Dart Charge 2026: Dartford Crossing Charges, Payment and Times

If you have used the Dartford Crossing, you may need to pay Dart Charge. This guide explains the current Dartford Crossing charge, payment deadline, chargeable hours, free times, how to pay, how to check a crossing and how the Dart Charge account works.

For cars, the current charge is £3.50 for a one-off payment or £2.80 when using a Dart Charge account, based on the rates stated below.

The crossing is chargeable between 6:00am and 10:00pm. It is free between 10:00pm and 6:00am.

If you have already crossed and need to pay, the payment deadline is normally 11:59pm on the day after the crossing.

Dart Charge: What You Need to Know

Information	Dart Charge details
Car one-off charge	£3.50
Car account charge	£2.80
Chargeable hours	6:00am to 10:00pm
Free hours	10:00pm to 6:00am
Payment deadline	11:59pm the following day
Payment options	Online, phone, Payzone or Dart Charge account

There are no toll booths at the Dartford Crossing. Automatic number plate recognition records vehicles as they pass through, and payment is made separately.

If you need to make a payment, use the official GOV.UK Dart Charge service rather than a third-party payment website.

Pay Dart Charge

If you have crossed the Dartford Crossing during chargeable hours, you can pay Dart Charge online, by phone or through other available payment methods.

For a standard car, the current one-off charge is £3.50.

You will normally need:

• Your vehicle registration number

• The date you crossed

• A payment method

Payment should normally be made by 11:59pm on the day after you crossed.

For example:

Crossing date	Normal payment deadline
Monday	Tuesday by 11:59pm
Friday	Saturday by 11:59pm
Sunday	Monday by 11:59pm

If you use the crossing regularly, a Dart Charge account can provide a lower charge and automatic payment options.

How Much Is Dart Charge in 2026?

Based on the current rates used in this guide, Dart Charge costs:

Vehicle type	One-off payment	Pre-paid account
Motorcycles, mopeds and quad bikes	Free	Free
Cars, including vehicles with up to 9 seats	£3.50	£2.80
2-axle goods vehicles	£4.20	£3.60
Multi-axle goods vehicles	£8.40	£7.20

For a standard car, this means:

• £3.50 for a one-off crossing

• £2.80 with a Dart Charge account

These charges apply when the vehicle uses the crossing during chargeable hours.

Check the official Dart Charge service for the latest rates before travelling because charges can change.

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How Much Is the Dartford Crossing for Cars?

For a standard car, the current one-off Dartford Crossing charge is £3.50.

A Dart Charge account reduces the charge to £2.80 under the rates shown above.

There is no daily cap. If you make two chargeable crossings, each crossing is charged separately.

For example:

• One chargeable crossing = £3.50

• Two chargeable crossings = £7.00

With an account:

• One chargeable crossing = £2.80

• Two chargeable crossings = £5.60

The actual amount depends on the vehicle type and payment method.

Dartford Crossing Charge Times

The Dartford Crossing is chargeable every day between:

6:00am and 10:00pm

The crossing itself remains open 24 hours a day.

The chargeable period and the opening hours are therefore different. You can use the crossing outside the chargeable period without paying Dart Charge.

When Is Dartford Crossing Free?

The Dartford Crossing is free between:

10:00pm and 6:00am

If you cross during these hours, Dart Charge does not apply.

For example:

• 5:30am = free

• 6:30am = chargeable

• 9:30pm = chargeable

• 10:30pm = free

The crossing remains open during the free period.

When Do You Need to Pay Dart Charge?

If you use the Dartford Crossing between 6:00am and 10:00pm, you normally need to pay Dart Charge.

Payment is normally due by:

11:59pm on the day after you cross.

For example, if you cross on Tuesday, payment is normally due by 11:59pm on Wednesday.

Missing the payment deadline can result in a Penalty Charge Notice being issued to the registered keeper.

If you are unsure whether you still need to pay, check your Dart Charge account or the official Dart Charge service rather than assuming the payment has been recorded.

Do You Pay Dart Charge Both Ways?

Yes. Each chargeable crossing is treated separately.

If you cross the Dartford Crossing northbound and southbound during chargeable hours, both crossings need to be paid for.

For example:

• Southbound at 8:00am = chargeable

• Northbound at 6:00pm = chargeable

This would count as two chargeable crossings.

The direction does not remove the charge. What matters is whether the crossing took place during the chargeable period.

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How to Pay Dart Charge

You can pay Dart Charge using the available official payment services.

Pay Dart Charge Online

The easiest option for many drivers is the official GOV.UK Dart Charge payment service.

You can use the service to make a payment for a recent crossing and manage relevant Dart Charge information.

Have your vehicle registration and crossing date available before making the payment.

Use the official GOV.UK service rather than entering payment details into an unofficial website.

Pay Dart Charge by Phone

Dart Charge can also be paid by phone.

The telephone number is:

0300 300 0120

Have your vehicle details and payment information ready.

Pay at a Payzone Outlet

Payment may also be available through participating Payzone outlets.

Availability can vary, so check the current Dart Charge information before relying on this option.

Open a Dart Charge Account

Regular users can set up a Dart Charge account.

