Payment Deadline
You must pay the Dart Charge by midnight the day after crossing. If you crossed today, you have until tomorrow at 11:59 PM. Miss this deadline and you will receive a £70 fine. Already missed the deadline?
How to Pay the Dartford Crossing (Dart Charge) — Every Method Explained
There are six ways to pay the Dart Charge, and choosing the right one depends on how often you cross. Below we rank every payment method by cost, convenience, and speed, followed by step-by-step instructions for each option. Whether you are a first-time crosser or a daily commuter, this guide will help you pay quickly and avoid the £70 penalty.
All Payment Methods Ranked
| Rank | Method | Cost (Car) | Speed | Convenience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pre-pay Account (Auto Pay) | £2.80 | Set and forget | |
| #2 | Online (gov.uk/dart-charge) | £3.50 | 2 minutes | |
| #3 | Caura App | £3.50 | 2 taps | |
| #4 | Phone (0300 300 0120) | £3.50 | 5 minutes | |
| #5 | Payzone | £3.50 | Varies | |
| #6 | Post | £3.50 | Slowest |
Last verified April 2026. All methods accept debit and credit cards. Pre-pay accounts also support direct debit for auto top-up.
Which Payment Method Is Right for You?
Select how often you cross the Dartford Crossing to get a personalised recommendation.
How to Pay Online (Step by Step)
Paying online is the most popular method for one-off crossings. The entire process takes about two minutes and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The government website is straightforward and works well on both desktop and mobile devices. Here is exactly what to do.
Go to the Dart Charge payment page
Visit gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge in your browser. You can also search for "pay Dart Charge" on Google and click the GOV.UK result.
Click "Pay a Dart Charge crossing"
On the landing page, click the green start button. You do not need to create an account for a one-off payment.
Enter your vehicle registration number
Type your number plate exactly as it appears on your vehicle. The system will use this to match the ANPR camera record of your crossing.
Select the crossing date
Choose the date you crossed (or will cross, if paying in advance). You can pay up to one year ahead.
Confirm the charge and pay by card
Review the amount (£3.50 for a car) and enter your debit or credit card details. You will receive an email confirmation.
How to Pay via the Caura App
Caura is a legitimate third-party app that lets you pay the Dart Charge in just two taps with no additional fees. It is especially useful if you cross occasionally and want a quicker alternative to the GOV.UK website. Caura also handles other UK road charges like the London Congestion Charge and ULEZ, making it a useful all-in-one motoring app. The app is free to download and available on both iOS and Android.
Download the Caura app
Search for Caura in the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). It is free to download.
Create an account and add your vehicle
Sign up with your email and add your vehicle registration number. The app will identify your vehicle automatically.
Add a payment method
Link a debit or credit card. Your card details are stored securely for future payments.
Pay your Dart Charge crossing
Open the app, select Dart Charge, confirm the crossing date, and tap to pay. The charge is £3.50 for a car — the same as paying directly through GOV.UK with no additional markup.
How to Pay by Phone
If you prefer to pay by phone, call 0300 300 0120. The line is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, including bank holidays. Calls are charged at the standard local rate and are usually included in mobile phone packages with inclusive minutes. You will be given the option of using the automated payment system (fastest) or speaking to an agent if you need assistance.
When calling, have your vehicle registration number and a debit or credit card ready. The automated system will ask you to enter your registration using the phone keypad, confirm the crossing date, and then take card payment over the phone. The entire process typically takes about five minutes. If you need to discuss a Penalty Charge Notice, query an existing payment, or set up a pre-pay account, select the option to speak to an agent.
Phone Payment Summary
- Number: 0300 300 0120
- Hours: 8am-8pm, 7 days a week
- Cost: Standard local rate
- You will need: Vehicle registration + payment card
How to Pay at Payzone
Payzone is a network of over 20,000 retail outlets across the UK where you can pay for various services, including the Dart Charge. Payzone terminals are typically found in convenience stores, newsagents, and petrol stations. This option is useful if you prefer to pay with cash or if you do not have access to the internet or a phone to make an online or telephone payment.
To pay at a Payzone retailer, you will need to provide your vehicle registration number and the date of your crossing. The retailer will process the payment through the Payzone terminal, and you will receive a printed receipt. Keep this receipt as proof of payment in case of any disputes. You can find your nearest Payzone retailer by visiting the Payzone website or looking for the Payzone logo displayed in shop windows.
While Payzone offers a cash payment option, it is the least convenient method for most people. You need to physically visit a shop, and not all Payzone retailers may be familiar with processing Dart Charge payments. For most drivers, paying online or via the Caura app is faster and more reliable.
Payment Deadline Rules — Exactly How It Works
The Dart Charge payment deadline is midnight the day after you cross. This is a calendar-day deadline, not a 24-hour deadline, which is an important distinction that many drivers misunderstand. Understanding the exact rules helps you avoid unnecessary penalties.
| You Cross | You Must Pay By | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday at 8am | Tuesday at 11:59pm | Nearly 40 hours to pay |
| Monday at 9pm | Tuesday at 11:59pm | About 27 hours to pay |
| Monday at 11pm | FREE — No payment needed | |
| Tuesday at 5am | FREE — No payment needed | |
| Tuesday at 7am | Wednesday at 11:59pm | Nearly 41 hours to pay |
The key takeaway is that crossings made between 10pm and 6am are free, so you never need to pay for these. For charged crossings, you always have until midnight the following calendar day. If you are unsure whether you crossed during the free period, it is worth checking — paying unnecessarily is better than not paying and receiving a fine, but saving £3.50 when you do not owe it is even better.
What If You Miss the Payment Deadline?
If you miss the midnight deadline, do not panic. Try paying anyway — the system occasionally accepts payments that are a day or two late, though this is not guaranteed. If the payment is rejected, you will receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for £70 in the post within two to four weeks. If this is your first offence, you may be able to cancel the PCN by paying the original £3.50 crossing charge within 14 days. Read our full guide on what to do if you forgot to pay, or see the complete fines and penalties guide.
The Best Option: Set Up a Pre-Pay Account
If you cross the Dartford Crossing more than a handful of times per year, setting up a Dart Charge pre-pay account is by far the best option. It costs nothing to set up, reduces your car crossing charge from £3.50 to £2.80 (a 20% saving), and completely eliminates the risk of forgetting to pay and receiving a £70 fine. The account auto-deducts each crossing from your prepaid balance, and with auto top-up enabled, you never need to think about it again. It takes about five minutes to register and is the set-and-forget solution that regular crossers rely on.
Learn About Pre-Pay AccountsPro Tip: Add a Home Screen Shortcut
If you cross occasionally and do not want to set up a pre-pay account, adding the GOV.UK payment page to your phone's home screen makes it easy to pay quickly after each crossing. On an iPhone, open Safari, navigate to gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge, tap the share icon, and select "Add to Home Screen". On Android, open Chrome, visit the same URL, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Add to Home screen". This creates an app-like shortcut that takes you directly to the payment page in one tap.