Dart Charge payDart Charge pay

Dart Charge pay by midnight the day using the Dartford Crossing Bridge or the Dartford Tunnel.

If you use the Dartford Bridge or Dartford Tunnel pay between the hours of 6am and 10pm you need to pay

Dart Charge pay online by Credit or Debit card pay by midnight the day after you have used it.

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How the Dart Charge pay system works

Dart Charge pay

Dart Charge pay system, means you have to pay in advance or by midnight the day after your journey. Dart Charge pay online with a credit or debit card. You must pay by midnight the day after crossing the Dartford Bridge or using the Dartford Tunnel.

Number plate cameras, positioned in the new overhead gantries, will identify the vehicle to see how much needs to be paid.

If the payment or you do not pay by midnight the day after crossing, the driver or company will receive a penalty charge notice for £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days of issue) If a penalty charge notice remains unpaid after 28 days, a charge certificate will be issued for £105.

We are serious about tackling evasion and we are  working with the European Debt Recovery Agency to recover any unpaid non-UK driver crossing charges and associated penalties.

You can also Pay Dartford Tunnel by using a Credit or Debit Card online by telephone post or make your payment at your nearest convenient  Payzone store 

Dart Charge pay charging times

Dart Charge pay

Charges apply everyday between the hours of 6am and 10pm including weekends and bank holidays.

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Dart Charge pay information and history

Dart Charge pay

It joins Dartford and Thurrock across the River Thames, forming part of London’s orbital M25 motorway and the furthest-downstream road crossing of the Thames. 

There are two tunnels, the eastern and western.

It opened in stages: the west tunnel in 1963, the east tunnel in 1980 and the bridge in 1991. The 2 tunnels are 1,430m long. 

The only fixed road crossing of the Thames east of Greater London, it is the busiest estuarial crossing in the United Kingdom, with an average daily use of over 130,000 vehicles

With daily traffic flows of 150,000 vehicles the crossing suffers regular traffic congestion.

ns are 4.8m for the west tunnel, accessed by lanes 1 and 2 (left hand lanes), and 5.0m for the east tunnel, accessed by
lanes 3 and 4 (right hand lanes).

A new concrete barrier will be constructed between lanes, which means that vehicles will not be able to cross from lanes 1 and 2 to lanes 3 and 4 after Junction 1a of the M25.

Speed limits on the Dartford Bridge crossing and Dartford Tunnel

Speed limits on the Dartford Bridge crossing and Dartford Tunnel
Speed limits

Average speed camera enforcement are used in the Dartford Tunnel and on the Dartford Bridge.

CCTV operates on the Dartford Bridge and in the Dartford Tunnels and sends live images to the control room enabling effective incident monitoring and response.

Drivers should drive at speeds appropriate to the road conditions and must not exceed the variable speed limits displayed. Observe the limits and information shown on the overhead gantries. 

Dartford Bridge and Dartford Tunnel safety information

Dartford Bridge and Dartford Tunnel safety information

The above information is for drivers on how to safely drive through the Dartford tunnels. 

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Dart Charge motorway map. Shows the location of Dartford Bridge Crossing and Dartford Tunnel. 

Dart Charge motorway map showing the Dartford Bridge Crossing or Dartford Tunnel location 

Use this Journey planner to get directions for the Dartford Bridge crossing or Dartford Tunnel

Dartford Bridge Crossing and Dartford Tunnel latest live traffic reports see map above or tune into to one these radio stations

Essex Radio on 103.5 or Kent Radio on 96.1

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