Dartford Crossing Fines 2026PCN Amounts, Escalation Timeline & How to Appeal

£70
Standard PCN
Penalty Charge Notice
£35
Pay within 14 days
50% early payment discount
£105
After 28 days
Charge Certificate issued
£157.50+
County court
Plus court costs & possible CCJ

Fine Escalation Timeline

🚗
You cross the Dartford CrossingDay 0

ANPR cameras record your number plate. If you have a pre-pay account, the charge deducts automatically. Otherwise, you need to pay manually.

⏰
Payment deadline passesMidnight Day 1

You had until 11:59pm the day after crossing to pay. If you haven't paid, the system flags your crossing for enforcement. Try paying anyway — sometimes still accepted 1–2 days late.

📬
PCN issued and postedDays 2–28

A Penalty Charge Notice is sent by post to the registered keeper. Amount: £70. If paid within 14 days: £35. PCNs are typically received within 7–14 days but can take up to 28 days.

📋
28-day challenge window closes28 days from PCN

You have 28 days from the PCN issue date to pay the £70 or formally challenge it. After 28 days with no action, a Charge Certificate is automatically issued.

⚠️
Charge Certificate issuedAfter 28 days

Fine increases to £105. You have 14 days to pay the Charge Certificate. No further challenges possible at this stage (must have been raised earlier).

⚖️
County court enforcementFinal stage

National Highways applies to the Traffic Enforcement Centre for a county court order. Fine becomes £157.50 plus court costs. A county court judgment (CCJ) can affect your credit rating. Enforcement agents (bailiffs) may be used.

Can I Appeal? Yes — Here's How

Grounds for a Successful Challenge

You already paid and have proof
The most common and strongest ground. Always keep payment confirmation emails/receipts.
You were not the registered keeper at the time
If you'd sold the vehicle before the crossing date, you can provide proof of change of ownership.
The vehicle was stolen
Provide the crime reference number from your police report.
ANPR misread the number plate
Rare but possible. Request CCTV evidence of the plate reading if you believe there was an error.
Blue Badge / disability tax exempt (registered)
Exempt vehicles must be registered with Dart Charge. If you were registered at the time but still received a PCN.
Emergency vehicle diversion
If police directed you through and you have evidence of this.
Procedural error by Dart Charge
PCN not served within the correct timeframe, or missing required information. Less common but valid.

How to Submit a Challenge

Online
Via the Dart Charge service at pay-dartford-crossing-fine.service.gov.uk
Fastest — instant acknowledgement
By post
Dart Charge, PO Box 842, Leeds, LS1 9QF
Keep a copy and use recorded delivery
By phone
Call 0300 300 0120 to discuss your challenge
Not recommended — get everything in writing
If your challenge is rejected: You will receive a Notice of Rejection. You then have the right to appeal to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal (trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk). The Tribunal's decision is binding on both sides. This is a free service.

What NOT to Do

Ignore the PCN — it escalates automatically to £105, then county court
Pay via a third-party 'fine payment' website — scams exist that charge admin fees for what should be free
Assume a PCN won't follow a foreign-registered vehicle — enforcement can follow to EU countries under bilateral agreements
Wait to see if anything happens — the escalation timeline is automatic
Challenge without evidence — a challenge without supporting documents is very unlikely to succeed

Have you already crossed?

If you haven't received a PCN but missed the deadline, you may still be able to pay late.

Forgot to pay guide

Fine summary

PCN amount£70
Early payment (14 days)£35
After 28 days£105
County court£157.50+
Challenge window28 days

Prevent future fines