Forget the old coin baskets and awkward fumbling at a booth. Since 2014, the Dartford Crossing has been strictly cashless. You can’t pay on the spot, not even with a smile and a fiver. You have to pay online, by phone, or at a PayPoint store—and you must do it by midnight the day after your crossing. Fail that, and you’re looking at a fine that’s considerably less fun than a day at Southend.
The cost is surprisingly modest: £2.50 for cars and small vans (or £2.00 if you’re on a Dart Tag account). Motorcycles get a sweet deal at £1.25. If you’re crossing frequently, a Dart Tag system auto-detects your vehicle and charges your account automatically, like a digital secret handshake for the tunnel. Setting one up takes five minutes and saves your wallet from accidental fines.
