UK Toll Roads: Where Are They and How Much Is It for Van Drivers?
If you’re a van driver then chances are you’re spending a lot of your time on the road travelling to various jobs.
On the occasion your business takes you far and wide, it’s important to know where the UK’s toll roads are located to ensure you aren’t caught short.
After all, while advances in technology mean some toll roads have done away with the traditional toll booth with ANPR technology, the fine for not paying up within 24 hours of passing through the toll is a hefty one.
And besides, if there is a toll booth at the other end, you’re going to want to make sure you’ve got your wallet and maybe a few spare pennies in your cup holder or glovebox.
There aren’t too many toll roads in the UK, so get to know where you’ll need to pay up with this handy article, where we have helpfully highlighted the charges that apply to van drivers especially.
NOTE: This article refers to toll road charges in the UK, not Clean-Air Zones/Ultra Low Emissions Zones such as the Congestion Charge in London.
*Toll charges correct as of July 2025
MOTORWAYS
M6 Toll – Midland Expressway
Road: M6, West Midlands
Location: M6 Junction 3a at the Coleshill Interchange to M6 Junction 11A at Wolverhampton
Length: 27 miles
The M6 Toll is the only major toll road in the United Kingdom, opened in 2003 to serve as a relief road to the original M6 that doesn’t pass directly adjacent to the city of Birmingham. The stretch of the M6 that passes Birmingham had long been a regular pressure point for congestion, particularly as its location in the Midlands made its notorious ‘Spaghetti Junction’ a key link to other major roads, with the M5, M42 and M40 and M54 all converging close to the UK’s second city.
As such, the Midland Expressway was conceived as a way for those willing to pay a toll to avoid that stretch of the M6 altogether with a 27-mile route that instead stretched between Cannock on the north side and Coleshill at the south.
The route comprises eight junctions, close to towns including Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth.
A toll has been in effect ever since the M6toll (as it is now stylised) was opened. Prices for vans started out at £5 per one-way journey, but had risen to £16.60 by 2024.
From May 2024, a new toll charge system was introduced that split the route into three zones depending on whether you traverse the entire 27-mile stretch or exit the route at one of the earlier junctions.
Vans are considered under Class 4 (of 10) with prices ranging from £13.50 to £17.60 depending on the zone you are charged from. Payment via account (using ANPR) reduces this to between £9.00-£15.30
| Toll Booth Payments | Tag Account Payments | |||||
| 3 Zones | 2 Zones | 1 Zone | 3 Zones | 2 Zones | 1 Zone | |
| Class 1 (Motorbike) | £5.10 | £4.30 | £3.60 | £4.30 | £3.70 | £2.00 |
| Class 2 (Car) | £10.50 | £8.40 | £6.40 | £8.90 | £7.40 | £4.00 |
| Class 3 (Car/Trailer) | £15.00 | £12.40 | £9.70 | £12.90 | £10.80 | £6.00 |
| Class 4 (Van/Motorhome) | £17.60 | £15.40 | £13.50 | £15.30 | £13.80 | £9.00 |
| Class 5 (HGV/Coach) | £18.20 | £16.20 | £14.60 | £15.90 | £14.60 | £9.00 |
DARTFORD CROSSING
Road: M25 (A282), Essex/Kent
Location: Dartford in Kent – Thurrock in Essex (via Queen Elizabeth II Bridge crossing over River Thames southbound, Dartford Tunnel crossing under River Thames Estuary northbound)
Length: Tunnel – 0.8 miles, Bridge – 1.8 miles
The Dartford Crossing began life as a single tunnel connecting Essex and Kent under the River Thames.
Known as the West Tunnel, construction began in 1936 but was halted due to World War II. Building work was eventually restarted decades later before it was opened in 1963.
An East Tunnel was eventually added in 1980 before the crossing was linked to the M25 motorway (London Orbital) in 1986.
A few years later in 1991, the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge was built close to where the tunnels run under the River Thames. This provided an additional four lanes of traffic to make the crossing in a westerly direction towards Kent, while the tunnels served transport heading east into Essex.
Infamously, it was stated at the time of the bridge’s opening that the toll for using it would be scrapped once the cost of construction had been covered. However, this was reneged in 2000.
NOTE: The cost of using the Dartford Crossing will rise in September 2025. The 40 per cent increase will supersede the below figures from that month with van the cost for van drivers using the toll rising to £4.20 each way. Increased fee shown in brackets.
