The Companion Badge
What is the Companion Badge?
The Companion Badge is a type of parking permit for disabled people.
It is designed to provide eligible residents with improved protection against people who steal Blue Badges displayed in vehicles. By substituting your Blue Badge for a vehicle specific Companion Badge, your valuable Blue Badges no longer have to be left in parked vehicles.
The Council operates its own free ‘Companion Badge’ scheme for Hackney Blue Badge holders who live and park in Hackney.
For Blue Badge holders who live in any of Hackney’s Controlled Parking Zones, the Companion Badge will also allow you to park in Residential Bays in the holder’s home zone.
A Companion Badge is only valid for the vehicle it is displayed in, making it of no use to thieves as they are not able to use it in another vehicle or sell it. The scheme is simple and easy to join - see our guide to disabled parking in Hackney for more information.
How do I apply for a Companion Badge?
- If you are an existing Blue Badge holder and would like a Companion Badge, you can apply for one by calling Parking Services on 0208 356 8877 or emailing info@hackney.gov.uk.
- If you are applying for a new Blue Badge (or renewing one) you can apply for a Companion Badge at the same time. Please contact the Mobility Team by calling 0208 356 6825 or emailing info@hackney.gov.uk.
Where can I park with a Companion Badge?
A companion badge enables the holder to park within the borough of Hackney on single yellow or double yellow lines for up to 3 hours, pay & display bays and shared use bays throughout Hackney. The holder can also park in resident only permit bays in the home zone. For all the above the accompanying clock MUST be displayed at all times, except in resident only permit bays in the holder’s home zone.
Where can I park and when should I display the clock?
Information about where you can park in Hackney with your Blue Badge and Companion Badge and when to display the clock is shown in the following table.
| Blue Badge | Companion Badge | |
| On Street Pay and Display Bays | Yes | Yes with clock |
| Permit Holder Only Bays | No | No |
| Shared Use Bays (combined Pay and Display and Permit Holder Bays) | Yes | Yes with clock |
| Disabled Bays | Yes | Yes with clock, but no clock needed in home CPZ |
| Resident Permit Holder Only Bays (home CPZ only) | No | Yes (no clock needed) |
| Single and Double Yellow Lines | Yes with clock (maximum three hours) | Yes with clock (maximum three hours) |
| Business Bays, Doctors Bays, Red Routes, Suspended Bays | No | No |
| Housing Estates. | Please contact estates directly to find out whereyou can park. | Please contact estates directly to find out whereyou can park. |
More information
Information and resources
For more information about our parking services for disabled people, you can:
- Download our
Guide to disabled parking in Hackney. - Find out about badge misuse and how to use your badge properly
Contacting us
If you have any queries about disabled parking, you can get in touch with us using the details below:
- For Companion Badge queries, please call Parking Services on 020 8356 8877 or email info@hackney.gov.uk.
- For Blue Badge queries, please call The Mobility Team on 020 8356 6825 or email info@hackney.gov.uk.
Page updated: 15 Dec 2009
Companion badge application form