Dartford Crossing - Charges and DART-Tag

Charges and DART-Tag

The charge payment booths for both directions of travel are located on the south side of the crossing. Charges can be paid in cash or through a pre-paid DART-Tag.

The cash charges vary for the type of vehicle. Motorcycles are free but there are standard charges for cars, larger two-axle vehicles and larger vehicles with more than two axles. Cash is collected in person at a booth, or dropped into an automatic hopper. Under the 2008 Charging Order introduced on 15 November 2008, charges between 10pm and 6am were scrapped, but standard daytime rates increased from £1.50 for cars. As from 7th October 2012 the daytime rate for cars increased to £2, £2.50 for vans (2 axle goods vehicles) and £5 for multi axle goods vehicles.

The DART-Tag is a device that enables drivers to pass the payment booths without having to pay cash, and provides discounted charge rates. Normally inserted into a holster that is stuck to the inside of a vehicle's windscreen, it is detected by sensors at the payment booths and automatically deducts the charge from the driver's pre-paid account. People who use this pre-paid system save money per trip. The prices for DART-Tag account holders before the 7th October 2012 were £1 per crossing for a car, £1.75 for a van (a vehicle without windows behind the driver's or passenger's seats) and £3.20 for a multi-axle goods vehicle. Although the DART-Tag device is free and available to anyone, the tag remains the property of the Dartford Crossing and if lost/stolen or damaged would be charged for. As from 7th October 2012 DART-Tag prices are £1.33 for cars, £2.19 for vans and £4.33 for multi-axle goods vehicles.

On 15 November 2008, a local residents' scheme was introduced for car drivers resident in the Dartford and Thurrock council areas. For an annual registration fee of £10, local residents are entitled to 50 free crossings and additional crossings at 20p.

Failure or refusal to pay the charge is a criminal offence under section 22 of The Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988.

People who are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty on the grounds of disability can cross for free.