Dartford Crossing Charges Update

Tags: business, dartford crossing, sales, vehicle checks

Did you know you can no longer pay for the Dartford Crossing at the barriers?

Introducing the Dart Charge

The Dart Charge is an online payment system that was introduced in October 2014 allowing you to pay the Dartford Crossing fee in advance or up to midnight after the day you cross.

The charge only comes into effect if you cross between 6am and 10pm and the amount you pay is dependent on the vehicle your drive. For example, a typical car or van will be charged £2.50 for a single crossing.

If you do not pay the Dart Charge, you will have to pay a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of up to £70, plus the original crossing charge. Find out more about the charges, exemptions and penalties.

What impact does this have on fleets?

Like any other driving penalty, the registered owner of the vehicle will receive the PCN, so if you run a fleet of leased vehicles, the fleet operator i.e. Sandicliffe Motor Contracts, will receive the notice.

At Sandicliffe Motor Contracts all penalties and charges are handled by our Maintenance Team who will be in touch to notify you of the charge ASAP. From there you will be advised on how to pay the charge, plus a small administration fee.

How can you avoid this?

We aim to help in the smooth running of your fleet however we can, and helping your company to reduce the amount of penalties fees paid is just one way we aim to serve.

Here are our top 3 tips:

1. Educate – giving your drivers information about the changes is a great place to start. Make sure to include an update in your next company newsletter or team meeting. Feel free to share this news article sandicliffemotorcontracts.co.uk/dartcharge or download our Dart Charge handout
   
2. Plan ahead – paying in advance is the easiest way to avoid any unnecessary penalties.Pay for a one off crossing quickly and simply by using the online Dart Charge service
3. Set up a Dart Charge Account – by setting up an account and depositing a payment upfront (minimum of £10 initial payment) you can add multiple vehicles and make sure your account is always topped up. Also receive up to a third off on every crossing! Set up a Dart Charge Account

Should you require any further advice and support please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our Maintenance Team on 01159 466 466 or email [email protected]