In short: The United Kingdom has no vignette, and driving on most motorways and national roads is free. The only toll motorway is the M6 Toll, where a full crossing costs £12 for a car and £20.20 – £20.90 for trucks and coaches. However, you do pay specific tolls for certain bridges and tunnels, the congestion charge and the ULEZ/LEZ zones in London, while trucks of 12 tons or more owe the HGV levy, payable before entering the country.
If you are setting off by car to the United Kingdom, you should know before you leave home which charges you will have to pay once you reach the UK and what motorway tolls in England involve.
Road tolls in England in 2026: what has changed
The last two years have brought several significant price increases for drivers in the United Kingdom. Here is a quick summary of the main changes in effect in 2026:
- London Congestion Charge: since January 2, 2026, the London congestion charge has risen from £15 to £18 per day (about 21 EUR / 111 lei). Also since then, electric cars are no longer fully exempt: they only get a 25% discount (50% for electric vans and trucks), available exclusively to those registered for Auto Pay.
- ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone): vehicles up to 3.5 tons that do not meet the emission standards (generally gasoline below Euro 4 and diesel below Euro 6) pay £12.50 per day (about 15 EUR / 77 lei) to drive anywhere in Greater London. The zone operates 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day. Trucks over 3.5 tons do not pay ULEZ, but fall under the LEZ, with separate charges.
- Dartford Crossing (Dart Charge): since September 1, 2025, rates have risen by 40% – the first increase since 2014. A car now pays £3.50 per crossing (£2.80 with a payment account), a 2-axle van £4.20, and a multi-axle truck £8.40. The crossing remains free between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
- M6 Toll: in 2026, a full crossing costs £12 for a car and £20.20 – £20.90 for trucks, with discounts through a Breeze account. Rates are updated quarterly.
- HGV Levy: since April 1, 2026, the daily levy for trucks over 12 tons ranges from £3.22 to £10.74, depending on weight and emission class, while the annual levy reaches £619 (Euro VI) or £804 (Euro V or older).
- Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee: since April 1, 2025, tolls have risen by 20% – an unregistered car pays £2.40 per crossing.
The euro and lei equivalents are calculated at the July 2026 exchange rate: £1 ≈ 1.17 EUR ≈ 6.18 lei. Keep in mind that the United Kingdom has no vignette: all charges are paid individually, for each crossing or day of driving in the charging zones.
With that in mind, in this article we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about road tolls in England (motorways, bridges, tunnels and congestion charges).
If you are a haulier, an HGV levy, specific to trucks driving on UK roads, will be added to the charges mentioned above.
What’s more, if you want to stay informed about the road toll payment systems of European countries, you’ll find all the information here.
England motorway toll: M6 Toll
One advantage is that the England vignette takes the form of a motorway toll, and only for the M6 Toll motorway.
In other words, the M6 Toll is the only motorway where you’ll have to pay tolls, while driving on all other roads is toll-free.
However, be careful! Tolls are charged for bridges and tunnels, as well as charges for London and Durham, which we’ll tell you about below.
How much the M6 Toll costs
The England motorway toll is calculated based on:
· the type of vehicle
· the number of wheels and axles
· the height at the first axle
· the time of day or day of the week
· the distance traveled (full or partial)
To pay the England motorway toll, you have 3 payment options:
- M6toll TAG
- Card (credit and debit cards or fuel cards)
- Contactless card.
In 2026, a full crossing of the M6 Toll motorway costs £12 for a car (approximately 14 EUR / 74 lei) when paying by card, or £10.20 with a Breeze account. Motorcycles pay £5.90, class 3 vehicles (car with trailer, high-sided van) £16.90, and trucks and coaches £20.20 – £20.90. Rates are reviewed quarterly by the operator.
!The updated price list for the England motorway toll M6 Toll can be found here!
Other road charges in England
Although driving on Britain’s national roads is free except for the M6 Toll motorway, you will have to pay the tolls for the bridges and tunnels you cross, the congestion charge for London and Durham, and in London also the ULEZ charge if your vehicle does not meet the emission standards.
Bridge and tunnel tolls in England
For bridges and tunnels, the prices are as follows:
| Location | Price (GBP) |
| Aldwark Bridge | 0,40 |
| Batheaston Bridge | 0,80 |
| Clifton Bridge | 1 |
| Dartford Crossing (car, one-time payment) | 3,50 |
| Dunham Bridge | 0,40 |
| Eurotunnel (United Kingdom – France) | 101 EUR |
| Humber Bridge | 1,50 |
| Itchen Bridge | 0, 80 |
| Kingsland Bridge | 0,20 |
| Mersey Gateway Bridge | 2,40 |
| Mersey Silver Jubilee Bridge | 2,40 |
| Mersey Tunnels | 1,80 |
| Middlesbrough Bridge | 1,50 |
| Tamar Bridge | 2 |
| Tyne Tunnels | 1,80 |
| Warburton Bridge | 0,12 |
| Whitchurch Bridge | 0,60 |
| Whitney Bridge | 1 |
For more details on the bridges, click here.
Congestion charge
As for the congestion charge, it applies to driving any type of car in London and Durham.
In London, the Congestion Charge is £18 per day (approximately 21 EUR / 111 lei) since January 2, 2026, if you pay in advance or on the day of travel, or £21 if you pay by midnight on the third day after travel. The charge applies Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on weekends and public holidays from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
In Durham, the charge applies Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It costs £2.
An easy way to pay this charge is with AutoPay.
HGV levy – road charge for trucks in England
Trucks over 12 tons are subject to an additional charge on top of the bridge and tunnel tolls, the England motorway toll and the congestion charge.
The HGV levy is determined by a complex algorithm that takes into account the vehicle type, weight and axle configuration, as well as the Euro emission class.
Since April 1, 2026, prices vary depending on the payment period, ranging from £3.22 to £10.74 for one day, £8.05 to £40.20 for one week and £16.10 to £80.40 for one month. The annual rate reaches £619 for Euro VI trucks over 38 tons, and £804 for Euro V or older trucks. For foreign trucks, the HGV levy must be paid before the vehicle enters the United Kingdom.
Detailed information on prices for heavy goods vehicles can be found here.
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Frequently asked questions about road tolls in England
Do I need a vignette to drive in England?
No, the United Kingdom does not have a vignette system. Driving on motorways and national roads is generally free, the only toll motorway being the M6 Toll, in the Birmingham area. Instead, you pay individually for certain bridges and tunnels, for the charging zones in London and, if you are a haulier, the HGV levy for trucks of 12 tons or more.
How much does the M6 Toll cost for a car and for a truck?
A full crossing of the M6 Toll motorway, i.e., all three zones, costs £12 for a car, £5.90 for a motorcycle, £16.90 for class 3 and £20.20 – £20.90 for trucks and coaches. With a Breeze account, a car pays £10.20 and trucks £17.60 – £18.20. The operator reviews rates quarterly, so check the price before your trip.
What charge do foreign trucks pay in the United Kingdom, and when must it be paid?
Trucks of 12 tons or more pay the HGV Levy for each day they drive on the main roads in the United Kingdom, i.e., A roads and M motorways. For vehicles registered outside the country, the levy must be paid before entering the United Kingdom, and non-payment is considered an offense. Since April 1, 2026, the daily rate is between £3.22 and £10.74, while the annual rate reaches £619 for Euro VI and £804 for Euro V or older.
How much does the Dartford Crossing cost, and by when must it be paid?
A car pays £3.50 per crossing, or £2.80 with a prepaid account. Two-axle goods vehicles pay £4.20, or £3.60 with an account, and multi-axle vehicles £8.40, or £7.20 with an account. Motorcycles are exempt. The charge applies only between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and must be paid by midnight the day after the crossing at the latest.
What fine do you risk if you don’t pay the Dart Charge on time?
If the charge is not paid by midnight the day after the crossing, you receive a Penalty Charge Notice of £70. The amount drops to £35 if you pay within 14 days and rises to £105 if you don’t pay within 28 days of receiving the notice. The fine is added to the crossing charge, which remains payable separately.
Do trucks over 3.5 tons pay the ULEZ charge in London?
No, the ULEZ charge of £12.50 per day applies to vehicles up to 3.5 tons and minibuses up to 5 tons. Trucks and specialist heavy vehicles over 3.5 tons, as well as buses and coaches over 5 tons, fall under the Low Emission Zone and must meet the Euro VI standard. If they don’t, the daily charge is £100 or £300, depending on the emission level. The LEZ operates around the clock.
How much is the London congestion charge, and during what hours does it apply?
The London congestion charge costs £18 per day if you pay in advance or on the day of travel, and £21 if you pay by midnight on the third day after travel. Charging hours are Monday to Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. No charge applies between Christmas and New Year’s. It is a separate charge from the ULEZ and the LEZ, which can add up on the same day.
