Toll roads in the UK? How to buy a vignette in the UK? Penalties in the UK? Parking in the UK? Motorways in the UK? We have collected answers to all these questions for you in this article.
The length of the UK highway network is 398,350 km, of which 3,557 km. these are highways. Paved roads occupy 344,000 km, and dirt roads account for 54,350 km.
In Great Britain left-hand traffic.
Toll Motorways in Great Britain
In Great Britain there is a fee for certain sections of roads. There is also a toll to travel through some bridges and tunnels.
At the moment, the only motorway in the UK that is subject to a toll is the M6. It is located north of Birmingham.
Map of the M6 motorway in Great Britain
Tolls on the M6 motorway in Great Britain
The fare depends on the class of vehicle.Tariffs for 2024:
| Class | Vehicle | Mon – Spots (07:00-19:00) | Mon – Spots (05:00-07:00) (19:00-23:00) | Sat – Wisk (05:00-23:00) | Mon – Wax (Night) (23:00-05:00) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £4.00 (€4.70) | £ 3.90 (€ 4.50) | £4.00 (€4.70) | £3.60 (€4.20) | |
| 2 | £ 8.20 (€ 9.50) | £ 8.20 (€ 9.50) | £ 8.20 (€ 9.50) | £ 7.00 (€ 8.10) | |
| 3 | £ 12.10 (€ 14) | £ 12.10 (€ 14) | £ 11.90 (€ 14) | £ 11.10 (€ 13) | |
| 4 | £ 14.30 (€ 17) | £ 14.30 (€ 17) | £ 13.60 (€ 16) | £ 13.00 (€ 15) |
UK vehicle class
The payment system automatically classifies the vehicle and bid amount for each category, depending on the size of the vehicle. Every time a vehicle passes the sensors, the number of axles and its height around the first axle are automatically determined. According to this, the class of the car is determined.
Payment methods
Credit cards
The credit card symbol is located in the upper left corner. The following credit cards are accepted for payment:
- Visa
- Eurocard – Mastercard
- American Express
Electronic system
The symbol for automatic payment (the letter T) is located in the lower left corner.
Advantages of electronic payment:
- Discount for each trip
- Highlighted lanes
- Travel without delays
Manual payment
The symbol for manual payment is located in the lower right corner.
Coins and bills are accepted for payment. Exchange is possible. A check is issued.
Sites with a special payment in the UK
In Great Britain, in addition to the M6 motorway, some bridges and tunnels are tolled.
Tolls through tunnels in Great Britain
Tariffs for 2024 (tunnels):
| Tunnel | Car | Car with trailer | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dartfor | £ 2.50 (€ 2.90) | £ 2.50 (€ 2.90) | on the A282/M25 (free from 22:00 to 06:00) |
| Mersey (Kingsway) | £2.00 (€2.30) | £4.00 (€4.70) | between Wallasey and Liverpool |
| Mersey (Queensway) | £2.00 (€2.30) | £4.00 (€4.70) | between Birkenhead and Liverpool |
| Tyne | £ 1.90 (€ 2.20) | £ 3.90 (€ 4.50) | on the A19 between Jarrow and Howdon |
Passage through the tunnels is free for motorcycles.
Bridge tolls in Great Britain
Tariffs for 2024 (bridges):
| Bridge | Car | Car with trailer | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humber | £ 1.50 (€ 1.70) | £4.00 (€4.70) | on A15 |
| Itchen | £0.80 (€0.90) | £0.80 (€0.90) | on the A3025 |
| Queen Elizabeth II | £ 2.50 (€ 2.90) | £ 2.50 (€ 2.90) | on the A282/M25 (free from 22:00 to 06:00) |
| Dunham | £0.40 (€0.50) | £0.40 (€0.50) | on the A57 |
| Mersey Gateway | £2.00 (€2.30) | £2.00 (€2.30) | on A533 |
| Tamar | £ 2.60 (€ 3.00) | £5.20 (€6.00) | on A38 (toll is charged only when traveling East) |
Passing over bridges for motorcycles is free.
As of March 1, 2013, the Itchen Bridge toll collection system has become fully automatic. Now you can only pay for your journey with coins (£2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p) or a SmartCities card.
From 17 December 2018, both Severn bridges connecting England and Wales became free.
The Tamar Bridge toll is charged only when traveling from Saltash (Cornwall) to Plymouth (Devon).
There are a few other minor road bridges in the UK that also charge a toll.
Eurotunnel in Great Britain
The Eurotunnel or Channel Tunnel runs under the English Channel. Its length is about 51 km, of which 39 km is under the bottom of the strait. The tunnel connects continental Europe with Great Britain.
Fares include transportation of the car, up to 9 passengers and luggage. There are several types of tickets:
- Day Trip & Overnight – tickets (roundtrip) must be purchased as part of a 2-day return. The return must be completed by midnight (local time) on the second day after departure. Ticket prices from £31 (€36) for each trip.
- Short Stay – tickets (return) must be purchased within a 5-day return. Returns must be completed by midnight (local time) on the fifth day after departure. Ticket prices from £73 (€85) for each journey.
