United Kingdom Toll Roads Complete Guide: Rates, Payment and Congestion Charges 2026

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United Kingdom Toll Roads Complete Guide

System: Mixed — point/barrier tolls, zonal motorway tariffs, urban clean air/congestion zones, and time/weight-based HGV Levies
Operators: National Highways, Transport for London (TfL), Midland Expressway Ltd (M6toll), TT2 Ltd (Tyne Tunnels), Merseyflow (Halton Borough Council), Merseytravel, Humber Bridge Board, local councils, and private estate trusts
Currency: British Pound Sterling (GBP)
Coverage: Motorway bypasses, river bridges, undersea tunnels, and urban emission zones in England; minor scenic tolls in Wales; urban LEZs in Scotland (Northern Ireland is toll-free)
Technology: ANPR cameras (Dartford, London, Humber, Mersey Gateway, Tyne Tunnels), RFID/transponder (M6 Toll Breeze, TamarTag, T-FLOW), barrier booths (Mersey Tunnels, Tamar, Itchen), video billing

Do I Need to Pay Tolls in the UK? 2026 Update

The United Kingdom does not operate a nationwide motorway toll system. The vast majority of roads and motorways are free to use. However, specific river bridges, tunnels, one private motorway (M6 Toll), and urban low-emission/congestion charging zones require payment — with non-payment resulting in automated Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).

Key toll points in 2026: The Dartford Crossing (M25 Thames crossing) is the busiest paid crossing in the UK, charging cars £3.50 (£2.80 pre-pay account) via the automated DART-Charge ANPR system with no cash payment at the crossing (cash is accepted at Payzone shops). The M6 Toll in the West Midlands is the UK's only tolled motorway, charging cars up to £12.00 (£10.20 for Breeze account holders) for the full 3-zone route. Transport for London (TfL) operates the Congestion Charge (£18/day), the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ, £12.50/day for non-compliant vehicles), and tolls across both the Blackwall Tunnel and Silvertown Tunnel.

2026 Tariff Updates: Dartford Crossing rates stand at £3.50 for standard one-off car payments (£2.80 pre-pay account) since 1 September 2025. London's ULEZ covers all of Greater London (£12.50/day for non-compliant vehicles). The M6 Toll standard rate for Class 2 cars is £12.00 for the full 3-zone route. TfL enforces toll charges across the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels (£1.55 off-peak / £4.20 peak for cars), and regional river tunnels such as the Tyne Tunnel stand at £2.60 for cars (£2.34 account).

UK Toll Costs: Current Rates

Toll charges in the UK vary by facility type, vehicle classification, time of travel, and payment method. The tables below outline official rates across major motorways, river crossings, tunnels, and urban zones.

Dartford Crossing (DART-Charge) — 2026 Rates

Vehicle Class Description One-Off / Standard Pre-Pay Account
Class A Motorcycles, mopeds and quad bikes Free No charge applies
Class B Cars, motorhomes, passenger vans & minibuses (≤ 9 seats) £3.50 £2.80
Class C 2-axle goods vehicles, buses & coaches (> 9 seats) £4.20 £3.60
Class D Multi-axle goods vehicles (HGVs 3+ axles) £8.40 £7.20

Charges apply 06:00 to 22:00 daily (including weekends and bank holidays). Free overnight between 22:00 and 06:00. Cars and motorhomes towing a trailer or caravan stay in Class B. Electric and hybrid vehicles pay the same rates as other vehicles in their class.

M6 Toll (Motorway) — Full 3-Zone Mainline Tariffs

Vehicle Class Description Pay As You Drive Breeze Account Rate
Class 1 Motorcycles & trikes (2 or less wheels, under 1.3m) £5.90 £4.90
Class 2 Cars & light passenger vehicles (2 axles, under 1.3m) £12.00 £10.20
Class 3 Cars with trailer or caravan (more than 2 axles, under 1.3m) £16.90 £14.50
Class 4 Vans & car-derived vans (2 axles, 1.3m or over) £20.20 £17.60
Class 5 HGVs & coaches (more than 2 axles up to 6, 1.3m or over) £20.90 £18.20

Rates reflect the official 3-zone full route mainline tariff effective 7 July 2026. The 1-zone and 2-zone tariffs for shorter junction-to-junction journeys are shown in the next table. M6toll reviews prices every quarter.

