Beat late payment of the Dartford Crossing charge

Have you forgotten something on your road trip? If you’re driving to one of the South East’s major airports, such as Gatwick, Luton, or Stansted, there’s a good chance you’ll need to use the Dartford Crossing. You won’t find any toll booths at the crossing (they were removed in 2014 to ease congestion), so drivers must remember to pay the Dart Charge online or by phone by midnight the day after crossing. Forget to pay on time and you could face a hefty fine (£70, doubled to £140 if unpaid, plus the toll itself), and unfortunately around 300,000 drivers did forget in a single month, racking up potential fines of around £21 million! But don’t worry, we’re here to help you swerve those fines with tips from APH.com. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to pay the Dartford Crossing charge, ways to avoid late payment penalties, and what to do if you forget to pay. (Spoiler: it’s much cheaper and easier to pay the toll on time than deal with fines later!)

Beat fines at the Dartford Crossing: image credit

Dartford Crossing Charge, The Basics

What is the Dartford Crossing charge? The Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing (which includes the Dartford Tunnel northbound and the QEII Bridge southbound on the M25) has a toll called the Dart Charge for vehicles crossing between Kent and Essex. The charge applies every day from 6am to 10pm, including weekends and bank holidays (it’s free overnight). Motorcycles and disabled vehicles (those exempt from UK vehicle tax) can use the crossing free of charge, but most other vehicles must pay.

How much does it cost? As of 2024, the standard Dart Charge fees for a single crossing (one way) are: £2.50 for cars (including cars with trailers, vans, and minibuses with 9 seats or less), £3.00 for larger 2-axle goods vehicles, and £6.00 for multi-axle HGVs and coaches. Motorbikes are free. You can save money with a pre-paid Dart Charge account (see below), for example, cars pay £2.00 per crossing with an account, a 50p saving each time. Local residents of Dartford or Thurrock can also get a discount (unlimited trips for £20/year or 50 trips for £10/year). Note: The government has announced that prices will rise from 1 September 2025 (e.g. cars to £3.50, or £2.80 with an account), so always check the official Dart Charge website for the latest toll rates before you travel.

When and how do I pay? You must pay by midnight of the day after you use the crossing (if you haven’t already paid in advance). There are no kiosks or barriers at Dartford, it’s all electronic, using automatic number plate recognition. This means you need to remember to pay on your own. The good news is there are several convenient ways to pay: online, by phone, in shops, or even up to a year in advance. We’ll detail all the payment methods below. The bad news for forgetful drivers is that if you don’t pay in time, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued and sent to the vehicle’s registered keeper, that’s the fine we want to help you avoid!

How to Pay the Dartford Crossing Charge (Dart Charge)

Paying the Dart Charge is straightforward once you know your options. Choose the method that best suits your travel needs. If you’re a frequent user (like airport commuters or business travellers), setting up an account will save you money and hassle. If you only use the crossing occasionally (for an airport run or holiday trip), you might prefer one-off payments. Here are the main Dartford Crossing payment methods. Make sure you pay by midnight the day after your trip at the latest to avoid any fines:

1) Set up a Pre-pay Dart Charge Account (Best for Frequent Users)

Setting up a Dart Charge pre-pay account is the cheapest and easiest way to pay if you use the crossing regularly. This needs to be done in advance of travel. You’ll deposit a minimum of £10 into the account upon registration, and each time you drive through the crossing, the toll is automatically deducted from your balance. With an account, you get a discounted rate, for example, cars pay £2.00 per crossing instead of £2.50. You can top up the account manually or enable auto top-up so you never run out of credit. It’s a “set and forget” solution that ensures your Dartford tolls are always covered, sparing you from fines.

You can easily register online for a Dart Charge account on the official government website, Set up a new pre-pay account here. (If you had an old DART-Tag electronic tag account from before the 2014 changes, you would have needed to transfer to the new system, all Dart-Tag accounts are now Dart Charge accounts.) Keep in mind that tying up £10 in the account is only worthwhile if you’ll use it; occasional users might prefer paying per trip. Also, always maintain a positive balance, if your account runs dry and you cross, it won’t automatically charge your card (unless you have auto top-up configured), and you could still incur a fine. For frequent flyers driving via Dartford, though, a pre-pay account is a great way to beat the fine by never forgetting a payment.

2) Pay As You Go, One-off Payment Online

For one-off or occasional crossings, you can pay the Dartford toll online without an account. This is perfect for infrequent trips (like a one-off airport drop-off or holiday journey) where setting up a £10 pre-pay fund isn’t practical. Simply visit the official Dart Charge payment page, you can find it on GOV.UK (this is the only official site; we’ll remind you later to beware of copycats). You can pay for a crossing up to 12 months in advance (handy for trip planning) or on the day of travel, or even in the 24-hour window after you cross. Just don’t miss that deadline!

How to pay online: Go to the government Dart Charge site and click “Start now” to make a payment without an account. Enter your vehicle registration number and payment details, and ensure you select the correct date of your crossing (and vehicle type). You can pay for both your outbound and return crossings in one go if you know your travel dates. Once done, you should receive a confirmation of payment (consider saving a screenshot or email as proof, just in case).

Pay online now: Pay here, this will take you to the official Dart Charge payment portal (opens in a new tab). Make sure you complete payment by 23:59 on the day after your crossing at the latest.

Tip: If you’re planning ahead, it’s wise to pay before you travel. For example, if you’ve booked your airport parking with APH and know you’ll use the Dartford Crossing on the way, go ahead and pay the toll in advance. You can even do it at the same time you’re sorting out your trip details so it’s off your mind. Leaving the payment until you’re rushing through a busy airport or coming back jet-lagged increases the chance you’ll forget. The online system allows advance payments for crossings up to a year away, so there’s no harm in being early. Pay in advance here to cover a future trip (and don’t forget to pay for your return journey too!).

3) Pay by Phone

No internet? No problem, you can pay the Dart Charge over the telephone as well. There’s a dedicated payment hotline operated by Dart Charge. Simply call 0300 300 0120 and follow the instructions to pay for your crossing. You’ll need a credit or debit card handy and will likely need to provide your vehicle registration and crossing date. Important: This must also be done by midnight the day after your crossing. We recommend calling as soon as possible (on the day of travel or next morning) and avoid leaving it to the last minute.

Be aware that at very busy times, the payment line might have waits or occasionally even an “unable to take your call” message due to high call volume. We actually tested it and found that if you call very late in the day, you might hear a recorded message if they’re overwhelmed. So try to call during off-peak hours (the line is open 8am to 8pm daily). If you do get through, the phone system will accept foreign credit cards too, which is useful for overseas visitors (more on that later).

Dart Charge payment number: 0300 300 0120 (standard national-rate number; if you’re calling from abroad, use +44 300 300 0120).

4) Pay in Person at a Payzone Retailer

Prefer to pay with cash or in person? You can pay the Dartford toll at Payzone retail outlets nationwide. Many newsagents, convenience stores, and petrol stations have Payzone terminals. This is a useful option if you don’t want to pay online or by card over the phone. It’s also handy for those who might be on the road without internet access, for example, truck drivers or tourists who can stop at a service station.

To find a location, use the Payzone store locator. When you get to a Payzone till, you’ll need to tell the retailer that you want to pay the Dart Charge. They will need your vehicle registration number and payment (cash or card, depending on the shop). Make sure to get a receipt as proof. Remember, you still have the same deadline (by end of next day after crossing). If you’re mid-journey, you could even pay at the next services or shop you encounter after the crossing.

Find your nearest Payzone outlet: Find your nearest Payzone retailer here (select “Transport and Ticketing” > “Dart Charge” and enter your postcode to locate a store).

5) Pay by Post (Snail Mail)

Yes, you can even pay by post if you dislike computers and phones, though this method is only viable in advance of your trip. You cannot post a payment after you’ve crossed; it wouldn’t arrive in time. To pay by post, you’ll need to send a cheque (or postal order) with a covering note of your vehicle registration and the date of the intended crossing. This must be mailed well before your travel date so that it’s processed in time. Frankly, this method is the least convenient for most, but it exists as an alternative for those who plan far ahead or have no other means.

If you choose to pay by post, here’s the address to send your cheque (payable to “Dart Charge”):

Dart Charge Customer Services  

PO Box842&; 

Leeds LS1 9QF  

United Kingdom

Remember to include your car’s reg number and the date of crossing (and a return address in case of any issues). Again, this must arrive and be applied to your vehicle before you actually use the crossing, otherwise you could still get a PCN. Given the time-sensitive nature, most travellers opt for the faster methods above.

What Happens If I Don’t Pay on Time?