Depending on the account arrangements, benefits can include:

• A lower crossing charge

• Automatic payments

• Payment history

• Registered vehicle management

• Easier management of regular crossings

If you use the Dartford Crossing frequently, an account can reduce the need to make individual payments after every crossing.

Dart Charge Login and Account

A Dart Charge account allows regular users to manage their crossings and payment information.

Account users can use the official service to manage relevant details such as:

• Registered vehicles

• Payment history

• Previous crossings

• Automatic payment arrangements

• Account information

If you are searching for Dart Charge login or Dartford Crossing login, use the official Dart Charge account service.

All login and payment details should be entered only on the official service.

How to check your Dart Charge account

If you need to check your Dart Charge account, log in through the official Dart Charge service.

You can then review the account information and payment records available for your vehicle.

If you cannot access the account or believe a payment is missing, use the official Dart Charge customer service channels.

How to Check a Dartford Crossing or Dart Charge Payment

If you are unsure whether you need to pay for a crossing, checking the relevant Dart Charge records can help.

You may need to check:

• Whether a crossing has been recorded

• Whether payment has already been made

• Whether a payment is still outstanding

• Previous crossings linked to your vehicle

• Your Dart Charge account history

If you have an account, check the information available through the official Dart Charge service.

If you do not have an account or cannot find the information you need, use the official Dart Charge service or contact Dart Charge customer services.

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Dart Charge Fines and Late Payment

If Dart Charge is not paid by the deadline, the registered keeper may receive a Penalty Charge Notice.

The penalty information stated for this guide is:

Time	Amount
Standard penalty	£70 plus crossing fee
Paid within 14 days	£35 plus crossing fee
After 28 days	£105 plus crossing fee

Penalty rules and amounts can change, so check the current official Dart Charge information if you have received a Penalty Charge Notice.

If you have received a fine, do not assume that paying the original crossing charge will automatically settle the penalty. Follow the instructions on the Penalty Charge Notice.

Vehicles Exempt From Dart Charge

Some vehicles do not normally need to pay Dart Charge.

The categories stated include:

• Motorcycles

• Mopeds

• Quad bikes

• Emergency service vehicles

• Certain military vehicles

• Eligible vehicles in the disabled tax class

Exemptions can depend on the vehicle and its tax classification.

Check the current official Dart Charge eligibility rules if you believe your vehicle is exempt.

How to Avoid Dart Charge Fines

The easiest way to avoid a Dart Charge penalty is to know when you crossed and make the required payment before the deadline.

Check your vehicle registration

Make sure you enter the correct vehicle registration when making a payment.

An incorrect registration can cause problems when the crossing is matched to your payment.

Pay soon after crossing

You do not need to wait until the deadline.

Paying soon after using the crossing can reduce the risk of forgetting the payment.

Consider an account for regular use

If you use the Dartford Crossing regularly, a Dart Charge account can provide automatic payment options and make it easier to keep track of crossings.

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Is a Dart Charge Account Worth It?

The main difference for regular users is the lower charge shown in the current rate table.

For a standard car:

• One-off payment: £3.50

• Account payment: £2.80

That is a difference of 70p per chargeable crossing.

An account can also make payment management easier through features such as automatic payments and payment history.

If you only use the Dartford Crossing occasionally, making individual payments may be sufficient. If you use it frequently, an account can make it easier to manage repeated crossings.

What Is the Dart Charge?

The Dart Charge is the road user charge for vehicles using the Dartford Crossing between Kent and Essex on the M25 during the chargeable period.

The crossing consists of:

• The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge

• Two northbound tunnels

There are no traditional toll booths.

Automatic number plate recognition records vehicles as they pass through the crossing, with payment handled separately.

The terms Dartford Crossing, Dartford toll and Dartford tunnel charge are commonly used when people search for information about the crossing, but the payment system is Dart Charge.

Dartford Crossing Costs and Your Overall Driving Budget

If you use the Dartford Crossing regularly, the charge can become part of your regular driving costs.

For example, a driver making two chargeable crossings on a day would pay £7.00 using the one-off car rate shown above.

Over repeated trips, the cost can therefore become a noticeable part of the overall motoring budget alongside:

• Fuel or electricity

• Insurance

• Servicing and maintenance

• Vehicle tax where applicable

• Parking

• Lease or finance payments

If you are comparing cars based on monthly costs, it is useful to consider the Dart Charge alongside your normal fuel or charging costs rather than looking at the vehicle payment alone.

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Dart Charge Summary

The main points to remember are:

• Cars currently pay £3.50 for a one-off charge

• Cars using a Dart Charge account pay £2.80 under the rates shown above

• Chargeable hours are 6:00am to 10:00pm

• The crossing is free between 10:00pm and 6:00am

• Each chargeable crossing is paid separately

• Payment is normally due by 11:59pm on the following day

• There are no toll booths

• Automatic number plate recognition records vehicles using the crossing

• Regular users can use a Dart Charge account

• Missing the payment deadline can result in a Penalty Charge Notice

For payments, account access and the latest official rules, use the GOV.UK Dart Charge service.