The Dartford Crossing is made up of two bored tunnels going from Kent into Essex, and the cable-stayed Queen Elizabeth II Bridge from Essex into Kent. Since the initial opening of the western tunnel in November 1963, there has been a toll, originally two shillings and sixpence.
The charge to cross the Dartford Crossing has always been a talking point between motoring groups and Local MPs as it was meant to be abolished completely when the cost of construction was paid back. With a daily use of approximately 160,000 vehicles, it is a given that someone will have forgot to pay the Dart Charge. In this article we will give you the information needed to help you decide if you are going to pay or appeal a Penalty Charge Notice received for forgetting to pay the Dart Charge.
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Dart Charge Times
If you forgot to pay the Dart Charge, the first thing to check is that you crossed during the chargeable time window. The Dart Charge applies during the times of 6am to 10pm, and is free to cross between 10pm to 6am. These times apply every day including weekends and bank holidays.
Pay Dart Charge Online
If you crossed during the chargeable time window, you have up until midnight the day after your crossing to pay the Dart Charge. If you are still within that window of time, you can go to the Dart Charge website and pay through there.
Other Ways To Pay Dart Charge
If you can’t pay Dart Charge online, there are some other options available to you:
- you can pay with cash at your nearest Payzone store;
- you can set up an account by post
- you can top-up or pay in advance by post;
- you can pay or set up an account by phone.
Dart Charge Charges
As of January 2023, the current Dart Charge charges are:
| Vehicle Class | One-off Payment | If you have an account | |
| Motorcycles, mopeds and quad bikes | A | Free | Free |
| Cars (including trailers), motorhomes and minibuses that have 9 or less seats | B | £2.50 | £2.00 |
| Vehicles with 2 axles | C | £3.00 | £2.63 |
| Vehicles with more than 2 axles | D | £6.00 | £5.19 |
Dart Charge Check
If you have made a one-off payment for a crossing, you can use the Dart Check Check service to see which crossings you have paid for.
Dart Charge Fine
Failure to pay the Dart Charge before midnight the next day will result in you receiving a Penalty Charge Notice. This is initially a £70 fine, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.
If the Dart Charge Penalty Charge Notice isn’t paid within 28 days of the offence, then a Charge Certificate is sent and the fine will increase to £105 including the crossing charge. You will have 14 days to pay this fine from the date of receiving it. If you don’t pay the Charge Certificate within 14 days, you will get a court order demanding payment.
A Penalty Charge Notice issued for not paying the Dart Charge is covered by The Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions law. This law specifies that the registered keeper is responsible for payment of the charge. If the charge is not paid in full, you could be chased by an enforcement agent for the outstanding debt.
Appeal Dart Charge Fine
As a Penalty Charge Notice is covered by law, there are only a few instances where you can appeal it and get it cancelled. These include reasons such as:
- You weren’t the registered keeper of the vehicle at the time of the alleged contravention;
- The vehicle was taken without the owner’s consent;
- The owner operates a vehicle hire firm;
- The Dart Charge was paid as required and on time;
- No penalty or Dart Charge is payable;
- The penalty exceeded the amount that applied in the circumstances, currently set at £70;
- Dart Charge did not follow the correct procedural steps;
- In very rare occasions, there could be some other valid reasons for cancelling a Parking Charge Notice.
Blue Badge Toll Concession
If you forgot to pay the Dart Charge and you get free UK vehicle tax due to a disability, don’t worry, you do not need to pay the toll. Your vehicle will have been automatically cross checked by the ANPR system so you don’t need to do anything.
Local Resident Discount
If you pay Council Tax to Thurrock council or Dartford borough council, you can apply to one of the local resident discount schemes:
You can either pay:
- £20 a year for unlimited use of the Dartford Crossing, or;
- £10 for 50 crossings, then 20p for each additional crossing.
Discounts only apply to one vehicle per Dart Charge account.
Dart Charge Contact
The Dart Charge contact centre can be contacted in the following ways, everyday 8am to 8pm:
- Telephone: 0300 300 0120
- Textphone: 18001 0300 300 0120
TLDR: Forgot To Pay The Dart Charge
- The Dart Charge applies during the times of 6am to 10pm. It is free to cross between 10pm to 6am, this applies 365 days a year;
- You have up until midnight the day after your crossing to pay the Dart Charge;
- You can the Dart Charge online, at a Payzone store, top-up or pay in advance by post, set up an account by post, or pay over the phone;
- You can use the Dart Check Check service to see which crossings you have paid for;
- Failure to pay the Dart Charge will result in a £70 Penalty Charge Notice;
- If you get free UK vehicle tax due to a disability, you can use the Dartford Crossing for free;
- If you pay Council Tax to Thurrock council or Dartford borough council, you are eligible for one of the local resident discount schemes.
Sources used to write this article: