At a glance
- Bays
- About 200 accessible parking bays across the City of Greater Geelong, as the City lists them
- Who can use them
- Only people who hold an accessible (disability) parking permit
- Permit types
- Australian Disability Parking Permit (bays, or double time in ordinary bays, valid across Australia) and Victorian Double Time permit (ordinary bays only, valid in Victoria)
- How long a permit lasts
- Short-term permits last 6 months, 1 year or 2 years; long-term permits last 5 years; organisation permits last up to 12 months
- Cost
- The City and Transport Victoria pages read do not state a permit fee. Parking fees still apply when you park
- Who it’s for
- People with a significant disability, injury or legal blindness, their drivers and passengers, and anyone who wants to know how the scheme works in Geelong
- What to do now
- Applications start on the state accessible parking website, which sends an SMS reference number; the City says you can choose to collect the permit from its Mercer Street customer service centre
- Last checked
- Sunday 8 November 2026, against the City of Greater Geelong’s two accessible parking pages and Transport Victoria’s permit page
- Not yet confirmed
- Any application fee, and the list of bays in central Geelong, which the City publishes as a separate document that was not read for this article
Geelong has about 200 accessible parking bays, and you can use one only if you hold an accessible parking permit. A permit also lets you stay in an ordinary bay for twice the time shown on the sign. This guide pulls together what the City of Greater Geelong and Transport Victoria say, read on 8 November 2026.
How many accessible bays are there in Geelong?
The City says there are approximately 200 accessible or disability parking bays throughout the municipality. It describes them as spaces for people with disabilities who need extra room to get in or out of a vehicle, or who need to park close to certain places because of mobility problems. The City’s page links to a list of accessible parking spaces in central Geelong and to a way to report maintenance problems or suggest new bays.
Which permit types are there?
The City and Transport Victoria describe two types of permit.
| Permit | Where you can park | Where it is valid |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Disability Parking Permit (category one) | A reserved disability bay for the time on the sign, or any ordinary bay for twice as long as the sign shows | Throughout Australia |
| Victorian Double Time permit (category two, called PX2 by Transport Victoria; green permits) | Any ordinary bay for twice as long as the sign shows | Victoria only |
Both pages say the holder, as driver or passenger, gets the permit’s entitlement. Transport Victoria’s page says permits are limited to one per eligible person.
Where does a permit not let me park?
Transport Victoria says accessible parking permits cannot be used in clearways, in “no stopping” or “no parking” areas, in “taxi only” areas, in bus zones or in authorised resident areas. It also says any parking fees still apply. The permit has to be displayed only while the permit owner is using the vehicle, as a driver or a passenger, and displayed so the permit number, expiry date and QR code are clearly visible from outside the vehicle.
Who is eligible?
Transport Victoria says a person with a significant disability or injury, or who is legally blind, may be eligible. The City says the overarching eligibility criteria have not changed under the Accessible Parking Permit (APP) Scheme, but the wording and the way a medical practitioner assesses a patient’s mobility or medical condition have changed.
How do I apply, and how long does it take?
Transport Victoria sets out these steps:
- Go to the accessible parking permit website and get an SMS reference number. If needed, your medical practitioner can start the online application for you.
- Take the reference number to your medical practitioner or, for mobility-only conditions, your occupational therapist.
- That practitioner completes the online assessment and submits the application.
- Your local council reviews it and sends the outcome by mail. Transport Victoria says you should receive the outcome within 10 to 15 days. If you are successful, the permit is sent by mail.
The City adds that you can choose to pick the permit up from its Customer Service Centre at 137-149 Mercer Street, Geelong. If you cannot complete the online application, the City says your carer, family, a friend, your GP or council customer service staff can help. A paper application is available on request for people with no access to a mobile phone or the internet, though the City says the online process gives a faster outcome. Old forms are not accepted, because some of their questions no longer match the new scheme.
What changed with the Accessible Parking Permit Scheme?
The City lists these improvements from the Victorian Government’s new scheme:
- temporary permits for 6, 12 or 24 months;
- a permanent permit length of 5 years for individuals;
- a permanent disability classification, so some people do not need reassessment when they renew;
- a single, secure statewide permit design intended to reduce misuse;
- occupational therapists as assessors as well as GPs;
- Double Time (green) permits and permits for organisations continuing.
Transport Victoria adds that if your GP confirms you need a 5-year permit and your disability is permanent, you may be exempt from a medical assessment when you renew. The City says all existing City of Greater Geelong permits stay valid until they expire, and that you apply for a new permit when yours does.
How long does a permit last?
Transport Victoria says short-term permits can last six months, one year or two years. Long-term permits last five years. Organisation permits last a maximum of 12 months.
Who do I contact?
Transport Victoria lists 1300 965 677 and accessibleparking@transport.vic.gov.au, and says you can also speak to your local council. For a bay that needs maintenance or a place where a new bay is wanted, the City’s accessible parking page has a contact link.
Sources
- City of Greater Geelong: Accessible parking information (page updated 5 November 2026; read 8 November 2026)
- City of Greater Geelong: Disabled Parking Permits, Accessible Parking Permit (APP) Scheme (page updated 16 July 2026; read 8 November 2026)
- Transport Victoria: Accessible parking permits (read 8 November 2026)
Featured image: An entrance on the eastern side of Geelong Station, April 2022 (photo: Marcnut1996 / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Greater Geelong or Transport Victoria. Rules and processes can change; check the official pages before you apply or park.