The rules for companion e-badges have changed
From 1 February 2021 companion e-badges will only be valid for parking in your home controlled parking zone.
Companion e-badge explained
The companion e-badge is an electronic parking badge which is issued free of charge to blue badge holders in Hackney that meet the eligibility criteria set out below.
It gives holders the benefit and security of not having to display their blue badge in their vehicle when parking in their home zone just like a residents permit.
Disabled residents who pass the mobility assessment to obtain a personalised permit bay will also be issued a companion e-badge which will be linked to their bay.
Companion e-badges are not valid in any type of bay on estates unless you have been allocated a personalised permit bay. However, blue badge holders can apply for a free estate resident permit which can be used instead of the blue badge and clock, to park in their home estate.
Apply for a companion e-badge
- you must hold a valid Hackney issued blue badge in your name
- companion e-badges are only issued to blue badge holders who live in a controlled parking zone in Hackney
- you are only entitled to one companion e-badge, per blue badge, per vehicle registration mark
- if you obtain a companion e-badge you are not entitled to hold a residents permit at the same time for another vehicle
- if you live on an estate and have received a free estate residents permit and a companion e-badge, they must cover the same vehicle
- if you have been allocated a personalised permit bay you will be granted a companion e-badge even if you do not live in a controlled parking zone
- if you are the parent or legal guardian of a blue badge holder under the age of 18 you can apply for a companion e-badge on their behalf. You must live at the same address as the blue badge holder and will only be allocated one e-badge
General terms and conditions
- your permanent address must be within the boundary of a Hackney parking zone
- you must be the registered keeper of the vehicle. Motability scheme lease vehicles must be registered in the name of the blue badge holder unless you are the parent of a child under the age of 18 or a legal guardian
- your vehicle must be registered with the DVLA at the address stated in this application, or you must be the authorised keeper of a company vehicle, or the owner of a foreign-registered vehicle. Foreign registered vehicles are only eligible for one permit for a maximum of 6 months
- your vehicle can be a passenger or a goods vehicle. The overall height must not exceed 2.27m (7’5”), the length must not exceed 5.25m (17’3”) and the unladen weight must not exceed 3,500kg (7,716lb)
- vehicles must be parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space
- a companion e-badge or permit does not guarantee a parking space
View full terms and conditions.
- your blue badge has expired, it is not in your name or registered to your home
- you already have a companion e-badge in your name
- you are not confirmed as the person residing at the property within your application
- you do not provide documents on the prescribed list, or submit fraudulent documents
- your vehicle is not registered with the DVLA at the address stated in the application
- the registered owner of the vehicle is not the blue badge holder (unless you are the parent or legal guardian of a minor blue badge holder under the age of 18)
Before you start
You’ll need:
- a personal email address
- your vehicle registration number
- log book (V5C)
- to provide proof of your blue badge, both front and back
You may also be asked to provide a proof of residency if we can’t confirm your residency automatically.
We’ll accept scanned copies or photos of supporting documents.
Apply or renew now
What happens after you apply?
Once your application has been approved, your companion e-badge will become active from the date selected in your application.
If your application isn’t successful, we’ll contact you to explain why or what you need to do to help us process it.
Parking permits price list
Terms and conditions
- the companion e-badge is only valid for the vehicle registration mark on the registered permit account and associated documentation
- a companion e-badge allows the holder to park for free within their home controlled parking zone only without displaying their blue badge
- if you pass the mobility assessment to obtain a personalised permit bay you will need a companion e-badge which will be linked to your bay
- companion e-badges are electronic permits. You will be able to park without displaying anything in your vehicle. Civil enforcement officers can check if your badge is valid by entering your vehicle registration mark into their handheld device
- your badge may be cancelled if you are found to have committed or attempted to commit fraud. The Council reserves the right to cancel your companion e-badge at any time and you may face the permanent suspension of your account or prosecution
Permit holder only bays
- can I park with a companion e-badge? Yes – home parking zone only
- is a clock required? No
Resident permit holder only bays
- can I park with a companion e-badge? Yes – home parking zone only
- is a clock required? No
Shared use bays (combined pay and display and permit holder bays)
- can I park with a companion e-badge? Yes – home parking zone only
- is a clock required? No
General use disabled bays
- can I park with a companion e-badge? Yes – home parking zone only
- is a clock required? Only if sign shows a time limit
Personalised permit bays (allocated to a single disabled driver that has passed a set criteria)
- can I park with a companion e-badge? Yes – only if it is allocated to you
- is a clock required? No
Estate parking bays
- can I park with a companion e-badge? No
- is a clock required? Not applicable
On-street pay and display bays
- can I park with a companion e-badge? No
- is a clock required? Not applicable
Business bays, doctors bays, car club bays, suspended bays, red routes
- can I park with a companion e-badge? No
- is a clock required? Not applicable
Single and double yellow lines
- can I park with a companion e-badge? No
- is a clock required? Not applicable
- companion e-badges are not valid to park on estates unless it is for an allocated personalised permit bay
- in a personalised permit bay unless it has been allocated to you
- a companion e-badge is not permitted to park in a permit, resident and shared-use parking bays except for home parking zone, on-street pay and display bays, business bays, doctors bays, car club bays, suspended bays or red routes
- companion e-badges are not permitted to park on single or double yellow lines anywhere
Please supply the front and back of your blue badge.
Please provide one of the following as proof of residency. Scanned copies and clear photographs will be accepted:
- driving licence
- council tax statement
- utility bill dated in last 3 months
- signed tenancy agreement
- bank statement (current or savings account) dated in last 3 months
- solicitor’s letter confirming completion (new residents only)
- legally drawn letter from landlord or estate agent valid for the full life of the permit
- rent book from council or housing trust
- companion e-badges are non-refundable as they are free of charge
- if you change your vehicle or address you must notify parking services as soon as possible to update our records. Failure to do this may result in a penalty charge notice being issued as your vehicle will not be covered by a companion e-badge
- permits remain the property of Hackney Council and we reserve the right to withdraw any permit without giving prior notice or reason, and your vehicle may be issued with a penalty charge notice or removed
- the Council considers fraud and attempted fraud to be an extremely serious matter and will not hesitate to take preventative, remedial or punitive actions against any person or organisation suspected of fraud or attempted fraud
- your badge may be cancelled if you are found to have committed or attempted to commit fraud. The Council reserves the right to cancel your companion e-badge at any time and you may face the permanent suspension of your account or prosecution
- it is an offence under the Vehicle (Excise) Act 1962 (Section 7) to park or keep a mechanically propelled vehicle on a public road if the vehicle is unlicensed
Apply by post
To change the details by post, print and complete the companion badge application (google doc) and return it to us.
Page updated on: 4 January 2024