If you fail to pay the Dartford Crossing charge by the deadline (by 23:59 the day after your crossing), you will receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) in the post. The fine is £70 per crossing (in addition to still needing to pay the original £2.50 toll). However, there are a couple of important things to know:

• First-time grace period: If this is the first time you have ever received a Dart Charge PCN (i.e., the first offense for that vehicle), Dart Charge will give you a 14-day grace period to pay the original toll and cancel the fine. In other words, they’ll send a notice saying you didn’t pay, but as a courtesy for first-timers, you can just pay the £2.50 (or whatever the toll was) within 14 days and the £70 penalty will be waived. This is a very useful concession that has saved many forgetful drivers from hefty fines. But it only applies once per vehicle. If you ever forget again after using up your “free pass,” the next PCN will stick.
• Standard PCN timeline: For repeat offenders (or if you ignore the first notice), the fine must be paid within 28 days. Dart Charge offers a 50% discount for quick payment, the £70 fine is reduced to £35 if you pay within 14 days of the PCN date. After 28 days, if unpaid, the fine increases to £105 (and could go higher with court costs if you still don’t pay). Ultimately, continued non-payment can result in enforcement action like debt collectors, court summons, or even your vehicle being clamped or impounded. So do not ignore Dart Charge penalties, they’re not parking tickets that might be forgotten; they will come after the money and it can get very expensive.
• PCNs per crossing: Remember the fine is per crossing. So if you neglected to pay for both an outbound and return trip, you’ll get two fines. For example, two crossings could mean £70 × 2 = £140 in fines (or £35 × 2 = £70 if both paid within 14 days). That can jump to a total of £210 if you miss the 28-day window. As you can see, it escalates quickly, which is why we’re emphasizing so much to pay the £2.50 on time!

If you receive a PCN that you think is incorrect or unfair (for instance, you did pay on time, or you never actually used the crossing, or perhaps the licence plate was misread), you have the right to appeal. In fact, when the system first launched, a Freedom of Information request revealed over 80% of driver appeals were successful in the first six months, indicating many errors (like misread number plates causing fines to wrong people). While the system has improved since then, mistakes can happen, so don’t be afraid to challenge a PCN if you have grounds.

How to Appeal a Dart Charge Penalty (PCN)

To challenge a Dartford Crossing fine, you should follow the instructions provided on the Penalty Charge Notice. Typically, the process is:

• Make an initial representation: Contact the issuing authority (Dart Charge customer services) within 28 days of the PCN being served, explaining why you believe the charge is wrong. Provide your PCN reference number and any supporting evidence. Common valid reasons include: you were not the vehicle’s owner at the time, the vehicle was stolen or used without your consent, you already paid the toll (and have proof), the amount charged was incorrect, or there was some procedural error.
• If rejected, appeal to tribunal: If Dart Charge rejects your initial appeal and you still believe you’re in the right, you can escalate to an independent adjudicator. The rejection letter will tell you how to do this (you’ll generally have another 28 days to submit to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal). The adjudicator is an independent body that reviews cases. You cannot be charged extra for appealing to the tribunal (other than the original fine if you lose). They will consider evidence and can uphold or cancel the PCN.

Remember to stick to the timelines (28 days at each stage) when appealing, or you could lose the opportunity. During an ongoing appeal, enforcement is usually put on hold.

For more detailed guidance on the appeals process and what grounds are acceptable, Click here for further information on starting your appeal to the independent adjudicator (official Traffic Penalty Tribunal website, opens in a new tab). That site outlines all valid reasons and the procedure to follow.

Pro tip: If your fine was because you genuinely forgot and it’s your first offence, mention the first-time grace policy in your representation; if they haven’t automatically offered it, you might persuade them to let you just pay the toll. But they usually do grant it automatically on the first PCN. If you had paid but the system didn’t register it or the website was down (as some commenters have experienced), definitely appeal and provide proof of your payment attempt or receipt.

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Now that you know how to pay (and what happens if you don’t), let’s make sure you never have to go through the headache of a fine or appeal. Heading off on holiday or a business trip can be hectic, it’s easy to overlook a “minor” task like paying a toll, especially when it’s not collected immediately. Here are some practical tips to ensure you don’t forget to pay the Dartford Crossing charge in the first place:

Tips to Avoid Dartford Crossing Fines and Late Payments

• Use the First Offense Grace, But Only Once: As mentioned, if you do forget to pay, first-time offenders get an extra 14 days to fix it. This is a lifesaver if you qualify, you’ll only have to pay the original toll. So if you come home to a Dart Charge letter and it’s your first, don’t panic; pay the crossing charge immediately. However, do not rely on this safety net for future trips. They’ll only give you that break one time, for one vehicle. After that, you must pay by the normal deadline or face fines.
• Consider Registering a Dart Charge Account: Even if you’re not a heavy user, if you plan to use the crossing a few times a year (say for annual holidays), having a Dart Charge account can act as insurance against forgetting. It automatically takes payment whenever you cross, so you won’t even need to remember each time. The downside is the upfront £10 in credit and needing to keep it topped up (and unused credit sitting there if you rarely cross). But some find the peace of mind worth it. If you do set one up, you’ll benefit from the discounted toll rate too. You can set up a Dart Charge account here to cover future journeys.
• Beware of Scam Websites, Only Use the Official Site: Unfortunately, the Dart Charge system’s reliance on online payments has opened the door for copycat websites and scammers. Some unofficial sites deliberately mimic the look of the official site or appear in search engine results, tricking drivers into paying extra fees or providing card details. Drivers have been charged up to 60% more by third-party sites that simply take your payment, add a huge “admin” fee, and then pay the Dart Charge on your behalf. These sites are not illegal per se, but they often do not provide proper receipts or the safeguards that the official site does (for example, they might not verify your vehicle details or send confirmation emails, leaving you with no proof if something goes wron). To protect yourself: always make sure you’re on the official government website when paying. The real site is part of GOV.UK and will never charge above the standard toll. Do not Google blindly for “Dart charge pay” without checking the URL, scammers prey on people searching and clicking the first link. The highway signs annoyingly say “search Dart Charge online” instead of giving the URL, which is what caused this issue in the first place!

Only trust this official link: https://www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge, this is the ONLY website you should use to pay the Dartford Crossing toll. Don’t pay at any website other than www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge. Bookmark it for future use. If a site is asking for more money than expected or looks unofficial, close it and use the GOV.UK site. Remember, no third-party “service” can get you a cheaper toll or special deal, the cheapest way is direct or via an official account. If you encounter a scam site, you can report it to Action Fraud or inform Dart Charge. We at APH are pushing for better signage and information to reduce this confusion, it’s unfair to motorists that fraudsters are taking advantage of the situation.

• Set a Payment Reminder (Location or Time): One of the best ways to avoid forgetting is to set yourself a reminder. In fact, your smartphone can be your saviour here. If you have an iPhone, use the built-in Reminders app to create a location-based alert. For example, set a reminder “Pay Dartford toll” and configure it to alert when you arrive at a certain location. You could set it for when you reach the airport (e.g., the APH Gatwick parking lot or the terminal) on your outbound journey, as soon as you park or before you head into the terminal, your phone will ping you to pay the Dart Charge. Then set another reminder for when you arrive back home (to cover the return crossing). This way, even if your mind is elsewhere (catching that flight, or later, being jet-lagged), your phone won’t forget! To do this on iPhone: create a reminder -> tap the “i” (info) icon -> enable “Remind me at a location” -> set the location (e.g., enter the airport postcode or your home address) and select “When I arrive”. Now you have a geo-fence that will trigger the alert. It’s a nifty trick that many travellers use to remember all sorts of tasks.

Android user? There are plenty of apps that offer similar location-based reminder functionality. One example is Geobells, Location Reminder, which lets you set an alert for when you reach or leave a specific area. Get it here on Google Play (free app). Or simply use Google Assistant or any to-do app with an alarm for the next day. Even a basic calendar alert for the next morning (“Pay Dart Charge by tonight!”) can do the job. The key is to externalize the memory so you don’t have to rely on your tired brain after a long flight.

