Editing Dartford Crossing (section)

==Charges==
[[File:Dartford Crossing Tolls - geograph.org.uk - 169071.jpg|thumb|Overhead view of the crossing looking northbound. The toll booths were replaced by electronic charging barriers in 2014.]]

A [[free-flow tolling|free-flow]] [[electronic toll collection|electronic charging system]] called '''Dart Charge''' began in November 2014 based on [[automatic number plate recognition]]. The charge can be paid online or phone, in advance or by midnight the day after crossing, but can no longer be paid in cash at the site since the old toll booths have been removed.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Dart Charge: Dartford Crossing remote payment |date=1 December 2014 |website=Gov.uk |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dart-charge-dartford-crossing-remote-payment |access-date=2 December 2014}}</ref> However, cash payments are accepted at some [[Payzone (United Kingdom)|Payzone]] retail outlets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pay the Dartford Crossing charge (Dart Charge) |publisher=HM Government |url=https://www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge |access-date=26 July 2017}}</ref> Reminder signs and variable message signs on approaches to the crossing say "Dart charge – find us online. Pay by midnight tomorrow."<ref>{{cite web |title=Dart charge: Essex charging signs |publisher=Highways England |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/458103/Essex.pdf |access-date=7 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108180749/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/458103/Essex.pdf |archive-date=8 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dart charge: Kent charging signs |publisher=Highways England |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/458102/Kent_.pdf |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> Vehicles have to pay the charge if they use the crossing between 6&nbsp;am and 10&nbsp;pm seven days per week, and this is indicated on signs. Daily charges for the crossing since October 2018 are:<ref name="dt">{{cite web |title=Dart Tag |publisher=Highways Agency |url=http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/nossl/home.php |access-date=2 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715201955/http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/nossl/home.php |archive-date=15 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="km20141105"/>
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Day charges
|-
! scope="col" | Vehicle class
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Pay-as-you-go
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Pre-paid accounts
|-
| Motorcycles
| Free
| Free
|-
| Cars, motorhomes, small minibuses
| £2.50
| £2.00<ref>{{cite news |title=Dartford Crossing: Dart Charge increasing to £2 for account holders |work=Kent Online |date=1 October 2018 |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/dart-charge-increased-by-20-187983/ |access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
| 2-axle buses, coaches, vans, goods
| £3.00
| £2.63
|-
| Multi-axle goods, coaches
| £6.00
| £5.19
|}

Various categories of vehicles are exempt from the charge, including emergency services vehicles, military vehicles and those exempt from [[Vehicle Excise Duty]] on the grounds of disability.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exempt scheme |publisher=Dart-tag.co.uk |url=http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/nossl/index.php?page=exemptscheme |access-date=28 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208014434/http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/nossl/index.php?page=exemptscheme |archive-date=8 February 2011}}</ref>

The charges vary according to the type of vehicle. Motorcycles are free but there are standard charges for cars, two-axle goods vehicles and larger vehicles with more than two axles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charges and Methods of Payments |publisher=Dart-tag.co.uk |url=http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/nossl/index.php?page=charges_and_discounts |access-date=28 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404010547/http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/nossl/index.php?page=charges_and_discounts |archive-date=4 April 2011}}</ref> Drivers who fail to pay the charge are issued with a penalty charge notice.<ref name=":0"/> There are no signs warning of penalty charges.

Since 2008, a local residents' scheme gives 50 crossings to car drivers resident in the Dartford and Thurrock council areas for an annual registration fee of £10, with additional crossings at 20p each.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local residents scheme |publisher=Dart-tag.co.uk |url=http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/nossl/index.php?page=lrscheme |access-date=28 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325152017/http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/nossl/index.php?page=lrscheme |archive-date=25 March 2012}}</ref> On 1 March 2014,<ref>{{cite web |title=Greater discounts for local residents |publisher=gov.uk |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/greater-discounts-for-4000-local-residents-at-dartford-thurrock-crossing |access-date=11 March 2014}}</ref> this scheme was extended to include privately owned two-axle goods vehicles. A further option was introduced giving unlimited crossings for £20 annually.<ref name="dt"/> Around 44,000 drivers take advantage of this scheme each year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Record number of local residents signed up for Dartford Crossing discounts |publisher=Highways England |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/record-number-of-local-residents-signed-up-for-dartford-crossing-discounts |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> Although the website for paying the charge is operated by the UK Government, the contract for the free-flow charging system is held by French public roads operator [[Société des Autoroutes du Nord et de l'Est de la France]] (SANEF) on behalf of the Government.<ref>{{cite news |title=French firm awarded crossing deal |work=Kent Online |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/crossing-deal-6624/ |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref>