Dart Charge

Here at Bailiff Advice Online, we receive significantly more enquiries regarding Dart Charge penalties than any other subject. National Highways operates the Dartford Crossing. Motorists either have to pay the crossing fee charge in advance or alternatively; make payment by midnight the following day. The payment system is called the Dart Charge. 

How much is the Dart Charge?

Between the hours of 10pm and 6am there is no charge for using the Dartford Crossing. At all other times, a Dart Charge crossing fee is payable. The amount varies according to the vehicle class and the charges from 1st Sept 2025 are detailed here.

How to pay the Dart Charge

Payment of the Dart Charge crossing fee can be made in the following ways:

By making a one-off online payment either in advance, or by midnight the day after using the crossing.

By phone to the Dart Charge contact centre on 0300 300 0120 (5am to midnight)

By opening a Dart Charge or Pre-Pay account. This is very useful for frequent users of the Dartford Crossing. Motorists using Dart Charge account, will also receive a discount on every crossing. 

By cash at any one of the thousands of retail outlets displaying the Payzone sign

 

I paid the Dart Charge late.

We receive a lot of enquiries on this subject. Payment for using the Dartford Crossing is due by midnight the day after the crossing. If you make a late payment (even by a few minutes) it will not be credited towards your crossing. Instead, it will be retained as a credit for 12 months on the Dart Charge system and used towards a future crossing in the same vehicle. As the Dartford crossing fee had not been paid, National Highways will issue you with a Penalty Charge Notice.

Dart Charge Penalty Charge Notice.

A Dart Charge Penalty Charge Notice will be issued and sent to the registered keepers address held by DVLA on the date of the crossing. The amount due will be £70, but discounted to £35 provided payment is made within a strict period of 14 days from service of the PCN. The crossing fee will be added to the Penalty Charge Notice. If payment is not made within 28 days, you will lose the right to pay at the discounted rate and National Highways will issue a Charge Certificate.  At this stage, the penalty charge of £70 will increase by 50% to £105.

I have received a Dart Charge Warning Letter. 

If you have never used the Dartford Crossing before, and fail to pay the crossing fee, you will still receive a Penalty Charge Notice. However, accompanying the PCN, will be a Dart Charge Warning Letter. As a first time user of the Dartford Crossing, you are offered the opportunity to avoid the penalty charge of £35 by paying just the crossing fee (£3.50 or slightly more depending on the class of vehicle) within a strict period of 14 days. If you are fortunate to receive such a letter, please do not ignore it. 

Order for Recovery (Form TE3)

The Order for Recovery is a vitally important notice. If the PCN is not paid within 14 days of the Charge Certificate being served, National Highways  may register  the penalty as a debt at the Traffic Enforcement Centre. This process will start with the Traffic Enforcement Centre authorising National Highways to issue an Order for Recovery (form TE3). Attached to the Order for Recovery will be a Witness Statement (Form TE9).

Registration of the debt will not in any way affect your credit file or result in a County Court judgment. 

Witness Statement (Form TE9)

If any of the following apply:

You had not received the initial Dart Charge Penalty

You had appealed the PCN within 14 days and had not received a response

You had paid the Dart Charge fee (you would need to provide evidence)

Then you will have a strict period of 21 days from service of the Order for Recovery to submit the  attached Witness Statement (TE9) and send it to the Traffic Enforcement Centre. If accepted, the Order for Recovery will be revoked and National Highways will issue a fresh Penalty Charge Notice. 

Warrant of Control

If after a period of 21 days, a completed Witness Statement (form TE9) has not been received at the Traffic Enforcement Centre or, the Dart Charge penalty remains unpaid, National Highways may request permission from the Traffic Enforcement Centre for a Warrant of Control to be issued. The warrant will then be passed to one of the three enforcement companies contracted by National Highways (Marston Recovery, CDER Group or Bristow & Sutor Ltd).

Dart Charge and bailiff enforcement.

You will receive a Notice of Enforcement from either Marston Recovery, CDER Group or Bristow & Sutor Ltd. Depending on the type of vehicle, the amount requested will usually be £190.50 to include the enforcement companies Compliance Fee of £75. If payment is not made by the strict date and time outlined on the Notice of Enforcement, an enforcement agent will make a personal visit to your property. At this stage, the debt will significantly increase to £425 to include the bailiffs company enforcement fee of £235. 

As we receive a significant number of enquiries from motorists regarding bailiff enforcement for an unpaid Dart Charge penalty, we have an entire page dedicated to this subject. 

Dart Charge notices had been sent to my previous address. 

If you have received a Notice of Enforcement, a text message or visit from either Marston Recovery, CDER Group or Bristow & Sutor in relation to a Dart Charge Penalty that you had been unaware of (most commonly, because all notices had been sent to a previous address), then all bailiff enforcement can be suspended for a short while (approx 6-8 weeks) by submitting an Out of Time Witness Statement  or late appeal (forms TE7 and TE9) to the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC). We have an entire page dedicated to this subject  here.

Commentary from Bailiff Advice Online

If you have received a letter or a visit from Marston Recovery, CDER Group or Bristow & Sutor in relation to an unpaid Dart Charge penalty that you were unaware of (usually because all notices had been sent to a previous address), or you have any queries at all about bailiff enforcement for an unpaid Dart Charge, you can email a question to us using our online Enquiry Form.  Alternatively, you can contact our free Bailiff Support line on 01643 841886. Our opening times can be found on our Contact page.