• Advise Visitors from Overseas: If you have friends or family visiting the UK by car, or you’re a foreign visitor yourself, be aware of the Dartford Crossing rules. Many overseas drivers get caught out because open-road tolling is unfamiliar and the payment system may not readily accept all foreign billing addresses or cards. (Early on, it was reported some non-UK credit cards had issues on the website, though telephone payment should work as it can handle foreign cards.) Language barriers and lack of awareness also play a role. There’s no exemption for foreign-registered vehicles; everyone must pay and the authorities do pursue foreign drivers for unpaid tolls via European debt collection agencies. So if you’re coming from abroad through Dover or the Channel Tunnel and plan to use the M25 northbound, make sure you (or your guests) know about Dart Charge. It’s wise to pay in advance or as soon as possible after crossing. If the online system gives you trouble with an overseas address or card, call the payment line by the deadline. Don’t assume you’ll get let off because your vehicle isn’t UK-registered, that’s not the case. A little heads-up to overseas visitors can save them a nasty surprise in the form of a fine weeks later.
• Use Dartford Crossing “Insurance” (Dartford Save Services): There is a third-party service called DartSave that was set up specifically to help drivers avoid Dart Charge fines. How it works is: you register your vehicle (for free) with DartSave before you travel. If you then forget to pay after a crossing, DartSave will automatically pay the toll on your behalf, and then email you asking for reimbursement. They extend your payment window to 7 days after the crossing (instead of 1 day) by covering the cost upfront. If you reimburse them within those 7 days, you just pay the normal toll amount. If you’re late paying DartSave back, they’ll add a £5 admin fee to the email reminder, but even £5 is a lot cheaper than a £70 fine, especially if you’ve been away on holiday and didn’t see the reminder immediately. Essentially, DartSave acts as a safety net to catch any missed payments and prevent PCNs. It’s like having a guardian angel for the Dartford toll! And unlike the official system, they will remind you, because they’ve paid your toll and want you to pay them back. Many drivers find this service useful, particularly occasional users who fear they might forget.

The DartSave service is free to join and only charges if you fail to reimburse in time (the fiver fee). Of course, if you do reimburse promptly, there’s no extra charge beyond the toll itself. Remember, like London’s Congestion Charge, the official Dart Charge system does not send reminders, it’s on you to remember. So DartSave fills that reminder gap. If you’re interested, join up here: dartsave (this will open the DartSave website in a new tab). Once registered, you can breathe a bit easier, but still try to pay on time! It’s good to have redundancy.

• Always Pay for Both Directions: This might sound obvious, but in the flurry of planning it’s easy to forget that the Dartford toll applies each way. There’s no round-trip ticket, if you cross going south and then come back north later (or vice versa), you owe for two crossings. Many a traveller has remembered to pay for the journey out and then neglected the return (or paid for one and assumed it covered both). Each crossing needs a separate payment (unless you have an account where it will automatically count each passage). So if you’re paying as you go, make sure you arrange payment for the return leg as well. If you paid in advance online, double-check you included both dates. If you’re paying after the fact, you’ll need to make two payments (one for each crossing) or a single transaction covering both. Don’t let your successful holiday or business trip end with a fine because you only paid for half the journey.

By following these tips, using technology reminders, sticking to official channels, and taking advantage of accounts or services, you can virtually eliminate the risk of getting a Dart Charge fine. It’s all about planning and awareness. Thousands of drivers have been caught out simply because they didn’t know how or when to pay; now you know, so you’ll be ahead of the game!

It’s all-change at the Dartford Crossing: image credit

Has Removing the Toll Barriers Improved Traffic?

One silver lining to all these new payment headaches: the removal of the old cash toll booths has indeed sped up travel through the Dartford Crossing. Before Dart Charge, vehicles often queued at the barriers to toss coins or have tickets checked, causing big tailbacks, especially at peak times. With free-flow charging now in place, those queues have largely disappeared at the crossing itself (though the M25 can still be congested for all the usual reasons!). According to Highways Agency statistics after the first few weeks of Dart Charge, average journey times between 7am and 7pm were cut by over 9 minutes southbound and 4 minutes northbound compared to when the toll booths were in operation. That’s a significant improvement for daily commuters and airport travellers catching flights from, say, Essex to Gatwick or Kent to Luton. While you might spend a few minutes paying online later, at least you’re not waiting in a long queue on the bridge approach. So, yes, despite the confusion over payments, the system has improved traffic flow. Just make sure you don’t trade a shorter drive for an unexpected fine!

Dartford Crossing Charge FAQs (Quick Recap):

Hopefully, this covers the most common questions. The key takeaway for APH travellers is: plan ahead and pay promptly. The Dartford Crossing is an essential link to many airports and destinations, and with a little preparation, you can cross it without stress or extra costs.

Disclaimer: We’ve made every effort to ensure the information in this guide is accurate and up to date (as of the time of writing). Dart Charge rules and prices can change (for example, future toll increases are scheduled), so please always double-check the official Dart Charge website or contact their helpline for the latest information before you travel. APH wants you to have a smooth journey, but we cannot take responsibility for any changes or errors that occur after publication. Safe travels, and may all your crossings be fine-free!