Hi, we're going to France in July and I want to know if anyone knows anything about what the situation is regarding disabled drivers.
My husband has a Blue Badge here but I believe I read recently that it is no longer recognised in France.
We need to be able to use disabled parking spaces etc, so can anyone give me any information? How do you apply for a disability card in France?
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There are formidable bureaucratic hurdles to overcome to get a French blue badge. For a holiday visit you will not manage it in the time available.
So you have two choices - use your British blue badge which is no longer strictly legal in France and hope the parking warden will accept it, or park in normal parking places.
Sorry.
You would be ok to use the disabled spaces in supermarkets. Parking is mostly free in France anyway so I doubt there would be enforcement anyway so just park & display your blue badge.
You might also notice blue bays in town centres that allow a couple of hours parking & you will see parked cars displaying blue cards with moveable time thingys on them. You can get these free at the local Marie. I did anyway & use them anywhere in France.
Quote: Originally posted by billy on 14/2/2022
You would be ok to use the disabled spaces in supermarkets. Parking is mostly free in France anyway so I doubt there would be enforcement anyway so just park & display your blue badge.
You might also notice blue bays in town centres that allow a couple of hours parking & you will see parked cars displaying blue cards with moveable time thingys on them. You can get these free at the local Marie. I did anyway & use them anywhere in France.
When I lived in France the blue bays and parking permits were only available for residents, I had to show proof of residency to get one. That might have changed now of course.
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They might have asked me if I lived there. I find in France just answering oui oui to everything helps a lot. I have used it all over France & in Belgium. Maybe though they do not bother with foreign reg cars ?
Not sure when it changed but we used the blue badge last September with no problems, even in a motorhome.
As you probably already now, France is less 'accessibility-aware' than the UK but once my husband's mobility scooter was spotted, everyone went out of their way to help us.
If need be, as soon as you say the word desactive or handicape, people are very kind (even the people picnicking in the one disabled car park space in the harbour at Benodet when we were trying to park our car there a couple of years ago )
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Just back from France, only a long weekend in Brittany, but we had no issues using my wife’s Blue Badge. In Morlaix a very, very helpful Gendarme, who happened to be milling around the car park, said just display the badge to use the bay. Not sure if that is the official line, but we used it on several occasions with no problems at all.
On a side note, the hospitality, friendliness and helpfulness of the French/Breton people we met was exceptional, they seemed so pleased to see English people milling around. We have traveled the world, and never come across such hospitality as we did on our latest trip to France.
At a Travelodge I stayed in for work recently, a french registered car was using the disabled bay and displaying a french blue badge. So obviously a rare bit of common sense reciprocal cooperation.
Quote: Originally posted by Triaxle on 05/4/2022
At a Travelodge I stayed in for work recently, a french registered car was using the disabled bay and displaying a french blue badge. So obviously a rare bit of common sense reciprocal cooperation.
No issues from friends who use a Blue Badge, and they've been travelling around with no problems in any of the towns, villages, and cities that they've parked in.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Blue badge in France now
via mobile 14/2/2022 at 9:47am
I have used it all over France & in Belgium. Maybe though they do not bother with foreign reg cars ? 
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