The Toll Booths at the Dartford Crossing have been Removed and the Fees Increased
All the toll booths at the Dartford crossing on the M25 have officially been removed from November 30th as motorists will pay the ‘Dart Charge’ online, over the phone or at a retail outlet with a Payzone terminal. The move is an attempt to reduce heavy congestion on both sides of the crossing, which allows drivers on the M25 to cross the River Thames between Dartford, Kent and Thurrock, Essex using the bridge or tunnel.
The fee for making the crossing has also been increased to £2.50 for a car. Two-axle goods vehicles now cost £3.00 while multi-axle goods vehicles have to pay £6.00. Motorcycles can travel for free while the crossing will continue to be free for everyone to use between 10pm and 6am.
The new payment method for the Dartford Crossing will be run in a similar fashion to the London Congestion Charge. That means motorists will need to pay using the official Government site gov.uk/dart-charge or call 0300 300 0120. Drivers can also visit a shop with a Payzone terminal visit payzone.co.uk to find your nearest terminal. You can also pay in advance at Dart Charge Customer Services, PO Box 842, Leeds LS1 9QF.
Discounts are available, too, with drivers able to save up to a third if they set up a Dart Charge pre-pay account using their car’s registration number and a debit or credit card. The fine for non-payment of the toll is £70. This is reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days, but increases to £105 if not paid within 28 days. The fine is for each crossing, so forgetting to make payments for a return trip could cost you £140 in total.