Paying Dart Charge by post: it's PCN-only
You cannot pay a Dartford Crossing charge by post in advance or on the day. The postal route exists only for paying a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) after one has been issued. This page explains the rule, gives you the PO Box address, and helps you decide whether the post is the right route for your PCN.
Don't post a cheque for a crossing
If you post a cheque addressed to Dart Charge for a crossing rather than a PCN, it will not be applied. The case officer will return the cheque to you. By then, the midnight-the-day-after deadline will almost certainly have passed and a Penalty Charge Notice for £70 will have been issued. Use one of the four electronic routes instead: online, phone (0300 300 0120), Payzone, or the Dart Charge app.
The PCN postal route, in detail
If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice in the post, you can pay it back by post if you prefer not to use the online or phone routes. This is the standard process.
Address
Dart Charge
PO Box 842
Leeds
LS1 9QF
Listed on every PCN that's issued. Same address whether you're paying or appealing.
Cheque / postal order
- Payable to: Dart Charge
- Amount: £35 (within 14 days), £70 (within 28 days), £105 (after 28 days)
- Write the 12-character PCN reference on the back
- Include the tear-off slip from the PCN if available
- Allow 5-7 working days for the cheque to clear
Post versus the online PCN form
Both routes accept payment of a PCN. They differ in speed and proof.
Online wins when
- You're close to the 14-day reduced-rate deadline
- You want an immediate email receipt
- You don't have a cheque book or postal order to hand
- You want the PCN closed off the system within hours
Post is fine when
- You have ample time before any deadline (post early in the 28 days)
- You prefer the paper trail
- You distrust online card entry
- The fine is for someone else and you're paying on their behalf via cheque from their account
What if you already sent a cheque for a crossing
If you posted a cheque for a recent or upcoming crossing rather than a PCN, the most likely outcome is: (1) Dart Charge return the cheque unactioned; (2) the original crossing missed the midnight-the-day-after deadline; (3) a PCN has been issued and is in the post to you. Three steps to recover from this:
- Pay the crossing online or by phone immediately if the deadline has not yet passed (rare but possible if your cheque was returned quickly).
- If the deadline has passed, wait for the PCN. It will arrive within 21 days of the missed crossing. Pay it within 14 days of issue to get the £35 reduced rate.
- Don't re-send the cheque. Use the online or phone routes from here.
Related guides
The four crossing-payment methods
Online, phone, Payzone, app.
PCNs and appeals
£35 / £70 / £105 escalation explained.
Missed the deadline
Decision tree by how late you are.
Pay by phone
0300 300 0120, 24/7 automated.
Pay at Payzone
The cash route, in shops.
Dart Charge app
Pay from your phone in 30 seconds.
Postal payment questions
Can I pay the Dart Charge by cheque through the post?+
Not for a crossing. The four payment routes for an upcoming or recent crossing are online, by phone, at a Payzone shop, or via the Dart Charge app. There is no postal address for paying a crossing in advance or on the day. The only postal payment route is for a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) once one has been issued.
What's the Dart Charge postal address for PCNs?+
Dart Charge, PO Box 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF. Make cheques payable to 'Dart Charge'. Include the 12-character PCN reference number on the back of the cheque. Postal Orders are also accepted; same address, same payee, same reference.
Why isn't there a postal route for crossing payments?+
Three reasons: the day-after-crossing deadline is too tight for post to clear; postal payments would need manual processing that doesn't scale to the 4 million paid crossings a month; and the four electronic routes (online, phone, Payzone, app) cover all the use cases that postal payment used to. Dart Charge has not offered postal crossing payment since the toll booths were removed in November 2014.
Can I pay a PCN by post with a postal order?+
Yes. Postal orders are accepted for PCN payment, payable to 'Dart Charge' and sent to PO Box 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF. Include the PCN reference. Allow 5-7 working days for the postal order to reach the processing centre and be applied to the case.
Is the PCN postal deadline different from online?+
Functionally, yes. The PCN deadline is 28 days from the date on the notice for the £35 early-payment discount or £70 full rate. The Dart Charge office credits payment on the day the cheque or postal order is processed, not the day you posted it. Allow 5-7 working days; sending a payment in the final week before the deadline is risky.
Can I appeal a PCN by post too?+
Yes. Send a written appeal to the same PO Box 842 Leeds address, citing the PCN reference and your grounds. The 28-day reduced-rate clock pauses while your appeal is being considered, so it doesn't penalise you to challenge. The online appeal form is faster, but post works.
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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