The A282 toll: same charge, different signpost
The A282 is what the Dartford Crossing is technically called on the ground. People search "A282 toll" because that's the road number their satnav or maps app shows. There's no separate A282 toll. It's the Dart Charge, charged once per crossing at the standard rate for your vehicle.
What the A282 actually is
The A282 is a 2.5-mile-long A-road that begins at M25 Junction 31 in Thurrock, Essex, and ends at M25 Junction 1A in Dartford, Kent. In the middle it goes through the Dartford Tunnels (northbound) and across the QE2 Bridge (southbound). At each end it connects directly to the M25 mainline.
It exists as an A-road rather than an extension of the M25 for one historical reason: certain vehicles permitted on A-roads but not motorways need a way to cross the Thames. Mopeds, learner-driver cars, agricultural tractors and a handful of other categories are legally banned from the M25 but legally allowed on the A282. The reclassification preserves their access to the crossing.
For everyone else, the A282 looks and feels identical to the M25. Three lanes per direction (four southbound across the bridge), motorway-grade construction, motorway-grade signage. The only visible difference is the "A282" on the gantry, where you might have expected "M25".
2026 A282 toll rates, every class
Set on 1 September 2025 and unchanged into 2026. Sourced from gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge/charges.
| Vehicle | Pay-as-you-go | Pre-pay | Free overnight (10pm-6am) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle / moped | Free | Free | Free |
| Car / van under 3.5t | £3.50 | £2.80 | Free |
| 2-axle goods over 3.5t | £4.20 | £3.60 | Free |
| Multi-axle HGV | £8.40 | £7.20 | Free |
| Disabled tax class (registered) | Free | Free | Free |
What can use the A282 but not the M25
This is the answer to why the road number changes from M25 to A282 for the 2.5 miles around the crossing. These vehicles are legally permitted on the A282 stretch and would otherwise have no way across the Thames east of London.
- Mopeds and motorcycles under 50cc
- Learner drivers (a learner car cannot use the M25 unless accompanied by an Approved Driving Instructor)
- Tractors and most agricultural vehicles
- Cyclists, theoretically; in practice cycling across is not safe and a free shuttle service operates for cyclists
- Walkers and pedestrians via the same shuttle
- Slow-moving construction plant on movement permits
The cyclist and pedestrian shuttle is operated free of charge by National Highways. Book at gov.uk/dartford-crossing-cyclists.
The two physical routes the A282 covers
The A282 designation covers both the Dartford Tunnels and the QE2 Bridge. Northbound traffic goes through the tunnels; southbound traffic crosses the bridge. The toll is identical either way.
The Dartford Tunnels (northbound)
Two bored tunnels, opened in 1963 and 1980. Two lanes each, four lanes northbound in total. Maximum height 4.88m. Hazardous loads are escorted through during quieter periods. Tall vehicles are diverted to the bridge in both directions.
The QE2 Bridge (southbound)
Cable-stayed bridge, opened October 1991. Four lanes southbound only. No general height restriction. Closes in winds above 60mph (typically a handful of times each winter), at which point the tunnels handle both directions.
Other names for the same toll
Dart Charge (current name)
The full 2026 rate list.
M25 J31 toll (northbound)
Thurrock-side approach detail.
M25 J1A toll (southbound)
Dartford-side approach detail.
Free hours and tunnel/bridge
Direction rules and peak times.
How to pay
Online, phone, app, Payzone.
Missed the A282 deadline?
Decision tree by how late.
A282 questions
Is the A282 toll the same as the Dart Charge?+
Yes. The A282 is the legal road designation for the M25 spur that runs from M25 J31 in Thurrock, across the Dartford Crossing, to M25 J1A in Dartford. The toll levied on that section is the Dart Charge. Same rates, same payment deadline, same enforcement.
Why is it called the A282 and not the M25?+
Because the Dartford Crossing is not legally a motorway. The section from J31 to J1A is reclassified as an A-road specifically so that vehicles which cannot use motorways (notably small mopeds, learner drivers and certain agricultural vehicles) can still cross the Thames. Once you exit at J1A or J31, you're back on the M25.
How much is the A282 toll for a car in 2026?+
£3.50 pay-as-you-go or £2.80 with a Dart Charge pre-pay account. The same rate applies northbound through the tunnels and southbound across the QE2 Bridge. Motorcycles cross free.
Can a moped use the A282?+
Yes. Mopeds are permitted on the A282 because it is not a motorway between J31 and J1A. They are not permitted on the rest of the M25. Mopeds also cross the Dartford Crossing free of charge as Class A vehicles.
Are there any other tolls on the A282?+
No. The only tolled stretch of the A282 is the Dartford Crossing itself, between the gantry south of J31 and the one north of J1A. The rest of the A-road designation around the junctions is free.
Why is the A282 used as a road number for searches?+
Because some satnavs and route-planners label the crossing as 'A282' rather than 'Dartford Crossing' or 'M25'. Drivers seeing 'A282 toll' on a route preview want to know if it's a separate charge from the M25 toll they expect. It isn't.
Oliver Wakefield-Smith
Founder, Digital Signet
Independent reference for Dart Charge prices and routing, sourced from gov.uk and updated against announced National Highways tariff changes.
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