• Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )

Dartford tunnel Changes

noobie

Clueless in most things
In a pub yesterday, as you do and a friend was talking about catching up with some others in Whitstable in early December and one of the group said don't forget to book your ticket.

I thought the beer had been talking but it turns out from the end of this month the tunnel will not accept cash but has adopted the London charge system of booking in advance as you will no longer be able to pay cash at the bridge/tunnel. O and if that wasn't enough they have put the price up for cars by 25% to £2.50

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dart-charge-dartford-crossing-remote-payment

http://www.lbc.co.uk/dartford-crossing-to-be-toll-booth-free-74883

on this link they meant November and not october

http://cars.aol.co.uk/2014/09/08/confusion-surrounds-dartford-crossing-changes/

Given the sheer amount of traffic going through this place I'm kinda surprised just how low key the changes have been advertised to the general public. Possibly two reasons, one the 25% increase which would seem difficult to justify even more so if they are losing all staff from the pay booths and two they said this when it was built that once it was paid for the crossing would be free.

Bikes it looks like for now remain free but I would suggest that will not last under the dart system
 
B

Boggymarsh

Guest
The DRC has been one of the biggest causes of traffic congestion ever created in the UK but equally one of the biggest cash-cows too. I'm just glad that I have little reason to visit that area or use the crossing.

There is no need to pre-book your crossing but do ensure you have paid by the end of the day you actually cross, otherwise the cash-cow enforcement team will be out to rob you of your hard earnt plus the extra dosh they add on top. Fekkin' :wank:
 

Jaws

Corporal CockUp
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
Last week I actually signed up for a Dart Tag
Cost is nowt and you get cheaper crossings.
I say nowt, but you have to deposit a tenner with them.
As long as you use it at least once a year it is a good idea @tu*
 

andyBeaker

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
As long as it gets rid of the ridiculous traffic jams - sometimes as far back as J5 on the South side - I don't give a stuff what they do.

The low point for me was joining the queue to go North bound at 5.20 am at literally the last joining point before the booths and not getting through until 6.10am when they decided to open more than four booths. Presumably a coincidence that the toll does not start until 6am..............

Still cack myself going over the bridge on the bike though:wank:
 

ScottyUK

Filtering Through
Read Only
Do you need a Dart Tag now?
I thought you just signed up and credited the account with ?10 and it gets debited each time you cross via numberplate recognition.
 

lee j

Registered User
Do you need a Dart Tag now?
I thought you just signed up and credited the account with ?10 and it gets debited each time you cross via numberplate recognition.

Correct as you state, but read Wiz's post which states that your crossing price is reduced with using a Dart Tag ie as you have an account as per trade prices. Do not know if you have to make more frequent use of the Dart Tag though than paying a standard rate to cross.

Lee
 

noobie

Clueless in most things
It's been running for a while now and I wonder if anyone has had any experiences with the new set up now it's settled down

I'm helping someone move south in a couple of weeks with them going one way in their car and me doing a return trip in a luton.

I'm slightly unsure on the dates so unsure on how return journeys work, the cost for a luton and what happens if the hire company changes the van therefore the registration just before I hire it? When you use there help line I've found them to not be very helpful at all.
 

americanexpress

Registered User
I believe you can pay ahead of the trip in some places (as with congestion charge) but you also have some time after the journey to pay for it too (not sure of how long but longer than congestion charge)

Sorry to be vague, but as I use the tunnel/bridge relatively frequently, I have just set up an account to save me the hassle.

I am sure somebody will happen along shortly, to correct me :-0)
 

Jaws

Corporal CockUp
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
Yup.. No problem at all.. I deposited a tenner.. That will prolly last me a couple of years... And of course depositing the tenner means it's only ?1.65 a crossing@tu*
 

CBRDEAN0

Registered User
It's been running for a while now and I wonder if anyone has had any experiences with the new set up now it's settled down

I'm helping someone move south in a couple of weeks with them going one way in their car and me doing a return trip in a luton.

I'm slightly unsure on the dates so unsure on how return journeys work, the cost for a luton and what happens if the hire company changes the van therefore the registration just before I hire it? When you use there help line I've found them to not be very helpful at all.

Either cross outside the charge times - before 6am or after 10pm

OR

You can pay AFTER you have used it

Quote from DART site :
The crossing charge depends on your vehicle and account type.

Charges apply between 6am and 10pm.

You must pay by midnight on the day after you cross.
 

robsbird

red ones are faster
Club Sponsor
and all we do is keep paying the french as they own it as the twats that run this land sold it off


:whi5tl:
 

ScottyUK

Filtering Through
Read Only
Yup.. No problem at all.. I deposited a tenner.. That will prolly last me a couple of years... And of course depositing the tenner means it's only ?1.65 a crossing@tu*

John, I hope this doesn't upset your bank account too much but it's ?1.67 each way! :eek:

I set up an account on the morning I was planning to use it. Went over an hour later and back 9 hours later. All billed correctly with no issues.

I went for manual top up other wise it's ?10 initial credit and then as soon as you do one journey the credit falls below ?10 so it can add another ?10!

Nice business getting millions of people to lend you all that money for free!

If the account goes to zero I still have 24 hours to top it up. I wonder if they send a helpful email. I'm thinking it's not in their interest too!
 

noobie

Clueless in most things
I remember seeing a aa report that said the tunnel had paid for itself in 2003 and that it was estimated it operates at a ?70 million per year profit, that would have been before the latest increase and cost(staff) reduction.

I'll try the ?10 option in advance, thanks all
 

bmwdumptruck

Come on you Hatters
Not sure it's been mentioned, but still free for bikes@tu*. And, if you've a blue badge and register your car with them that's then free too.

Aside from that, on the very rare occasion I take my van that way I go the other way round and miss it out completely. If going to the M20 it's only a few miles longer from the M1 going anti clockwise than clockwise, you just have to consider possible congestion around Heathrow/M4/M3 area.
 

americanexpress

Registered User
Not sure it's been mentioned, but still free for bikes@tu*. And, if you've a blue badge and register your car with them that's then free too.

Aside from that, on the very rare occasion I take my van that way I go the other way round and miss it out completely. If going to the M20 it's only a few miles longer from the M1 going anti clockwise than clockwise, you just have to consider possible congestion around Heathrow/M4/M3 area.

Having checked in the last few days on behalf of family member, you only get toll free with a blue badge if you do not have to pay road tax. My family member gets sent her tax disc, so presumably she still has to pay?
 

GP1

Registered User
Having checked in the last few days on behalf of family member, you only get toll free with a blue badge if you do not have to pay road tax. My family member gets sent her tax disc, so presumably she still has to pay?
My mother who is disabled has her tax disc sent by post as well but she doesn't pay for it , i'm sure all disabled drivers receive their tax disc this way, also you don't need a tax disc anymore so its just registered as paid.
 

Pugwash

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
My step-son's car is tax free, but he had a tax disc for ?0 last year. Does that make him exempt? It's some pissy little Suzuki Alto with a little engine.
 
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