Is the Dartford Crossing free on weekends and evenings?

The Dart Charge for the Dartford Tunnel - or Dartford Crossing as it is correctly known - is typically paid when using two tunnels and the QE2 Bridge over the River Thames between Kent, to the south and Thurrock, Essex, to the north. But do you have to pay the Dart Charge to use it at Christmas, New Year, weekends, evenings and bank holidays, motoring journalist and expert Pete Barden reveals the facts.

Do I need to pay to use the Dartford Tunnel on a Sunday? (Credit: N Chadwick )

Do I have to pay the Dart Charge at weekends?

Yes. During chargeable hours - 6am to 10pm - you will need to pay the relevant charge across the entire weekend period. 

Do I have to pay for crossings in the evening?

Evening crossing are chargeable up until 10pm, when the using the service becomes free until 6am the following morning.

Are the bridge and tunnels free on Sundays?

No. You will have to pay to use the tunnels and QE2 Bridge on a Sunday - during usual hours when payment is required, as it is always free to use between 10pm and 6am. 

Is the Dart Charge free on Christmas Day?

No. You will need to pay when using tunnels or bridge on Christmas Day. With many people visiting friends and family, drivers might not be familiar with the payment system now that booths have been removed. Read on to find out how to pay.

Is the Dartford Crossing free on Boxing Day?

No. You will need to pay the charge when using the bridge or tunnels on Boxing Day.

What about the rest of the Christmas period?

All users of the tunnels or QE2 Bridge will need to pay the charge across the entire Christmas period - during chargeable hours. 

Do I have to pay to use the crossing on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Yes - you will need to pay the charge on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, during operational hours. 

Do I have to pay the Dart Charge at Easter?

Yes, there are no treats for drivers using the Dartford Crossing - with payment as normal during standard charging hours for Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

When is it free to use?

Drivers will not need to pay for using the tunnels and QE2 Bridge between 10pm and 6am seven days a week.

Do I have to pay the Dartford Crossing Dart Charge both ways?

Yes - you will need to pay both ways. Failure to do this could result in a fine of up to £105 for each missed payment.

Can I pay the Dart Charge at toll booths?

The toll booths were removed in 2014 to help speed up the flow of traffic using the bridge and tunnels. The booths were replaced by a new system where users must either pay in advance, or by midnight the day after they cross. Failure to do this is likely to result in a fine of £70, which can be halved if paid within 14 days or increased to £105 if not paid within 28 days.

How do I pay now the toll booths have gone?

There are several ways to pay, but remember, you must pay by midnight the day after use at the latest. Payment methods for the tunnel and QE2 Bridge are as follows:

• Pay online by logging on to the Dart Charge payment system here. This is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• pay with cash at your nearest Payzone store
• set up an account by post
• pay in advance or top-up your account by post
• pay or set up an account by phone

Driver who want to pay can use the following numbers, between the stated hours:

Contact centre

Telephone: 0300 300 0120

Textphone: 18001 0300 300 0120

Every day, 8am to 8pm

How much does it cost to use during paid hours?

Official pricing is as follows:

Cars and motorcycles (each way)

	Vehicle class	One-off payment	If you have an account
Motorcycles, mopeds and quad bikes	A	Free	Free
Cars (including trailers), motorhomes and any minibuses that have 9 or less seats (including the driver’s seat)	B	£2.50	£2.00

Buses, coaches, vans and other goods vehicles (each way)

	Vehicle class	One-off payment	If you have an account
Vehicles with 2 axles	C	£3.00	£2.63
Vehicles with more than 2 axles	D	£6.00	£5.19

What are the fines if I forget to pay after using the tunnels and QE2 Bridge?

Forgetting to pay the Charge can result in a £70 fine. This will be halved to £35 if paid within 14 days, or increased to £105 if not paid within 28 days. And you will still be liable to pay for the charge.

Will I get a reminder that I need to pay after using the crossing?

No. There are no reminders sent out after a vehicle has used the tunnels or QE2 Bridge, it is the vehicle's registered keeper's job to pay the Charge.

Do electric cars pay the Dartford Crossing Dart Charge?

Yes. Electric cars and other EVs will need to pay the full Dartford Crossing Dart Charge without any discount. 

Is the Dartford Crossing QE2 Bridge closed due to Storm Debi and other storms?

In stormy weather with gale-force winds, the QE2 Bridge can be closed to some or all types of traffic. This can cause long delays as all traffic is diverted through the tunnels, so check before you travel. The National Highways Twitter account will keep you up to date. Check out details on Dartford Crossing closures here. 

I am disabled, do I need to pay to cross?

You will not need to pay to cross if you get free UK vehicle tax because of disability.

Why do drivers still have to pay for the Dartford Crossing, when it was meant to be free by now?

The Dartford Crossing is a road crossing over the River Thames in England, connecting Kent and Essex. It is the busiest road crossing in the UK, with over 160,000 vehicles using it each day.

The crossing was originally opened in 1963 as the Dartford Tunnel. A second tunnel was added in 1980, and the crossing was renamed the Dartford Crossing in 1991.

When the Dartford Crossing was first opened, there was no charge to use it. However, in 2003, the government introduced a charge for using the crossing during peak hours. The charge was originally £1.50 for cars, but it has since been increased to £2.50.

The government said that the charge was necessary to manage traffic congestion and to pay for the cost of running the crossing. However, many drivers have criticized the charge, arguing that it is unfair and that the crossing should be free to use.

In 2009, the government announced that the Dartford Crossing would be made free to use once the cost of construction and maintenance had been paid off. This was expected to happen in 2017. However, in 2016, the government announced that the charge would remain in place indefinitely.

The government said that the decision to keep the charge in place was necessary to manage traffic congestion and to fund investment in other transport infrastructure. However, many drivers have been left disappointed and angry by the decision.

Why is the Dartford Crossing still not free?

There are a number of reasons why the Dartford Crossing is still not free, despite the government's original promise to abolish the charge.

• Traffic congestion: The government says that the charge is necessary to manage traffic congestion on the Dartford Crossing. Without the charge, the government says that traffic levels would increase significantly, leading to congestion and delays.
• Cost of maintenance: The Dartford Crossing is a complex and expensive piece of infrastructure. The government says that the charge is necessary to help cover the cost of maintaining and operating the crossing.
• Funding for other transport projects: The government says that the revenue from the Dartford Crossing is used to fund investment in other transport infrastructure projects, such as road and rail improvements.

What are the arguments in favour of making the Dartford Crossing free?

There are a number of arguments in favour of making the Dartford Crossing free.

• Fairness: Many drivers argue that the charge is unfair, particularly for those who have to use the crossing on a daily basis. They say that the crossing should be free to use, like all other major roads in the UK.
• Economic growth: Some argue that making the Dartford Crossing free would boost the local economy, by making it easier and cheaper for people to travel between Kent and Essex.
• Environmental benefits: Reducing traffic congestion on the Dartford Crossing would have a number of environmental benefits, such as reducing air pollution and noise pollution.

What are the arguments against making the Dartford Crossing free?

There are also a number of arguments against making the Dartford Crossing free.

• Cost: The government says that it would cost around £200 million per year to make the Dartford Crossing free. This money would have to be found from somewhere else, such as taxes or other government spending.
• Traffic congestion: The government says that making the Dartford Crossing free would lead to a significant increase in traffic levels, which would worsen congestion and delays.
• Funding for other transport projects: The government says that the revenue from the Dartford Crossing is used to fund investment in other transport infrastructure projects, such as road and rail improvements. If the charge was abolished, this funding would be lost.

Conclusion

The question of whether or not to make the Dartford Crossing free is a complex one. There are strong arguments on both sides of the debate.

The government has said that it has no plans to abolish the charge in the near future. However, it is possible that the charge could be abolished at some point in the future, if the government decides that the benefits of doing so outweigh the costs.

 

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