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 on the day, or in advance: gov.uk says an advance payment stays valid for 12 months. £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
Later: PCN arrives by post
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
If the £105 charge certificate is not paid within 14 days, the charging authority can recover it through the county court (SI 2013/1783, regulation 18). Court fees and enforcement agents' fees (set by the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014) can then be added.
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 gets free UK vehicle tax because of a disability (gov.uk says these vehicles are checked automatically and do not pay).
- 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 Enforcement, 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.