At certain parts of the UK’s network of roads there are what are called toll roads, also known as just tolls for short.
Many of these toll roads are located at river crossings, but some do exist outside of these, such as the M6 toll being a particularly famous example. In this guide, we explain just what exactly toll roads are, how they work and how much you can expect to pay if you go through one.
What are toll roads?
A toll road is a public road that charges motorists a fee for its use. While on a toll road you’ll have to at some point pay to continue driving along it, or to cross a bridge or reach a particular area.
While on a UK toll road, motorists will pay for the use of the road at toll booths lined up side by side. Motorists can pay the required amount to progress through the toll booth with either cash, by card or with a special pass they may have acquire in advance, depending on the exact toll road and options available.
Toll roads exist in the first place because the money they work goes towards road maintenance costs and also help fund improvements to local roads and other relevant construction work. It’s no coincidence that toll roads are usually situated at river crossings or areas that get extraordinarily busy, since these take more effort and money to keep in good condition.
What is a partial toll road?
Partial toll road is a term some people may use to refer to a main road which has more than one route a motorist can take, while one of these routes may require paying a toll to pass through, other routes will not involve any toll.
How much are toll roads?
Different pricing tariffs are set at each UK toll road, so how much you’ll have to pay depends on where you are, as well as what type of vehicle you’re in. Different rates are set for cars, motorcycles, vans and HGVs.
Listed below are the toll charges applied to car drivers at different toll roads around the UK, as of 2017:
- A4 – Batheaston Bridge – 70p
- A15 – Humber Bridge - £1.35
- A19 – Tyne Tunnels - £1.70
- A38 – Tamar Bridge - £1.50
- A41 – Mersey Tunnels – Queensway - £1.70
- A57 – Dunham Bridge – 40p
- A59 – Mersey Tunnels – Kingsway - £1.70
- A477 – Cleddau Bridge – 75p
- A3025 – Itchen Bridge – 60p
- M4 – Second Seven Crossing - £6.70
- M6 Toll – West Midlands - £5.50
- M25 – Dartford River Crossing - £2.50
- M48 – Severn Bridge - £6.70
