Do you actually owe a Dart Charge?
Crossings between 10pm and 6am are free, and motorcycles, mopeds and quad bikes never pay. If you crossed in that window or on a bike, there’s nothing to do. Prices and hours are on our Dartford Crossing page.
Still within the deadline? Pay now
Pay on the official GOV.UK Dart Charge page. Remember a return journey is two crossings.
Search results often show look-alike sites that add a fee. Only pay through GOV.UK.
Missed the deadline? What the Dart Charge PCN costs
Once midnight the day after has passed, you can’t pay the normal charge any more. A penalty charge notice (PCN) of £70 is posted to the registered keeper, and you still owe the crossing charge on top.
| When you pay the PCN | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Within 14 days | £35 |
| Within 28 days | £70 |
| After 28 days | £105 |
Can I challenge a Dart Charge PCN?
Yes, if you have grounds: you’d already paid, the vehicle wasn’t yours at the time, it was stolen or cloned, the plate was misread, or the vehicle is exempt. Make a representation to Dart Charge within 28 days. If it’s rejected you can appeal to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
How do I stop it happening again?
- A pre-pay Dart Charge account pays automatically and cuts a car crossing from £3.50 to £2.80.
- EveryDrive detects the crossing from your phone’s location and reminds you before the deadline — useful when you only use a crossing occasionally, or drive someone else’s car.