Class A: Motorcycles, mopeds, quad bikes
Class B: Cars, including trailers, motorhomes and minibuses with fewer than 9 seats
Class C: Vans, Buses, Coaches and goods vehicles with 2 axles
Class D: Vans, Buses, Coaches and goods vehicles with more than 2 axles
| Vehicle Class | One-off Payment | Pay-as-you-go | Pre-Pay |
| Class A | Free | Free | Free |
| Class B | £2.50 (£3.50) | £2.50 (£2.80) | £2.00 |
| Class C | £3.00 (£4.20) | £3.00 (£3.60) | £2.63 |
| Class D | £6.00 (£8.40) | £6.00 (£7.20) | £5.19 |
A-ROADS
Humber Bridge
Road: A15, Yorkshire and the Humber
Location: Kingston upon Hull and Barton-upon-Humber via Humber Bridge
Length: 1.4 miles
| Humber Toll | Toll with TAG | |
| Motorbikes and Trikes | Free | Free |
| 2 Axle Vehicles under 3.5 tonnes (cars, vans, caravans) | £1.50 | £1.35 |
| 2 Axle Vehicles between 3.5-7 tonnes (9-16 passenger Minibus) | £4.00 | £3.60 |
| 3 axles or more, over 7.5 tonnes | £12.00 | £10.80 |
Tyne Tunnels
Road: A19, Tyneside
Location: Wallsend and Jarrow via tunnels under the River Tyne
Length: 1.4 miles
| Cost per Passenger | Pre-Paid Account | |
| Motorbike | Free | Free |
| Car, Van, Bus (less than 3.5 tonnes) | £2.50 | £2.25 |
| LGV, Van, Bus (over 3.5 tonnes) | £5.00 | £4.50 |
Tamar Bridge
Road: A38, Devon/Cornwall
Location: Saltash, Cornwall and Plymouth, Devon via Tamar Bridge over the River Tamar
Length: 0.4 miles
| Pay-as-you-Go | Tamar Tag | |||
| Single | +Trailer | Single | +Trailer | |
| Motorcycles | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Cars, Vans under 3.5 tonnes | £3.00 | £6.00 | £1.50 | £3.00 |
| Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (2 axles) | £7.30 | £14.60 | £3.65 | £7.30 |
| Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (3 axles) | £12.00 | £24.00 | £6.00 | £12.00 |
| Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (4+ axles) | £16.50 | £33.00 | £8.25 | £16.50 |
Mersey Tunnels - Queensway
Road: A41, Merseyside
Location: Liverpool and Birkenhead via Queensway Tunnel under the River Mersey
Length: 2.13 miles
| Pay-as-you-Go | Pre-Paid T-FLOW | |
| Class 1 - Motorcycles, Trikes, Cars, Vans up to 3.5 tonnes | £2.30 | £2.30 |
| Class 2 - LGVs with trailers, 3.5 tonnes (2 axles), Minibuses | £4.60 | £3.80 |
| Class 3 - HGVs (3 axles), Buses for nine or more persons | £6.90 | £5.70 |
| Class 4 - HGVs (4+ axles) | £9.20 | £7.60 |
Mersey Tunnels - Kingsway
Road: A59, Merseyside
Location: Liverpool and Birkenhead via Kingsway Tunnel under the River Mersey
Length: 1.5 miles
| Pay-as-you-Go | Pre-Paid T-FLOW | |
| Class 1 - Motorcycles, Trikes, Cars, Vans up to 3.5 tonnes | £2.30 | £2.30 |
| Class 2 - LGVs with trailers, 3.5 tonnes (2 axles), Minibuses | £4.60 | £3.80 |
| Class 3 - HGVs (3 axles), Buses for nine or more persons | £6.90 | £5.70 |
| Class 4 - HGVs (4+ axles) | £9.20 | £7.60 |
Mersey Gateway
Road: A533, Cheshire
Location: Runcorn and Widnes via bridge over the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal
Length: 1.4 miles
| Pay-as-you-Go | Video Registered | Sticker Registered | |
| Motorcycle | Free | Free | Free |
| Car, Van (-3.5 tonnes) | £2.40 | £2.30 | £2.15 |
| Truck (3.5 - 12 tonnes), Bus (-5 tonnes) | £7.20 | £6.85 | £6.50 |
| Large Truck (+12 tonnes), Bus (+5.tonnes_ | £9.60 | £9.10 | £8.65 |
Dunham Bridge
Road: A57, Lincolnshire
Location: Dunham and Newton on Trent via bridge over the River Trent
Length: 0.17 miles
| Toll Charge | |
| Cars | 50p |
| Vans, LCVs, Campervans | £1.00 |
| Large Trucks | £2.00 |
Batheaston Bridge
Road: A4, Somerset
Location: Batheaston over the River Avon
Length: 0.5 miles
| Toll Charge | |
| Motorcycles | 50p |
| Cars, Vans | £1.00 |
| LGV, Caravans | £1.50 |
| Buses | £2.00 |
Itchen Bridge
Road: A3025, Hampshire
Location: Itchen to Southampton via bridge over the River Itchen
Length: 1.0 mile
| Toll Charge | |
| Class 1 - Motorcycles, Trikes | Free |
| Class 2 - Cars, Small Vans (up to 1.33m length) | £1.20 |
| Class 3 - Large Vans (1.33m-2.39m length) | £1.60 |
| Class 4 - HGVs, Buses (over 2.39m length( | £40.00 |
