife has used hers in Italy and Spain recently with no issues.

Yeah France and a few others havent actually confirmed what they will and wont accept.

Spain and Italy seem to be on the "in some regions" list which isnt helpful but seems to be ok anyway.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-ba...

[Boxster5]

omniflow said:

Try reading this:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-ba...

Thanks Omniflow - that’s the one I read. Not exactly clear for France is it?
On the face of it my reading of it is you can use a blue badge?

[smifffymoto]

I don’t think you will have any problems,most attendants will use common sense and recognise a blue badge as a blue badge.

[omniflow]

Boxster5 said:

Thanks Omniflow - that’s the one I read. Not exactly clear for France is it?
On the face of it my reading of it is you can use a blue badge?

Print out a few copies of the translation. You know how much the French like things in their own language.

There's one here:

https://www.icarhireinsurance.com/disabled-driving...

[Den Den]

Used a blue badge in France for the last seven or eight years until last year, my late wife's, no issues at all.