- Single or Long Stay – standard tickets. Ticket prices from £91 (€106) for each trip.
Detailed information on all tariffs can be viewed on the official website of Eurotunnel.
Toll for entering the center of London (Congestion zone)
The vehicle toll into central London is £15.00 (€17) and is charged daily for journeys between 07:00 and 22:00, except Christmas Day (December 25).
Payment must be made only once, regardless of how many times you enter the toll zone on the same day.
You can pay in advance (up to 90 days) or on the day of travel. If you pay the toll on the third day after entering the zone, the amount increases to £17.50 (€20).
If you do not pay your toll by midnight the day after entering the zone, you will receive a Penalty Charge Notice. The amount of the fine will be £160 (€186). It must be paid within 28 days. If payment is made less than 14 days in advance, the fine is reduced to £80 (€93).
If you do not pay the Penalty Charge Notice within 28 days, you will receive another Charge Certificate and the penalty will increase by 50% to £240 (€279).
Only drivers of alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. electric or hybrid vehicles) and vehicles with more than 9 seats are exempt from the toll.
The boundaries of the zone are clearly marked with special signs. There are no barriers or dedicated toll booths on the London toll zone. The borders are controlled by cameras that record all the license plates of passing cars, on the basis of which the necessary fee is then paid. The cameras also recognize British and other European license plates.
You can pay the duty online here .
Зона ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone)
It was introduced on April 8, 2019. To improve air quality in central London, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Most vehicles, including cars and vans, must meet ULEZ emissions standards. Otherwise, drivers must pay a daily toll within the zone.
Minimum requirements for emission standards:
- for motorcycles – EURO 3;
- for gasoline engines – EURO 4;
- for diesel engines – EURO 6.
Indirectly, you can be guided by the year of manufacture of the car. ULEZ-compliant petrol-engined vehicles are generally those manufactured after 2005. Cars with diesel engines that meet the standards are generally those manufactured after September 2015.
If your car does not meet ULEZ requirements, you must pay £12.50 (€15) for each entry. Fines are the same as for entering the Congestion zone.
The period from midnight to midnight is subject to payment. If you enter the ULEZ zone for two days, for example before midnight and after midnight, you will have to pay two daily fees. The ULEZ charge is in addition to the Congestion Zone charge.
If your car is registered outside the UK and you believe it is ULEZ compliant then it must be registered before entering the zone.
LEZ (Low Emission Zone)
LEZ requirements only apply to vans, minivans, motorhomes, pick-ups with a GVW over 1,205kg and under 3,500kg and vans with a GVW of less than 5,000kg. If the car is registered after January 1, 2002, it qualifies for an LEZ.
If your vehicle does not meet emission standards, the daily charge to enter the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) is £100 (€116).
If you do not pay the toll by midnight the day after entering the zone, the fine will be £500 (€581). If payment is made less than 14 days in advance, the fine is reduced to £250 (€291).
Parking in Great Britain
Before parking, you must make sure that you are doing so in a permitted space. There are many traffic policemen and the fines are very high.
At most parking lots, a ticket is taken at the entrance and payment is made at the exit. Also in Great Britain there is parking according to the “pay and display” system. That is, a coupon for a certain period of time is purchased and placed under the windshield.
Double and single yellow and red lines along the edge of the road are used to show where motorists can and cannot park:
- Single Yellow Line: There are parking restrictions at certain times. A stop to drop off passengers is allowed, but the driver must remain in the car.
- Double yellow lines: no parking at any time
- Single red line: there are parking restrictions at certain times
- Double red lines: no parking at any time
UK highway map
The main traffic laws of Great Britain
UK speed limits
Standard UK speed limits (unless otherwise indicated on signs).Cars:
- in the settlement – 48 km/h
- outside the settlement – 96 km/h
- on the road – 112 km/h
- on the highway – 112 km/h
Cars with trailers and motorcycles:
- in the settlement – 48 km/h
- outside the settlement – 80 km/h
- on the road – 96 km/h
- on the highway – 96 km/h
Motorhomes (up to 3.05 t):
- in the settlement – 48 km/h
- outside the settlement – 96 km/h
- on the road – 112 km/h
- on the highway – 112 km/h
Motorhomes (over 3.05 t):
- in the settlement – 48 km/h
- outside the settlement – 80 km/h
- on the road – 96 km/h
- on the highway – 112 km/h
If you don’t see any speed limit signs, the speed limit is 30 mph (48 km/h).
Vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats must be equipped with a speed limiter that limits the fuel supply to the engine to prevent exceeding the maximum permitted speed.
Current maximum speed limits on the roads of European countries for passenger cars.
Alcohol
The maximum permissible blood alcohol level in Great Britain 0.8 ‰ .
The maximum permissible blood alcohol level in Scotland since December 5, 2014 is 0.5 ‰ .
The police may ask a driver suspected of having committed an offense to take a breathalyzer test.
If the offense is committed for the first time, then a fine of up to £5,000 (€5,814) and/or imprisonment for 6 months and suspension of the driver’s license for 1 year.
Such punishment threatens in case of refusal to pass the test for the presence of alcohol.
If you cause death by careless driving while over the legal blood alcohol level, you can face up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine and a 2-year disqualification.
The police have the right to conduct a test to identify a driver who may be under the influence of drugs.
Foreign drivers will have to pay a fine of the amount of the fixed penalty or £300 (€349) as a deposit against a possible court fine. The deposit must be paid at home.
Permissible blood alcohol content while driving a car in European countries.
Low beam car headlights in the UK
Motorists must use low beam between sunset and sunrise at night (half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise) on all roads without street and road lighting.
Motorists must use their headlights at night, even on lighted motorways and on roads with a speed limit of more than 30mph.
The headlights of cars with a left-hand drive must be sealed with adhesive tape so as not to dazzle oncoming drivers. Otherwise, you risk being stopped by the police and subsequently fined up to £1,000 (€1,163).
In which European countries is it mandatory to use dipped beam headlights during the day?
Transporting children in the UK
Children between the ages of 3 and 11 and up to 135 cm tall must use a child car seat.
Children under the age of 3 must be transported in a child restraint appropriate for their weight in any vehicle (including a minibus).
Before installing a child seat on the front seat, the front airbags must be turned off. In Great Britain, it is allowed to use only child seats that comply with EU standards (marked in the form of a capital letter ‘E’ in a circle).
The driver is responsible for complying with this law for children under 14 with a fine of between £30 and £500 (€35-581).
Requirements for the transportation of children in light vehicles on the roads of European countries.
Safety belts
Seat belt use in the UK is compulsory for front and rear passengers.
If the car does not have seat belts (for example, it is a classic car), it is not allowed to transport children under the age of 3. Children over 3 years old can only sit in the back seats. These regulations only apply if the car was originally released without seat belts.
The fine is from £30 to 500 (€35-581).
Phoning
It is illegal to use a telephone in the UK that is not equipped with a hands-free technology while driving.
As an exception, it is allowed to use the phone while driving in the following cases:
- you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it is unsafe or impractical to stop the vehicle;
- the car is safely parked.
It is illegal to use your phone in the UK even if you are stopped at traffic lights or in traffic.
A fixed fine of £200 (€233).
A maximum fine of up to £1,000 (€1,163) is possible during court proceedings.
Fines for talking on the phone while driving in European countries.
Tinting
The degree of tinting of the UK windscreen and front door glass depends on when the vehicle was first registered.
- If the vehicle was registered after April 1, 1985, the light transmission of the windshield must be at least 75%, and the windows of the front doors – at least 70%;
- If the motor vehicle was registered before April 1, 1985, the light transmission of the windshield and front door glass is the same and must be at least 70%.
The windshield is permitted to have a tint film no more than 6 inches (15 cm) wide from the top edge outside the wiper area.
There are no restrictions for tinting the rear windshield and rear door windows.
If the degree of light transmission of the windshield and front door glasses is less than permissible, then in the event of a stop, further movement will be allowed only after removing the film for tinting.
Penalties in the UK
Foreign drivers who commit traffic offenses will have to pay a fine deposit or £300 (€349) as a bond against a potential fine in court. The deposit must be paid at home.Penalties for traffic offenses in the UK:
| Violation | Fines |
|---|---|
| Careless or careless driving | up to £5,000 (€5,814) |
| Leaving the scene of the accident | up to £5,000 (€5,814) |
| Lack of insurance | up to £2,500 (€2,907) |
| Speeding | from £ 100 to 1,000 (€ 116-1,163) |
| Speeding on the highway | up to £2,500 (€2,907) |
The UK speed limit is 10% of the speed limit plus 2mph.
Example:
with a speed limit of 30 mph, the error will be 3 mph (10% of 30 mph) + 2 mph. Total – 5 mph . That is, speed will be considered an excess
over 35 mph .
Useful Information
UK fuel prices
Unleaded petrol (95 and 97) and diesel are available in the UK. Leaded gasoline is no longer available.
97 octane petrol is not widely available in the UK, so average prices can vary widely.
Average prices for all types of fuel as of 02.12.2023 :
- Premium unleaded – £ 1.501 (€ 1.738)
- Super unleaded – £ 2.004 (€ 2.321)
- Diesel – £ 1.579 (€ 1.829)
- LPG – £ 0.775 (€ 0.897)
It is forbidden to transport gasoline in canisters on ferries.
Emergency numbers in the UK
- Emergency assistance (police, fire service, ambulance) – 999
- Operator (free information on household services) – 100
Winter equipment
Winter tires
Winter tires are optional in the UK.
Winter tires make sense if you are heading to northern areas of Scotland where winter conditions will last longer.
Studded tires
The use of studded tires is permitted in the UK, but is unlikely to be necessary due to the mild climate. Studded tires must not damage the road surface. There is no legal speed limit for cars with studded tires.
Anti-slip chains
Snow chains are only allowed to be used in the UK with summer tires if the road is completely covered with snow or ice.
Requirements for the use of winter and studded tires in different European countries.
Recommended equipment and other rules
Although not required, it is recommended to have an emergency stop sign, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher and a reflective vest in case of a breakdown. Motorists should not use a highway emergency stop sign.
The use of radar detectors is allowed .