Dartford Crossing fines, PCNs & appeals
The Dart Charge fine doubles, then triples, then ends up in county court if you ignore it. Here are the exact amounts at each stage and how to challenge a notice you don't agree with.
Pay within 14 days
£35
Reduced rate
Standard PCN
£70
Within 28 days
Charge Certificate
£105
After 28 days unpaid
Court enforcement
£105+
Plus court costs & bailiff fees
How a missed payment escalates
Each row is what happens if you don't act. The earlier the row, the cheaper the fix.
- 1
Day of crossing
You can pay any time on the day, or up to 24 hours before. £3.50 for a car.
- 2
Midnight the day after crossing
Final payment deadline. After this, the system flags the unpaid crossing and a PCN is issued.
- 3
2 to 28 days later: PCN arrives
A £70 Penalty Charge Notice is sent to the registered keeper's address. Pay within 14 days for the £35 reduced rate.
- 4
14 days from PCN: discount window closes
The fine returns to £70. You can still pay, or challenge formally.
- 5
28 days from PCN: Charge Certificate
The fine increases by 50% to £105. The case is no longer at the early-stage admin level.
- 6
14 days later: county court enforcement
The debt is registered with the Traffic Enforcement Centre and a Warrant of Control can be issued. Court costs and bailiff fees apply on top of the £105 charge certificate. The exact final amount depends on the case stage and the enforcement agent's fee scale set by the Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions Regulations 2022.
Yes, you can appeal. Here's when it works.
A challenge is most likely to succeed if one of these is true:
- You already paid the original crossing charge (keep the gov.uk confirmation email).
- You weren't the registered keeper at the time of the crossing (provide the V5C transfer date).
- The vehicle was stolen at the time (a police report helps).
- The number plate was misread by the cameras (request the photo evidence Dart Charge holds).
- The vehicle is in the Disabled Tax Class and was registered for exemption before crossing.
- The PCN itself contains a procedural error (wrong date, wrong vehicle, wrong contravention).
How to challenge a PCN
- 1
Within 28 days, challenge directly to Dart Charge
Online via the gov.uk PCN portal, or by post to:
Dart Charge, PO Box 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF
- 2
Wait for the response
Dart Charge replies in writing. If accepted, the PCN is cancelled. If rejected, you receive a Notice of Rejection with appeal rights.
- 3
If rejected, appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal
Online at trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk. Free, independent, binding on both sides. The tribunal reviews evidence on paper or with a short video hearing.
- 4
Keep your evidence ready
Payment receipts, V5C dates, photos of the vehicle, any correspondence with Dart Charge. The tribunal weighs paperwork heavily.
What not to do
- Don't ignore it. The escalation is automatic. £70 becomes £105 after 28 days, then climbs further once court costs and bailiff fees are added at the Traffic Enforcement Centre stage.
- Don't pay a third-party "fine settlement" website. Some scam sites add a "fee" on top. The real PCN payment URL is on the notice itself and links to gov.uk.
- Don't assume foreign vehicles escape. Enforcement of unpaid PCNs follows EU-registered vehicles via cross-border agreements.