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UK tolls and clean air zones for drivers heading to Europe

UK motorways have no toll or vignette, but some crossings charge: the Dartford Crossing costs 3.50 GBP for a car (pay by midnight the next day), plus the M6 Toll and Tyne Tunnels. London has the ULEZ (12.50 GBP a day for non-compliant cars) and the Congestion Charge (18 GBP). Birmingham and Bristol charge older cars; Scottish LEZs fine them.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against official sourcesPrices in GBP unless shown otherwise

Toll system
Tolls on some roads and crossings
Vignette
None
Low-emission zones
Yes8 listed below
Currency
GBP
On this page

Which UK roads and crossings charge a toll?

There is no national motorway toll or vignette for cars. Charges apply only at specific crossings and roads. The Dartford Crossing (A282, M25 at the Thames, on the main route to the Kent Channel ports) is barrier-free and must be paid online or by phone by midnight the day after you cross. The M6 Toll in the West Midlands charges by zone at toll plazas, and the Tyne Tunnels charge per passage.

Who runs the roads

How to pay

  • Dartford Crossing: the charge applies 6am to 10pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays. Pay by midnight the day after you cross, either as a one-off payment online (you can also pay in advance; advance payments are valid for 12 months), with a pay-as-you-go or pre-pay Dart Charge account, by phone on 0300 300 0120, or in cash at a Payzone store.[1]
  • Dartford Crossing fines: a Penalty Charge Notice of 70 GBP if you do not pay, reduced to 35 GBP if paid within 14 days and increased to 105 GBP if not paid, on top of the crossing charge.[1]
  • M6 Toll: tap your contactless card or device on the reader at the toll plaza to lift the barrier. Mainline plazas are between junctions T6 and T7 (northbound) and T4 and T3 (southbound); junction plazas are just after you leave at T3, T4, T5 or T6. Prices are reviewed quarterly.[2]
  • Tyne Tunnels: a toll is due for each passage (each direction). You have until midnight the day after you use the tunnel to pay, otherwise an Unpaid Toll Charge Notice may be issued.[3]

Bridges, tunnels and other tolls

  • Dartford Crossing, car (one-off payment or pay as you go)

    3.50 GBP[1]

    Vehicle: Class B: cars (including trailers), motorhomes, minibuses up to 9 seats

  • Dartford Crossing, car (pre-pay Dart Charge account)

    2.80 GBP[1]

    Vehicle: Class B: cars (including trailers), motorhomes, minibuses up to 9 seats

  • M6 Toll, 3 zones (standard tariff)

    12.00 GBP[2]

    Vehicle: Class 2 (car: 4 or more wheels, 2 axles, under 1.3 m at first axle)

  • M6 Toll, 2 zones (standard tariff)

    9.50 GBP[2]

    Vehicle: Class 2 (car)

  • M6 Toll, 1 zone (standard tariff)

    6.90 GBP[2]

    Vehicle: Class 2 (car)

  • M6 Toll, 3 zones (breeze account)

    10.20 GBP[2]

    Vehicle: Class 2 (car)

  • Tyne Tunnels, per passage

    2.60 GBP[3]

    Vehicle: Car, van or bus under 3.5 tonnes

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Low-emission zones and stickers

London's Ultra Low Emission Zone covers all London boroughs (not the M25) every day except Christmas Day; cars that do not meet Euro 4 (petrol) or Euro 6 (diesel) pay 12.50 GBP a day. The central London Congestion Charge is separate. In England, only Class D Clean Air Zones charge private cars: Birmingham (8 GBP a day) and Bristol (9 GBP a day). Bath, Bradford, Sheffield and Tyneside (Class C) and Portsmouth (Class B) do not charge cars. Scotland's LEZs in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow ban non-compliant vehicles and fine them; you cannot pay to enter.

