Pay Dart Charge by phone, step by step
The phone payment route is the second-most-used after the website, and it's the only one that works reliably without internet access. 0300 300 0120, 24 hours a day for automated payment. This page walks through the call, what to have ready, and how to handle the edge cases.
Phone number
0300 300 0120
local-call rate from UK lines
Automated 24/7
Yes
card payments any time
Advisor hours
Mon-Fri 8-8
Sat-Sun 8-4
Time per call
3-4 min
single crossing automated
The automated call, step by step
The voice prompts have been stable since 2019. Roughly 3-4 minutes from dialling to confirmation.
- 1
Dial 0300 300 0120
Local-call rate. Mobile and landline both work.
- 2
Select 'Pay a charge'
Option 1. Then option 1 again for 'crossing payment'.
- 3
Vehicle registration
Speak or key in your VRM. Letters are pronounced phonetically.
- 4
Date of crossing
Day and month. System reads it back, you confirm.
- 5
Card details
Long card number, expiry, CVV. PCI-compliant entry tones.
- 6
Reference number
System reads a 12-digit confirmation. Write it down.
The reference number is your proof of payment. Keep it for at least 28 days; if a Penalty Charge Notice arrives in error, the reference is the fastest way for the appeals team to find your record.
Advance payment by phone
You can pay up to 24 hours before crossing through the phone system. Useful for early-morning trips where you don't want to stop and pay at the time, or where you're calling from a passenger seat the day before.
The deadline is the same as for all payment methods: by 11:59pm the day after your actual crossing. Pay too early (more than 24 hours ahead) and the system will reject the entry; pay too late (after the day-after deadline) and a Penalty Charge Notice follows.
When the phone is the right route, and when it isn't
Phone wins when
- You don't have mobile data or you're in a poor-signal area
- You're paying for someone else and only have their VRM
- You prefer voice prompts to forms
- You need to talk to a human (advisor hours)
- You can't use the app (older phone, no app stores)
Other routes are better when
- You cross frequently (open a pre-pay account)
- You want a paper receipt (use Payzone)
- You're paying multiple unrelated crossings (online is faster)
- You're paying a PCN (use post or online; phone routes don't handle PCNs)
- You have the Dart Charge app set up
Talking to an advisor instead of the automated system
The advisor service handles enquiries the automated system can't: refunds, account amendments, PCN queries, exemption applications. Press 0 at any prompt or wait through the menus to be routed.
- Mon-Fri 8am to 8pm: longest wait times Mon 9am-11am and Fri 4pm-6pm. Try Tue-Thu midday for fastest.
- Sat-Sun 8am to 4pm: shorter staffing, longer waits. Used for urgent issues only.
- Outside those hours: automated payment still works; advisor calls automatically queue and call back when the line opens next day.
Related payment guides
All payment methods
Online, phone, Payzone, app ranked.
Pay via the app
Official iOS / Android. Saves card details.
Pay at Payzone
Cash payment in shops near the M25.
Pay by post
PCN-only; no postal route for crossings.
Auto-pay (pre-pay account)
Stop ringing in altogether. £15 deposit.
Missed the deadline
What to do if it's past midnight tomorrow.
Phone payment questions
What's the Dart Charge phone number?+
0300 300 0120. The number is open 24 hours a day for automated payment and 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday (8am to 4pm weekends) for spoken advisor support. Standard 0300 numbers cost the same as a local call from a mobile or landline.
What do I need ready before I call?+
Three things: the vehicle registration number, a debit or credit card, and the date of the crossing. If you're paying for a future crossing (up to 24 hours ahead), have the planned date ready. Have a pen for the reference number the system reads at the end.
Can I pay for someone else's crossing by phone?+
Yes. The Dart Charge phone system doesn't require ownership proof, it just needs the vehicle registration and a card. Friends, family or colleagues can call in for someone else. Just make sure the registration is exactly right; the system pays the charge against whichever VRM you enter.
Can I pay for multiple crossings in one call?+
Yes. The automated system asks if you want to add another crossing after the first payment confirms. Same vehicle, different dates: fine. Different vehicles, same call: fine. The card is charged once for the total.
What if the phone payment cuts off mid-call?+
If your card was charged before the disconnect, the payment is recorded and you'll get an SMS or email confirmation. If your card was not charged, no record exists and you'll need to call back. The most common cause is signal loss on a motorway approach. Calling from a stationary spot is more reliable.
Is paying by phone more expensive than paying online?+
No. The Dart Charge is the same per crossing regardless of payment method: £3.50 for a car, £4.20 for two-axle goods, £8.40 for multi-axle HGV. There's no surcharge for paying by phone. The 0300 number itself is charged at the local-call rate, so no premium-rate fees.
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.
About the operator