Dart Charge: Dartford Crossing remote payment

Dart Charge launches 30 November 2014.

From Sunday 30 November 2014 you will no longer pay for the Dartford Crossing at the barriers. This will help reduce congestion at the crossing. It will still be free to use the crossing between 10pm and 6am.

You should continue to pay at the barrier or use your DART-Tag until 30 November 2014.

The last cash payment will be taken at the crossing at around 10pm on Saturday 29 November. Dart Charge will begin at 6am on 30 November.

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How to pay

The cheapest way to pay is using a pre pay account. This saves you up to a third on each crossing. Local residents will need a pre-pay account to access the local residents’ discount scheme.

You can top up your pre-pay account manually or set up automatic top-ups. You can register more than one vehicle to your account.

Set up a pre-pay account

Alternatively once Dart Charge is in place you will be able to make one-off payments in advance or by midnight the day after crossing:

• online at www.gov.uk/dart-charge
• over the phone by calling: 0300 300 0120
• via a payzone retail outlet
• by post (in advance only): Dart Charge Customer Services PO Box 842 Leeds LS1 9QF

Do not use these payment methods yet. Dart Charge will begin at 6am on 30 November.

Some vehicles are exempt from paying for the crossing.

Find out more about Dart Charge

Set up a pre-pay account

Existing DART-Tag account holders

If you already have a DART-Tag account you won’t need to set up a new account. You can simply transfer to Dart Charge and keep your existing balance.

You’ll receive personalised instructions shortly on how to do this. Make sure the contact details on your DART-Tag account are up-to-date so we send them to the right place.

New customers

New customers can set up a pre-pay account online now, ready to use from 30 November.

Exemptions

Vehicles currently legally exempt from paying the crossing charge will continue to be exempt. This includes vehicles exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Duty because they are used by or for disabled person(s). The full list of exemptions is described in legislation.

The Highways Agency is working with the DVLA to identify vehicles registered as exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty automatically.

Evasion

Enforcing the charge will be an important part of the Dart Charge scheme. Penalty charges and recovery processes will be used to tackle evasion.

Evasion is likely to involve both UK-registered and non-UK-registered vehicles. The automatic number plate recognition system will recognise non-UK vehicles and a European debt recovery agency will support the recovery of outstanding charges. This approach has proven successful with similar schemes such as the London congestion charge.

Implementing Dart Charge

Implementing these arrangements will require greater use of technology and substantial changes to the existing road layout at the crossing. Advanced construction work at the crossing to prepare for the introduction of Dart Charge is well underway. In late November 2014, work will begin to remove the payment booths and introduce the new road layout.

View full details of the road scheme.

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