M6 Toll (Motorway): 1-Zone and 2-Zone Tariffs

Vehicle Class Description 2 Zones (Pay As You Drive / Breeze) 1 Zone (Pay As You Drive / Breeze)
Class 1 Motorcycles & trikes (2 or less wheels, under 1.3m) £4.90 / £4.10 £4.00 / £2.00
Class 2 Cars & light passenger vehicles (2 axles, under 1.3m) £9.50 / £8.40 £6.90 / £4.00
Class 3 Cars with trailer or caravan (more than 2 axles, under 1.3m) £14.10 / £12.30 £10.40 / £6.00
Class 4 Vans & car-derived vans (2 axles, 1.3m or over) £17.30 / £15.50 £14.50 / £9.00
Class 5 HGVs & coaches (more than 2 axles up to 6, 1.3m or over) £18.20 / £16.40 £15.70 / £9.00

Tariff effective 7 July 2026. Prices include VAT. Breeze one-zone prices for Class 2 remain frozen at £4.00.

London Congestion Charge and ULEZ — 2026 Rates

Facility / Zone Daily / Single Rate Operating Hours Key Details
Congestion Charge (CC) £18.00 / day Mon–Fri 07:00–18:00
Sat–Sun & bank holidays 12:00–18:00		 Applies in central London zone. Free between Christmas Day and New Year's Day bank holiday.
Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) £12.50 / day (cars, motorcycles and vans up to 3.5 tonnes) 24 hours, 7 days a week (except Christmas Day) Covers all London boroughs (Greater London). Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel are exempt.
Low Emission Zone (LEZ) £100 / day (not Euro VI, but Euro IV particulate standard met)
£300 / day (Euro IV particulate standard not met)		 24 hours, 7 days a week Applies to HGVs, lorries and vans over 3.5 tonnes, and buses, minibuses and coaches over 5 tonnes. These vehicles do not pay the ULEZ. Euro VI vehicles pay nothing.
Silvertown & Blackwall Tunnels Cars and small vans: £1.55 off-peak / £4.20 peak
Large vans and HGVs: higher rates apply (see tfl.gov.uk)		 06:00–22:00 daily Auto Pay gives lower off-peak rates. Without Auto Pay the peak rate applies at all times. Peak: Mon–Fri 06:00–10:00 Northbound & 16:00–19:00 Southbound. Rates apply from 21 September 2026.

ULEZ Exemptions: Petrol cars meeting Euro 4 standards (generally registered after 2006) and diesel cars meeting Euro 6 standards (generally after 2015) pay nothing. Zero-emission vehicles are fully exempt.

LEZ: Lorries and vans over 3.5 tonnes, and buses, minibuses and coaches over 5 tonnes, do not pay the ULEZ. They pay the Low Emission Zone charge if they do not meet the Euro VI standard.

Other Major UK Toll Crossings — 2026 Rates

Facility Car Rate (Standard) HGV Rate Discount & Payment Notes
Mersey Tunnels (Queensway / Kingsway) £2.40 £4.80–£9.60 £1.60 for Liverpool City Region (LCR) residents with a T-FLOW account (personal use, Class 1). Class 2 to 4 pay £4.80 / £7.20 / £9.60 by cash or card and £4.00 / £6.00 / £8.00 with T-FLOW. No change is given. Tolls valid from 1 April 2026.
Mersey Gateway & Silver Jubilee Bridges £2.40 £7.20–£9.60 £2.16 via Merseyflow pre-pay sticker account (up to 10% saving). Free for registered Halton residents (annual fee applies). ANPR open road. Motorcycles cross free.
Humber Bridge (A15) £2.00 £5.00–£15.00 £1.50 (cars) for Humber Bridge Toll account holders. Motorcycles cross free. Barrierless ANPR crossing since 31 January 2026; pay by midnight the next day.
Tamar Bridge (A38) £3.00 (Eastbound only) £7.30–£16.50 £1.50 (cars) with TamarTag pre-pay account. Westbound (into Cornwall) is free. Motorcycles cross free. Card payments accepted at the toll booths.
Itchen Bridge (Southampton) £1.00 £1.40–£40.00 Class 3 large vans £1.40; Class 4 HGVs and coaches £40.00. SmartCities card residents pay 40p (cars). Cash (exact coins) and contactless accepted. Motorcycles free; no charge on Christmas Day.
Tyne Tunnels (A19) £2.60 £5.20 (Class 3) 10% discount with a pre-paid account (£2.34 cars, £4.68 Class 3). Open-road ANPR with no cash at the tunnels. Motorcycles free. Rates from 1 May 2026.

Minor and Private UK Toll Crossings: 2026 Rates

Facility Car Rate (Standard) Other Vehicles Discount & Payment Notes
Eling Toll Bridge (Totton, Hampshire) £2.00 per day (unlimited crossings) Motorcycles £1.00 per day Weekly pass £10.00 (motorcycles £5.00). Maximum gross weight 2 tonnes. £20.00 charge for non-payment. Pedestrians and cyclists free. Rates from 1 June 2026.
Warburton Toll Bridge (Rixton) £1.00 per crossing (daily cap £2.00) Motorbikes exempt. Vehicles over 3 tonnes need a permit (full toll payable) 50% discount for registered local residents (WA3 6, WA13 9 and M31 4). Pay by midnight the day after crossing.
Clifton Suspension Bridge (Bristol) £1.00 Motorcycles £1.00 Open 24 hours. Contactless, chip and PIN, or Bridge Card (no cash). Weight limit 4 tonnes. Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders free. An application to raise the toll to £1.50 is with the Department for Transport.
Dunham Toll Bridge (River Trent, A57) 70p Commercial vehicles: £4; agricultural vehicles: £2 Maximum permitted tolls under the Dunham Bridge (Revision of Tolls) Order 2026, in force from 1 August 2026. The pre-paid card discount scheme runs until 31 July 2028. Maximum load 44 tonnes.
Aldwark Toll Bridge (River Ure, North Yorkshire) £1.00 per crossing Not published Cash and all major payment cards accepted, including smartphone and smartwatch payment. Ticket books are no longer sold. The bridge saves a 25-mile round trip.
Swinford Toll Bridge (Eynsham, Oxfordshire) £0.05 (5p) Not published Privately owned bridge across the River Thames, opened in 1769.
Sandbanks Chain Ferry (Dorset) £5.40 Motorcycles £1.00; goods vehicles over 3,500 kg £10.80; buses and coaches (18+ seats) £10.80; pedestrians £1.00 Prices are per single journey. Card payments accepted. No advance booking. Vehicles towing pay double. Maximum 20 tonnes.
Marine Drive Toll Road (Llandudno, Wales) £5.80 Motorbike £3.80; minibus £11.00; coach £17.00 (by prior agreement); season permit £64.00 5-mile scenic road around the Great Orme. The ticket also covers parking at the summit. Pay in cash at the booth or by PayByPhone. Weight limit 9 tonnes. Bicycles free.
Porlock Toll Road (Exmoor, Somerset) £3.00 Bicycles £1.00; motorcycles £1.50; cars with caravans, vans and motor caravans £5.00; lorries and coaches £10.00 4.2-mile scenic route from Porlock village towards Lynton, dating from the 1840s. It is a gentler alternative to Porlock Hill and never climbs more than 1 in 14.
Kimmeridge Bay Access Road (Dorset) £6.00 Motorcycles £1.20; minibuses and motorhomes £12.00; coaches over 15 seats £24.00; vehicle with trailer £18.00; vehicle with boat or canoe on roof £12.00 Private approach road, open 8am to dusk. Contactless card only at the toll hut. Walkers and cyclists free.
Dulwich Tollgate (London) £1.20 Motorbikes, cyclists and pedestrians do not pay Cashless only. Mon–Fri 07:00–21:30, Sat 08:00–18:00, Sun and public holidays 09:00–17:00. Free outside these hours and on Christmas Day.

Historic Toll Bridges and Other Crossings

  • Whitchurch Bridge is a Grade II listed toll bridge that carries the B471 and the Thames Path across the River Thames between Pangbourne in Berkshire and Whitchurch-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. It opened in November 1792 to replace a ferry and was renewed in 1852–3, 1902 and 2014. The bridge is 82.1 metres long, has four spans and has a 7.5 tonne weight limit. The Company of Proprietors of Whitchurch Bridge owns it, and the General Estates Company owns that company. With Swinford Toll Bridge, it is one of the two remaining private toll bridges across the Thames.
  • Whitney-on-Wye Toll Bridge is a Grade II listed, single-lane bridge of stone and wood. It carries the B4350 across the River Wye near Whitney-on-Wye in Herefordshire. The Whitney Bridge Act 1780 authorised the first bridge. The present three-span beam and trestle bridge dates from 1797 and was reconstructed in 1992–1993. The 18th-century toll house is also Grade II listed.
  • Penmaenpool Bridge is a Grade II listed wooden toll bridge built in 1879 to replace a ferry across the River Mawddach estuary near Dolgellau in Gwynedd, Wales. It links the A493 on the south bank with the A496 on the north bank. Only vehicles under 2.5 tonnes can use it. The bridge is registered with Cadw and was listed in 1990.
  • Batheaston (Bathampton) Bridge is a Grade II listed arch bridge of Bath stone with nine pointed arches. It crosses the River Avon between Batheaston and Bathampton, east of Bath. Hickes and Isaac built it in 1872 for the Bridge Company Turnpike Trust. The road over the bridge is single-track, and the Grade II listed toll house dates from the same time. The General Estates Company, which also owns Whitchurch Bridge, owns the bridge.
  • Cartford Bridge is a single-track toll bridge built in 1831 across the River Wyre in Lancashire. It is 450 feet (137 m) long and carries Cartford Lane between Little Eccleston-with-Larbreck and Out Rawcliffe. The squire of Rawcliffe Hall built it to replace a ford. The Cartford Bridge Company was formed in 1929, and the Speight and Thickins families have managed the bridge since then. The Cartford Inn stands on the southern side.
  • Kingsland Bridge is a Grade II listed, privately owned toll bridge across the River Severn between Kingsland and Murivance in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The Shrewsbury (Kingsland) Bridge Company owns and operates it. Henry Robertson, MP for Shrewsbury, promoted the bridge. John William Grover designed it, and the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company built it in 1883. It has two metal arch ribs and a main span of 212 feet (64.6 m).
  • Penmon Penmon is a promontory, village and parish on the eastern tip of Anglesey in Wales, about 3 miles east of Beaumaris. A toll road leads to Penmon Point, which has views of the Trwyn Du Lighthouse (built in 1838) and Puffin Island. Penmon Priory stands nearby. It was founded in the 6th century and became an Augustinian priory in the 13th century. Its church, dovecote and holy well are close together.
  • Eurotunnel Freight runs rail shuttles for HGVs between Folkestone in Kent and Coquelles near Calais. Book in advance online.

To calculate toll costs across UK roads, motorways, and crossings for cars, vans, and HGVs, use the TollGuru UK toll calculator:

How to Pay UK Tolls

1. DART-Charge (Dartford Crossing):

  • Pay online at gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge or via phone (0300 300 0120) before midnight on the day after travel
  • You can also pay up to 30 days before you travel
  • Cash payments accepted in person at local Payzone retail outlets nationwide
  • Set up a DART-Charge pre-pay account to auto-deduct tolls and save up to 22% depending on vehicle class (£2.80 vs £3.50 for cars)
  • No physical cash barriers — 100% open-road ANPR camera enforcement

2. M6 Toll:

  • Contactless credit/debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay accepted at all barrier plaza lanes — cash is strictly not accepted
  • M6toll Breeze account (ANPR / RFID tag) available for regular users with automated billing and discounted rates; a Lite account is also available
  • Dedicated Breeze lanes allow driving through without stopping at payment barriers

3. London Congestion Charge and ULEZ:

  • Pay online via the TfL portal (tfl.gov.uk), the TfL Pay to Drive in London app, or by phone on 0343 222 2222
  • Pay by midnight on the third day following travel (£18 CC / £12.50 ULEZ); TfL Auto Pay offers automatic billing
  • Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels are billed automatically via TfL Auto Pay or online pay-as-you-go (pay-as-you-go pays the peak rate at all times)
  • ULEZ and Congestion Charge zones are monitored 24/7 by ANPR cameras with no physical barriers
  • Low Emission Zone charges for lorries, vans and coaches are paid on the TfL website

4. Mersey Gateway and Mersey Tunnels:

  • Mersey Gateway & Silver Jubilee Bridges: Open-road ANPR — pay online at merseyflow.co.uk or via the Merseyflow app by 11:59 pm the day after crossing
  • Mersey Tunnels (Queensway & Kingsway): Contactless card or cash at plaza booths (no change given; use the AUTO lanes), or pre-paid T-FLOW ANPR account for discounted rates
  • Pre-paid sticker/license plate accounts (Merseyflow / T-FLOW) provide automatic passage and discounted rates

5. Humber Bridge:

  • Digital-only payment system — pay online at humberbridge.co.uk, via the Humber Bridge app, or at PayPoint stores by midnight the next day (a £25 admin fee is added to unpaid tolls)
  • Humber Bridge Toll account holders provide automatic barrierless crossing at a discounted rate (£1.50 vs £2.00 for cars)
  • Tolls apply in both directions across the bridge

6. Tyne Tunnels:

  • Open-road ANPR: no toll booths and no cash at the tunnels
  • Pay online, via the app, on 0191 574 0030 or at a PayPoint retailer by midnight the day after your journey
  • Pre-paid accounts save 10% (£2.34 vs £2.60 for cars)

7. Tamar Bridge:

  • Toll is paid one way only, from Saltash (Cornwall) to Plymouth (Devon)
  • Card payments accepted at the toll booths; TamarTag pre-pay accounts halve the toll (£1.50 vs £3.00 for cars)

8. Itchen Bridge:

  • Pay at the toll booth with contactless card or exact coins (10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2); no change is given
  • Regular users can top up a SmartCities card in advance

Enforcement and Penalties

Penalty charges escalate quickly across all UK toll systems. The table below summarises the key penalty structures for 2026.

Facility Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Discount for Early Payment Escalation
Dartford Crossing £70 £35 if paid within 14 days Rises to £105 (Charge Certificate) after 28 days + toll fee
London Congestion Charge £180 £90 if paid within 14 days Rises to £270 (Charge Certificate) after 28 days
London ULEZ £180 £90 if paid within 14 days Rises to £270 (Charge Certificate) after 28 days
Mersey Gateway £50 £25 if paid within 14 days Rises to £75 (Charge Certificate) after 28 days
Humber Bridge £25 admin fee added to the toll Not applicable Applied if the toll is not paid by midnight on the day after crossing
Mersey Tunnels £16 admin charge Not applicable Applied if outstanding tolls remain unpaid after 14 days

Foreign vehicles: Foreign-registered vehicles are liable for all UK tolls, congestion charges and clean air zone charges. Penalty Charge Notices are issued to the registered keeper. Non-UK registered HGVs also need the HGV Road User Levy before they use UK roads.

HGV Road User Levy

The HGV Road User Levy is a time-based charge for heavy goods vehicles of 12 tonnes and over that use UK roads. It applies to UK-registered and foreign-registered vehicles. The rate depends on vehicle weight, axle configuration and emissions class. Zero-emission HGVs are exempt.

UK-registered vehicles pay the levy with Vehicle Excise Duty. Foreign-registered vehicles pay through the HGV levy service before they use UK roads, and can buy a daily, weekly, monthly, six-monthly or annual levy. Using a liable HGV without the correct levy is a criminal offence.

Recent Changes (2026)

M6 Toll Rate Increase (2026):

  • Class 2 (cars) full route pay-as-you-drive rate stands at £12.00 (3 zones) under the tariff effective 7 July 2026. M6toll reviews prices every quarter.
  • The operator offers the ANPR-based Breeze payment system (alongside legacy M6 Toll TAGs), offering a discounted rate of £10.20 for cars. Breeze one-zone prices for cars remain frozen at £4.00.
  • Cash payments at physical toll booths have been permanently eliminated.

London River Crossings, ULEZ & Congestion Charge:

  • Major Network Change: Transport for London raised the Blackwall Tunnel and Silvertown Tunnel user charges from 21 September 2026. Cars and small vans now pay £1.55 off-peak (with Auto Pay) and £4.20 peak. Tolling began on both tunnels when the Silvertown Tunnel opened in April 2025.
  • ULEZ daily rates (£12.50 for non-compliant cars) remain flat following the full Greater London rollout.
  • Congestion Charge stands at £18.00/day, up from £15.00 on 2 January 2026.

Dartford Crossing (DART-Charge):

  • From 1 September 2025 the Department for Transport set the official rate for Class B cars at £3.50 (standard single crossing) and £2.80 for pre-pay account holders.
  • The proposed Lower Thames Crossing (new A122 road tunnel to relieve Dartford congestion) remains in the planning and development phase.

Bridges, Tunnels and Local Tolls:

  • Humber Bridge: the new ANPR-based Humber Bridge Toll system replaced the toll booths on 31 January 2026. Car tolls rose to £2.00 (£1.50 with an account), the first increase since 2012.
  • Tyne Tunnels: from 1 May 2026 the toll rose to £2.60 for cars (£2.34 with a pre-paid account) and £5.20 for Class 3 vehicles.
  • Mersey Tunnels: tolls valid from 1 April 2026 are £2.40 for cars (£1.60 for LCR residents with a T-FLOW account).
  • Eling Toll Bridge and Dunham Toll Bridge: new charges apply from 1 June 2026 (Eling, £2.00 per day) and 1 August 2026 (Dunham).
  • Warburton Toll Bridge: tolls resumed on 5 November 2025 after upgrade works (£1.00 per crossing, capped at £2.00 per day).

Clean Air Zones (CAZ) expansion:

  • Birmingham and Bristol maintain active Class D CAZs, which charge non-compliant private passenger cars (£8–£9/day).
  • Bath, Bradford, Sheffield, and Newcastle/Gateshead operate Class C zones. These charge non-compliant vans, taxis, and HGVs, but exempt private passenger cars.
  • Portsmouth operates a Class B zone, which also exempts private cars and light vans.
  • Scotland enforces Low Emission Zones in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. Check each council for current rules and penalty amounts.

Planning Your Journey

Typical daily cost scenarios:

  • London visitor driving into central London in a non-compliant car: £18.00 (CC) + £12.50 (ULEZ) = £30.50/day
  • Bypassing Birmingham on the M6 Toll (car, full 3 zones, junction 3A to junction 11A): £12.00 one way, £24.00 return
  • Single crossing of the Dartford Crossing: £3.50 (must pay by midnight the following day)
  • Liverpool city crossing via Mersey Tunnel (car): £2.40 per direction
  • Single crossing of the Tyne Tunnels (car): £2.60 (£2.34 with a pre-paid account)
  • Blackwall or Silvertown Tunnel (car, paying without Auto Pay): £4.20 per crossing

Avoiding tolls:

  • M6 Toll alternative: The free M6 (via Birmingham city centre) adds 20–45 minutes during peak hours but avoids the £12.00 charge
  • Dartford Crossing: No practical free alternative crossing exists within reasonable distance for A-road users on the M25 corridor (Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels are further west and are also tolled)
  • London CC/ULEZ: Zero-emission vehicles (BEV, hydrogen) are fully exempt from the ULEZ, but EVs must pay the Congestion Charge (£18.00 standard / £13.50 Auto Pay) following the expiration of TfL's Cleaner Vehicle Discount
  • Rental cars: Always check whether your rental vehicle is ULEZ-compliant before driving in London — most post-2015 diesel rentals meet Euro 6 and are exempt

Smart Motorways note: UK smart motorways (all-lane running on former hard shoulder) are free to use. Variable speed limits are enforced by cameras but no toll applies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there tolls on UK motorways generally?

