Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnel Charges: How to Check and Pay

Blackwall and Silvertown each charge for crossings in either direction during charging hours. For an ordinary car, the tariff from 21 September 2026 is £1.55 off-peak with Auto Pay, or £4.20 at peak times and for manual payment. A return journey can create two charges.

Car charges by time and direction

Charging hours are 6am to 10pm daily, except Christmas Day. The lower off-peak price requires Auto Pay.

Car crossing with Auto Pay

• Weekdays, northbound 6am–10am. Charge: £4.20.
• Weekdays, southbound 4pm–7pm. Charge: £4.20.
• Other crossings during charging hours, including weekends. Charge: £1.55.

The direction matters as much as the clock. A northbound afternoon journey is not automatically peak simply because it is rush hour elsewhere. Use the actual route and crossing time rather than the time you left home.

These figures were checked on 24 September 2026. Charges increased three days earlier, so older £1.50 and £4 examples no longer describe the current car tariff. Check TfL's live payment service again before a future trip.

Return-trip examples

Assume an ordinary car with no exemption or discount, correctly registered for Auto Pay. A weekday northbound crossing at 8am costs £4.20. Returning southbound at 2pm costs £1.55. Together, that is £5.75.

If the same driver returns southbound at 5pm, both crossings fall in the relevant peak windows. The total is £8.40. A Saturday return journey during charging hours costs £3.10 with Auto Pay, because both crossings are off-peak.

Manual payment for two car crossings during charging hours totals £8.40 under the current tariff, even at the weekend. The reduced off-peak price depends on Auto Pay, not just travelling at a quieter time.

Paying for the crossing

With Auto Pay

Auto Pay can simplify repeated journeys, but the registration must be correctly attached to the account. If you recently bought the car, changed its number plate or use more than one vehicle, check the actual registration before travelling.

If you already use TfL Auto Pay, confirm that this car is listed and the payment method is current. Keep the setup confirmation. Do not assume a payment arrangement for another road, crossing or parking service covers these tunnels.

Review your statement after the first journey. Match the dates and crossings to your own record. This is especially useful when a family shares vehicles or an account includes several cars.

Without Auto Pay: midnight on the third day

Use TfL's official payment service, its official driving app or its published telephone payment route. There are no tollbooths at the tunnel where you can hand over cash or tap a card.

Enter the registration and journey date carefully and check the number of crossings. Save the confirmation and payment reference. A bank debit alone may not show which car and date the payment covered.

For example, a crossing on Monday has a payment deadline of midnight on Thursday. Set a reminder immediately if you cannot pay straight away. Waiting for a bill through the post is not the normal payment process and can lead to a penalty.

Discounts and other London charges

TfL offers certain discounts and exemptions, including arrangements for eligible local residents and Blue Badge holders. Eligibility, registration and vehicle conditions differ. Check the current criteria and wait for the required confirmation before relying on a reduced charge.

Do not assume a Blue Badge or an exemption under a different scheme automatically resolves every charge for every vehicle you use. Confirm the named vehicle and the particular tunnel discount on your account.

Other charges on the same journey

The tunnel charge, ULEZ and Congestion Charge have separate purposes and charging rules. Use TfL's vehicle checker and a route check to establish which apply to the complete journey.

A ULEZ-compliant petrol car can still incur a tunnel charge. An electric car should not be assumed exempt from every London charge either. Our guides to ULEZ and the Congestion Charge explain those separate decisions.

Similarly, a payment for the Dartford Crossing does not cover Blackwall or Silvertown. If a navigation app changes your route, check which crossing you actually used before paying.

Missed payments and incorrect charges

Check whether the ordinary payment window is still open and contact TfL promptly if you cannot make the correct payment. Keep evidence of any payment failure, including the time and error message.

If a PCN arrives, follow the notice's payment or challenge instructions and deadlines. Paying an ordinary crossing charge later is not necessarily the same as settling the penalty. If you believe Auto Pay should have covered the journey, provide the registration confirmation and account evidence.