  • London: Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)

    Operates 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day (25 December), across all London boroughs (the M25 is not included). Cars that do not meet the standards (petrol Euro 4, diesel Euro 6) and are not exempt pay a 12.50 GBP daily charge.[4]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • London: Congestion Charge

    18 GBP daily charge if paid on the day or in advance, or 21 GBP if paid by midnight of the third day after travel. Applies 7:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00 to 18:00 on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. No charge between Christmas Day and the New Year's Day bank holiday (inclusive).[5]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • England (all Clean Air Zones): Clean Air Zones: Bath (C), Birmingham (D), Bradford (C), Bristol (D), Portsmouth (B), Sheffield (C), Tyneside (C)

    Only Class D zones include private cars. The minimum standard for cars is Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol. Zones operate 24 hours a day, every day; the charge day runs midnight to midnight. Pay by 11:59pm on the sixth day after driving in, or up to 6 days before, using the GOV.UK service, or you may get a Penalty Charge Notice.[6]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Birmingham: Birmingham Clean Air Zone (Class D)

    8 GBP per day for non-compliant cars, taxis and vans. Covers the city centre inside the A4540 Middleway (not the Middleway itself), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, enforced by ANPR cameras. A charge day runs midnight to midnight.[7]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Bristol: Bristol Clean Air Zone (Class D)

    9 GBP daily charge for non-compliant private petrol and diesel cars.[8]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow: Scottish Low Emission Zones

    City-centre zones operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays such as Christmas Day, checked by ANPR cameras. You cannot prepay to avoid a fine.[9]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow: Scottish LEZ vehicle standards

    Unless exempt, petrol cars and vans must meet Euro 4 and diesel cars and vans Euro 6. Hybrids follow the same rules as petrol or diesel; motorbikes, mopeds and fully electric vehicles are not restricted. The online checker does not work for vehicles registered outside the UK.[13]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

  • Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow: Scottish LEZ penalties

    Penalty Charge Notice of 60 GBP, reduced to 30 GBP if paid within 14 days; it doubles each time the same vehicle is driven in the same LEZ within 90 days, up to 480 GBP for cars and light goods vehicles. Only one PCN per LEZ per day; the amount resets after 90 days without a penalty.[12]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Speed limits and alcohol

Built-up areas
30 mph (48 km/h)[10]
Outside built-up areas
60 mph (96 km/h)[10]
Motorways
70 mph (112 km/h)[10]
Drink-drive limit
80 mg per 100 ml of blood (35 micrograms per 100 ml of breath) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; 50 mg per 100 ml of blood (22 micrograms per 100 ml of breath) in Scotland (see source 11)[10]

Official limits are in mph, with GOV.UK's km/h equivalents: 30 mph (48 km/h) on roads with street lights in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, 20 mph (32 km/h) in Wales; 60 mph (96 km/h) on single carriageways; 70 mph (112 km/h) on dual carriageways and motorways. Cars towing caravans or trailers: 50 mph (80) single, 60 mph (96) dual carriageway and motorway.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Sources

Every fact above links to one of these official pages. The numbers match the small links next to each fact.

  1. 1.
    Pay the Dartford Crossing charge (Dart Charge): costs, accounts and fines (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (National Highways), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  2. 2.
    Pricing and pricing tables (standard and breeze tariffs, inclusive of VAT) (opens in a new tab)

    M6toll (Midland Expressway Ltd, road operator), m6toll.co.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  3. 3.
    Tyne Tunnels: toll charges and how to pay (opens in a new tab)

    TT2 Ltd (Tyne Tunnels operator), tt2.co.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  4. 4.
    Ultra Low Emission Zone (and ULEZ standards for cars) (opens in a new tab)

    Transport for London, tfl.gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  5. 5.
    Congestion Charge (opens in a new tab)

    Transport for London, tfl.gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  6. 6.
    Driving in a Clean Air Zone (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (DEFRA and DfT Joint Air Quality Unit), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  7. 7.
    Clean Air Zone: charges and operation (opens in a new tab)

    Birmingham City Council (Brum Breathes), brumbreathes.co.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  8. 8.
    Bristol's Clean Air Zone charges and vehicle checker (opens in a new tab)

    Bristol City Council, bristol.gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  9. 9.
    About Low Emission Zones in Scotland (updated 26 June 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    mygov.scot (Scottish Government), mygov.scot. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  10. 10.
    Speed limits (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  11. 11.
    The drink drive limit (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  12. 12.
    Fines for Low Emission Zones (updated 26 June 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    mygov.scot (Scottish Government), mygov.scot. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  13. 13.
    Check if you can drive a vehicle in a Low Emission Zone (updated 26 June 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    mygov.scot (Scottish Government), mygov.scot. Checked on 11 November 2026.