Advice
How to pay the Dart Charge at Dartford Crossing?
Planning a trip down the Dartford Crossing? Find out how to make an account to pay the Dart Charge and avoid a £70 fine.
Words by: Nimisha Jain
Published on 1 August 2023 | 0 min read
What is Dart Charge?
All drivers using the Dartford Crossing have to pay a road user charge called the Dart Charge.
Dartford Crossing is one of the busiest crossings in the UK. It comprises of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and two Dartford Tunnels, which run across the River Thames in England, connecting Dartford and Thurrock. It The Dart Charge is applicable on each journey you make on the Dartford Crossing between 6:00 am – 10:00 pm. Outside of these timings, the Dartford Crossing can be used free of charge. The Dart Charge is applicable on all days, including bank holidays and weekends.
Dartford Crossing is one of the busiest crossings in the UK. It comprises of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and two Dartford Tunnels, which run across the River Thames in England, connecting Dartford and Thurrock. It The Dart Charge is applicable on each journey you make on the Dartford Crossing between 6:00 am – 10:00 pm. Outside of these timings, the Dartford Crossing can be used free of charge. The Dart Charge is applicable on all days, including bank holidays and weekends.
Do I need to pay the Dart Charge?
All drivers need to pay the Dart Charge if they use the Dartford Crossing.
The only exceptions to paying the Dart Charge are when you’re riding a motorcycle, moped, or a quad bike; or if you’re exempt from paying vehicle excise duty (VED) because of a disability.
The only exceptions to paying the Dart Charge are when you’re riding a motorcycle, moped, or a quad bike; or if you’re exempt from paying vehicle excise duty (VED) because of a disability.
How much is the Dart Charge?
The amount of Dart Charge you’ll pay depends on:
1) the type of vehicle you drive on the Dartford Crossing, and 2) whether you pay-as-you-go, or you create an account and pay, in which case, the Dart Charge is lesser. As mentioned above, motorcycles, mopeds and quad bikes can use the Dartford Crossing for free. If you drive a car, motorhome, trailer or a minibus (with nine seats or less), then you need to pay £2.50 for pay-as-you-go or £2.00 if you pre-pay through an account. If you drive a bus, coach, van or any other vehicle with two axles, then you need to pay £3.00 for pay-as-you-go or £2.63 if you pre-pay through an account. If you drive a bus, coach, van or any other vehicle with three or more axles, then you need to pay £6.00 for pay-as-you-go or £5.19 if you pre-pay through an account.
1) the type of vehicle you drive on the Dartford Crossing, and 2) whether you pay-as-you-go, or you create an account and pay, in which case, the Dart Charge is lesser. As mentioned above, motorcycles, mopeds and quad bikes can use the Dartford Crossing for free. If you drive a car, motorhome, trailer or a minibus (with nine seats or less), then you need to pay £2.50 for pay-as-you-go or £2.00 if you pre-pay through an account. If you drive a bus, coach, van or any other vehicle with two axles, then you need to pay £3.00 for pay-as-you-go or £2.63 if you pre-pay through an account. If you drive a bus, coach, van or any other vehicle with three or more axles, then you need to pay £6.00 for pay-as-you-go or £5.19 if you pre-pay through an account.
How to pay Dart Charges?
If you use the Dartford Crossing, you’ll have to pay the Dart Charge by midnight the day after using the Crossing.
You can pay the Dart Charges online, in-person, by post, or by phone. You can either make a single payment and pay-as-you-go, or you can create an account and pay automatically whenever you use the Dartford Crossing.
You can pay the Dart Charges online, in-person, by post, or by phone. You can either make a single payment and pay-as-you-go, or you can create an account and pay automatically whenever you use the Dartford Crossing.
How to set up a Dart Charge account?
If you use the Dartford Crossing regularly, it’d be worth getting a Dart Charge account:
You benefit from the reduced Dart Charge rate, and you can automatically pay the Dart Charge from your account when you use the Crossing – which helps prevent a late payment and so, helps avoid a penalty. The Dart Charge account can be used to pay for up to four different vehicles. To open a Dart Charge account, you’ll have to deposit £10 initially, then maintain a minimum £5 credit in the account – this ensures there’s enough balance in your account for the next time you use the Dartford Crossing. You can set up an automatic top-up by card or by direct debit to keep your account balance above £5 - you can choose how much you’d like to top-up your account by and at what low balance threshold you’d like the automatic top-up to be made. You can also check your account balance online or by phone at any time.
You benefit from the reduced Dart Charge rate, and you can automatically pay the Dart Charge from your account when you use the Crossing – which helps prevent a late payment and so, helps avoid a penalty. The Dart Charge account can be used to pay for up to four different vehicles. To open a Dart Charge account, you’ll have to deposit £10 initially, then maintain a minimum £5 credit in the account – this ensures there’s enough balance in your account for the next time you use the Dartford Crossing. You can set up an automatic top-up by card or by direct debit to keep your account balance above £5 - you can choose how much you’d like to top-up your account by and at what low balance threshold you’d like the automatic top-up to be made. You can also check your account balance online or by phone at any time.
Pay Dart Charge online
You can make a single Dart Charge payment or create a Dart Charge account online on Gov.uk. Once you create an account, you can log in, check your balance, make a payment and top-up your account credit at any time.
Pay Dart Charge in-person
If you want to pay for using the Dartford Crossing in person, you can do so by finding the closest Payzone store near you. You can either make a single payment or top-up your existing Dart Charge account at the Payzone stores.
Pay Dart Charge by post
You can set up a new Dart Charge account, top-up your existing account or pre-pay the Dart Charges before using the Dart Crossing, by post.
If you don’t have an account yet and want to create a new one by post, you’ll have to download and print this application form (external link), fill it out, and send it to the Dart Charge office at: Dart Charge, PO Box 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF. To use any of these services offered by the Dart Charge office by post, you can send your application form to the following address: Dart Charge, PO Box 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF.
If you don’t have an account yet and want to create a new one by post, you’ll have to download and print this application form (external link), fill it out, and send it to the Dart Charge office at: Dart Charge, PO Box 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF. To use any of these services offered by the Dart Charge office by post, you can send your application form to the following address: Dart Charge, PO Box 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF.
Pay Dart Charge by phone
You can also pay the Dart Charges by phone, by calling the Dart Charge contact centre on: 0300 300 0120; or by using their textphone services on: 18001 0300 300 0120.
You can only contact the Dart Charge centre by phone between 8am to 8pm, Monday- Sunday. Call charges may apply.
You can only contact the Dart Charge centre by phone between 8am to 8pm, Monday- Sunday. Call charges may apply.
What to do if you fail to pay the Dart Charge?
If you fail to pay the Dart Charge on time, you could get a penalty charge of £70. Plus, you’ll still be liable to pay the original Dart Charge you owe.
You can reduce this £70 fine to £35 if you pay within two weeks. If you fail to pay the £70 fine within 28 days, it can increase to £105. If you think you’ve been wrongly fined, you can appeal the charges. You’ll need your car’s registration number and the PCN reference number to pay or appeal the Dart Charge penalty, and you can do so online on Gov.uk. You can also pay the penalty charge by phone by contacting the Penalty Charge Notice office, but you can’t appeal the charges by phone. You can appeal the charges by post, however, by sending a ‘representation slip’ to: Dart Charge Enforcement, PO BOX 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF
You can reduce this £70 fine to £35 if you pay within two weeks. If you fail to pay the £70 fine within 28 days, it can increase to £105. If you think you’ve been wrongly fined, you can appeal the charges. You’ll need your car’s registration number and the PCN reference number to pay or appeal the Dart Charge penalty, and you can do so online on Gov.uk. You can also pay the penalty charge by phone by contacting the Penalty Charge Notice office, but you can’t appeal the charges by phone. You can appeal the charges by post, however, by sending a ‘representation slip’ to: Dart Charge Enforcement, PO BOX 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF
Dart Charge local residents’ discount
If you live in the Dartford borough or in Thurrock, you can get a discount on the Dart Charge.
You can either: • pay £10 and use the Dartford Crossing 50 times, and then pay 20p each time you use the Crossing after that; • Or you can pay £20 for a year and use the Dartford Crossing for unlimited journeys for the year If you’re eligible, you can avail this discount by setting up an account and uploading a copy of your car’s V5C (logbook), your driving licence, and a recent utility bill such as your water, electricity, gas or internet bill to provide proof of address. You can also apply for your local residents’ discount by post, by downloading, printing and filling out this application form (external link), and posting it to: Dart Charge, PO Box 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF. Related: ULEZ is expanding to the edge of Dartford, and will include areas such as Bexleyheath, Chislehurst and Sidcup from 29 August 2023. Find out more about the expansion and which cars are considered ULEZ-compliant.
You can either: • pay £10 and use the Dartford Crossing 50 times, and then pay 20p each time you use the Crossing after that; • Or you can pay £20 for a year and use the Dartford Crossing for unlimited journeys for the year If you’re eligible, you can avail this discount by setting up an account and uploading a copy of your car’s V5C (logbook), your driving licence, and a recent utility bill such as your water, electricity, gas or internet bill to provide proof of address. You can also apply for your local residents’ discount by post, by downloading, printing and filling out this application form (external link), and posting it to: Dart Charge, PO Box 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF. Related: ULEZ is expanding to the edge of Dartford, and will include areas such as Bexleyheath, Chislehurst and Sidcup from 29 August 2023. Find out more about the expansion and which cars are considered ULEZ-compliant.