Motorhomes under 3.5t
PAYG
£3.50
Pre-pay
£2.80
The vast majority of UK-purchased motorhomes. Includes Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Mercedes Sprinter-based conversions, panel-van conversions, low-line A-class and overcab models under 3.5 tonnes.
Dartford Crossing cost for motorhomes
A standard UK motorhome pays the car rate: £3.50 pay-as-you-go, £2.80 on a pre-pay account. The two things that change that are weight (over 3.5 tonnes is Class C) and height (over 4.88m is tunnel-banned and diverted to the bridge). This page covers both edge cases, plus the practical advice for one-off holiday crossings versus regular touring.
Motorhomes over 3.5t
PAYG
£4.20
Pre-pay
£3.60
Heavier A-class and luxury motorhomes, US-import RVs, lorry-based conversions, twin-rear-wheel chassis variants. Anything plated at 3,501kg or above.
Checking your motorhome's plated weight
Two places to find your motorhome's Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM):
- V5C log book. Look for "Revenue weight" or "Maximum mass". Under 3,500kg = Class B, £3.50 / £2.80. Over 3,500kg = Class C, £4.20 / £3.60.
- Manufacturer's plate. Usually riveted near the cab door or under the bonnet. Lists MAM in kilograms. Look for the first weight line, which is the gross-vehicle figure.
- DVLA online enquiry. Free at gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla. Enter the registration and Date of First Registration; it returns the revenue weight.
Many 3.5-tonne motorhomes are actually plated at 3,500kg precisely, which still falls into Class B (the threshold is 3,501kg+ for Class C). If your motorhome is plated at exactly 3,500, you pay the car rate.
The 4.88m tunnel height limit
The two Dartford Tunnels carry northbound traffic only. Both have a 4.88-metre height limit. Vehicles taller than that, including any motorhome over 4.88m, are diverted in both directions to the QE2 Bridge, which has no general height restriction.
| Motorhome type | Typical height | Tunnel or bridge? |
|---|---|---|
| Panel-van conversion (LWB) | 2.5-2.8m | Tunnel northbound, bridge south |
| Low-profile A-class | 2.7-2.9m | Tunnel northbound, bridge south |
| Overcab coachbuilt | 2.9-3.2m | Tunnel northbound, bridge south |
| High-profile A-class | 3.0-3.3m | Tunnel northbound, bridge south |
| Twin-axle American RV | 3.5-4.5m | Tunnel northbound, bridge south (usually under 4.88m) |
| Converted lorry / heavy RV | 4.5m+ | Bridge both directions (over 4.88m) |
The toll is the same regardless of which route. The diversion is for safety, not price.
Practical guidance for motorhome crossings
- Holiday-only crossings. Pay PAYG. The £15 pre-pay deposit isn't worth tying up if you cross once a year on the way to Dover or Folkestone.
- Full-time touring or motorhome rental. Pre-pay account makes sense. 70p per crossing saving and one less thing to manage day-of.
- Direction matters in wind. The bridge closes in winds above 60mph and lowers the speed limit to 30mph above 50mph. Tall motorhomes are most affected. Check status on @HighwaysSEAST before setting off in stormy weather.
- Class A is free. If you have an additional motorcycle on a tow bar or trailer, the motorcycle crosses free if it's ridden separately. On the motorhome trailer it doesn't count separately.
- Don't panic about the £15 deposit refund. If you open a pre-pay account for a tour and close it after, the unspent deposit is refunded within 10 working days. No fee for closure.
For other vehicles
Cars
£3.50 PAYG, £2.80 pre-pay.
Vans
3.5t boundary, Class B vs Class C.
Minibuses
Class B if 9 seats or fewer.
Motorcycles
Free, every direction.
Tunnel/bridge rules
Height limit, wind closures.
Pre-pay account
The 70p / crossing saving, in detail.
Motorhome questions
How much does a motorhome pay at the Dartford Crossing?+
Most motorhomes are Class B and pay the car rate: £3.50 pay-as-you-go or £2.80 on a pre-pay account. The line is at 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight. Motorhomes over 3.5t are Class C and pay £4.20 PAYG / £3.60 pre-pay.
What's the tunnel height limit for motorhomes?+
4.88 metres (about 16 feet). Motorhomes taller than 4.88m can't use the Dartford Tunnels northbound and are diverted to the QE2 Bridge in both directions. Most A-class motorhomes are around 3 metres tall; only some heavy-duty American RVs and converted lorries exceed the limit.
Does the QE2 Bridge have a height limit?+
No general height restriction. The bridge handles all motorhome and lorry heights southbound and accepts the diverted northbound tall vehicles via the western lane. Cross-winds can be an issue for tall, light vehicles; National Highways lowers the limit to 30mph in moderate winds.
How is the 3.5t boundary actually checked?+
The Dart Charge system reads your number plate via ANPR and looks up the DVLA record for the vehicle's Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) or Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). Class B pricing applies up to 3,500kg; Class C from 3,501kg onward. The MAM is on your V5C log book under 'Revenue weight' or 'Maximum mass'.
What about a motorhome towing a small car?+
If the motorhome itself is Class B (under 3.5t MAM) it stays Class B even when towing. Towed weight doesn't count for Dart Charge classification, only the towing vehicle's own MAM. A Class C motorhome towing also stays Class C.
Is the motorhome pre-pay account worth it for a holiday trip?+
Probably not for a single one-way crossing. The £15 minimum deposit funds 5 PAYG car crossings and you'd lose 70p of value if you don't cross again that year. For a return Channel-port-and-back holiday plus any other tunnels you'd use, it does pay back. For a single weekend, just pay PAYG.
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.
About the operator