Thousands of drivers will face increased financial pressure from September when the Dartford Crossing implements its first charge rise in over a decade.
The Department for Transport announced that the price increases will affect all vehicle types using the vital Thames crossing.
Car drivers will see charges rise by up to £1, while Heavy Goods Vehicles, coaches and vans face even steeper increases.
The changes come as businesses already struggle with rising operational costs, with Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood confirming that the new tariff structure will take effect from September 1.
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The Dartford Crossing carries around 50 million vehicles a year PAThe crossing, which handles over 150,000 vehicles daily, has seen demand grow by 7.5 per cent since charges were last adjusted in 2014.
The increases have sparked immediate criticism from the transport industry about the additional burden on businesses and consumers.
Under the new pricing structure, cars will pay £3.50 for one-off crossings, up from the current rate. Those with pre-pay accounts will be charged £2.80 per journey.
Two-axle commercial vehicles, including vans and coaches, will face charges of £4.20 for single crossings, or £3.60 with an account. But larger vehicles with more than two axles will pay £8.40 per crossing, reduced to £7.20 for account holders.
Motorcycles will continue to cross free of charge, as will all vehicles travelling between 10pm and 6am, with bicycle pick-up service also remaining free.
The Department for Transport stated the new charges would be “significantly lower than if they had increased in line with inflation since the tariff was last fully revised in 2014”.
But the Road Haulage Association has condemned the increases, warning the move would be a significant blow to an already struggling sector.
James Barwise, RHA Policy Lead, said: “It’s therefore regrettable that the charge increase has been so significant. This adds to running costs at an already financially challenging time for many businesses in our sector (HGVs, Coaches & Vans) and ultimately pushes up prices for consumers.”
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The Dartford Crossing will increase its fees by £1 for drivers
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The RHA noted that while UK inflation has fallen sharply in recent years, the costs of running a typical 44-tonne HGV, excluding fuel, have risen significantly above the inflation rate
Barwise acknowledged the association’s support for the Lower Thames Crossing project but emphasised that “Dartford remains the only practical Thames crossing for HGVs and coaches in the South-East.”
The Dartford Crossing serves as the only fixed road crossing of the River Thames east of London and forms a crucial component of the strategic road network.
Daily usage of the crossing has reached up to 180,000 on the busiest days, according to Department for Transport figures. These traffic levels far exceed the crossing’s design capacity, causing significant delays and congestion on the M25.
HGVs will face the steepest increase in Dartford Crossing charges
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The Department for Transport stated that current charging levels were “no longer sufficient to achieve their stated aim of managing demand.”
Local residents in Dartford and Thurrock will see their annual unlimited crossing fee rise to £25 from September, a modest increase from the current rate. The local resident discount scheme will continue to provide significant savings for those who rely on the crossing for daily travel.
Account holders will benefit from reduced rates across all vehicle categories, with cars paying £2.80 compared to £3.50 for one-off payments. Similar percentage discounts apply to commercial vehicles using pre-pay accounts.
Greenwood emphasised her determination to keep fees for local people “as low as possible, as many rely on the crossing to get around their local area.”
