Crossed in a hire car? You pay the Dart Charge, not the rental firm.
Hire and rental cars are not exempt. The charge is yours to pay, and the cheapest way to settle it is to do it yourself before the rental company gets a late-payment demand and bills you their admin fee on top of a £70.00 fine.
The short answer
Pay £3.50 yourself at gov.uk using the hire car's number plate, by 11:59pm the day after you crossed.
You do not need to own the car or hold an account. The Dart Charge is paid against the registration, so anyone can settle it. Do this and the rental company never receives a penalty, so there is no admin fee to recharge you.
Pay at gov.ukWhat happens if you leave it to the rental company
The rental firm is the registered keeper, so any unpaid-crossing notice lands with them, not you. Then it comes back to you the expensive way.
You cross without paying
The ANPR cameras read the plate. Because the deadline passes at 11:59pm the day after crossing, an unpaid car crossing becomes a Penalty Charge Notice, not a £3.50 charge.
The PCN goes to the rental company
As registered keeper, the hire firm receives the £70 PCN (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days, rising to £105 after 28 days).
They recharge you, plus an admin fee
The rental agreement makes tolls and fines your responsibility. The company pays the penalty, takes it from the card on file, and adds an administration fee that varies by firm and is often not published up front.
A £3.50 crossing left unpaid can reach you as a £70 fine plus the rental company's fee. Settling it yourself the day after crossing removes the entire chain.
How to pay a hire car crossing yourself
1. Get the number plate
Note or photograph the hire car's registration before you set off. Every payment method needs it.
2. Choose a method
Online at gov.uk is quickest. You can also call 0300 300 0120 (every day 8am to 8pm) or pay cash or card at a Payzone outlet.
Compare payment methods3. Beat the deadline
Pay by 11:59pm the day after crossing. You can also pay up to 24 hours before a planned crossing.
Already late?What the rental companies say
Hertz states plainly that “it's your responsibility to register the vehicle you are driving,” directs customers to pay at gov.uk, by phone, or at a Payzone outlet, and warns it will add an administration fee to the original penalty if it receives a late-payment demand. It accepts no liability for the charge on your hire.
Most major rental firms take the same line: the toll is the driver's to pay. A few offer their own toll-billing programmes that pay on your behalf and recharge you with a service fee. For a single Dartford crossing, self-paying is almost always cheaper, so confirm with the desk before you rely on any automatic option.
Source: Hertz UK Dart Charge policy page, checked July 2026. Other companies' terms vary; check your own rental agreement.
Hire car Dart Charge questions
Can I pay the Dart Charge for a car I don't own?+
Yes. The Dart Charge is paid against the vehicle's number plate, not the registered keeper. You do not need to own the car or hold a Dart Charge account. Enter the hire car's registration at gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge and pay the standard charge.
Who gets the fine if a hire car crossing isn't paid?+
The Penalty Charge Notice goes to the registered keeper, which is the rental company. They pay it, then recover the amount from you under your rental agreement, usually with an administration fee added on top. That is why paying the £3.50 yourself is far cheaper.
How much is the rental company's admin fee?+
It varies by company and is often not published in advance. Hertz, for example, confirms it will charge an administration fee on top of the original penalty if it receives a late-payment demand, but does not state the amount. Assume it is on top of a £70 PCN, so self-paying is always the cheaper route.
The rental desk said they handle tolls automatically. Do I still pay?+
Ask exactly how before you drive. Some firms enrol the vehicle in a toll programme and recharge you (often with a daily or per-toll service fee); others leave it entirely to you. If it is not certain the crossing is covered, pay it yourself by 11:59pm the day after crossing. Paying twice is not possible once the crossing shows as settled.
Do I need the hire car's number plate to pay?+
Yes. Note the registration before you set off, or photograph it. Payment online, by phone on 0300 300 0120, or at a Payzone outlet all require the plate.