No. The M6 Toll is the only toll motorway in the UK. The Dartford Crossing carries the M25 across the Thames and is also charged, but it is a river crossing rather than a toll motorway. All other motorways (M1, M4, M5, M62, etc.) are free to use, and there is no national motorway vignette or per-kilometre charge for cars. You may encounter toll crossings (bridges, tunnels) on certain routes. HGVs of 12 tonnes and over must also pay the HGV Road User Levy.

Do I need to pay the London ULEZ?

You only pay the ULEZ (£12.50/day) if your car or van (up to 3.5 tonnes) does not meet the emission standards — Euro 4 petrol (typically registered after 2006) or Euro 6 diesel (typically after September 2015). Check your vehicle registration on the TfL ULEZ checker before travelling. Zero-emission vehicles remain 100% exempt from ULEZ. The Congestion Charge (£18.00/day) is a separate central zone charge during operating hours. Lorries and vans over 3.5 tonnes pay the Low Emission Zone charge instead if they do not meet its standard.

I forgot to pay the Dartford Crossing — what should I do?

You have until midnight on the day after your crossing to pay £3.50 online at gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge. If you miss that window, you will receive a £70 Penalty Charge Notice (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days, or increasing to £105 + toll fee after 28 days). Do not ignore a PCN — it escalates to court recovery.

Does the Congestion Charge apply at weekends?

Yes. The Congestion Charge applies Monday to Friday 07:00 to 18:00, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays 12:00 to 18:00. The charge does not apply between Christmas Day and New Year's Day bank holiday (inclusive) or outside the hours above.

Do hire cars or foreign-registered vehicles pay UK tolls?

Yes. Hire car companies pass on toll and penalty charges to renters, usually with an additional admin fee set by the rental company. Foreign-registered vehicles are subject to all UK tolls and Clean Air Zone charges, with PCNs issued to the registered keeper.

Are electric vehicles exempt from UK tolls?

Zero-emission vehicles are fully exempt from the London ULEZ and Low Emission Zone. However, TfL's Cleaner Vehicle Discount for the Congestion Charge has expired, meaning EVs now pay the Congestion Charge (£13.50/day via Auto Pay or £18.00 standard). EVs are also not exempt from the M6 Toll or bridge/tunnel crossing fees, paying £3.50 at Dartford and up to £12.00 on the M6 Toll.

Is road pricing or a national road toll coming to the UK?

The UK government has confirmed an Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from 1 April 2028. It charges 3p per mile for electric cars and 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrids, paid with Vehicle Excise Duty. It is a mileage tax, not a toll. No other distance-based national road toll has been enacted.

UK vs. Neighbouring Countries

Country System Type Typical Cost (Car) Key Feature
United Kingdom Point tolls + urban charges £1.00–£12.00 per facility No national motorway toll; ULEZ covers Greater London
Ireland Point tolls + eFlow ANPR €1.90–€3.10 per toll plaza eFlow tag for M50; cash at most motorway plazas
France Distance-based autoroute tolls €0.07–€0.10/km Télépéage (Liber-t) tag; extensive péage network
Belgium Viapass OBU for HGVs; cars mostly free Cars: free on motorways; HGVs: €0.07–€0.17/km LEZ charges in Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent for cars
Netherlands Mostly free; tunnel tolls only Westerscheldetunnel: €6.00 (car) Road pricing scheme under legislative review for 2026+
Norway Extensive AutoPASS point tolls NOK 10–80 per toll station EVs pay reduced but non-zero rates since 2023
Denmark Oresund Bridge toll only DKK 385 (car, one-way) BroBizz tag for discounts; motorways otherwise free

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