International Removals from Dartford
The river crossing a removal lorry may have to pay for, and the council rules around it
A few short questions. Nothing is sent until you check and confirm.
Does a movers' lorry pay the Dart Charge?
Yes, whenever it uses the crossing in the charging hours. GOV.UK says “You must pay the charge if you use the Dartford Crossing between 6am and 10pm. Charges apply every day - including weekends and bank holidays.” A load that sets off on a Sunday morning pays the same as one that leaves on a Tuesday. Dartford removals bring in the Dart Charge, so a moving company should say whether the lorry or van crosses the river and who pays if a payment is missed.
The rate follows the axle count. For a vehicle with two axles (class C) GOV.UK lists £4.20 as a one-off payment and £3.60 on a pre-pay account. More than two axles (class D) is £8.40 or £7.20. A customer's own car following the lorry is class B at £3.50 one-off. The guide adds “Count droppable axles whether they’re up or down. Only count trailer axles for articulated vehicles.” so a drop-axle trailer is counted either way. Ask the removal firm which class its vehicle falls into and whether the quote includes the charge.
There is little room to shop around. Wikipedia places the nearest alternatives well inside London: “The next nearest vehicle crossings to the west of Dartford are the Woolwich Ferry and the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels, both well within East London.” A load that has to cross east of the capital therefore uses this crossing.
What happens when the bridge shuts in high wind?
Tall vehicles are sent the long way round. Wikipedia explains: “When the bridge is closed in high winds and for maintenance, no convenient diversion exists through London for the higher-limit southbound vehicles. Those over 5.03 metres (16.5 ft) are diverted around the far side of the M25.”
Whether a box lorry is affected depends on its height, which only the removal firm can tell you. What you can do is ask what the plan is for a wind closure, because a delay of a few hours can upset a ferry or Channel Tunnel booking later in the day. The sea freight guide and the packing guide cover the parts of the job that follow the crossing.
When must the charge be paid, and what if it is missed?
By midnight the day after the crossing. GOV.UK: “You need to pay the Dartford Crossing charge (Dart Charge) by midnight the day after you cross.” The same page warns “If you do not pay the Dart Charge on time you might get a fine.”
There are three ways to pay. A one-off payment needs no account, and a payment made for a future crossing stays valid for 12 months. A pay-as-you-go account takes the money by card at midnight the day after. A pre-pay account carries a discount of up to 20%. Cash is accepted only at Payzone shops.
Do not wait for a reminder. Wikipedia notes: “There are no signs warning of penalty charges.” If the lorry belongs to the removal firm, agree in writing who pays and who deals with any penalty notice.
Does the local resident discount matter to a leaving household?
Only if you live inside the right council boundary. GOV.UK: “You can apply for a discount if you live in the council boundaries of Dartford or Thurrock.”
The annual fee is £25 for unlimited crossings or £12.50 a year for 50 crossings. The account needs a copy of the V5C and any two proofs of address. If the number plate changes, the account must be updated and the V5C sent within 6 weeks or the discount is lost. A household that sells a car before leaving should settle the account in the same week, so a stale plate does not leave a charge behind.
Which streets follow Bexley's bay rules?
The streets of the London Borough of Bexley, a separate council from Dartford's. Wikipedia names its towns: “The main settlements are Sidcup , Erith , Bexleyheath , Belvedere , Crayford , Welling and Old Bexley .” Bexley publishes its own removal-day rules, and they are the only ones for this area that we could read.
A parking bay suspension needs notice. Bexley says “Applications should be submitted at least three working days before the required start date.” The guide price is £50 per bay per day or £150 per bay per week, with up to five bays on one application. The page gives two different maximum lengths, 14 days in one place and 4 weeks in another, so ask which applies before you book a long job.
For a single vehicle on yellow lines the tool is a dispensation: at least one working day's notice and about £25 per vehicle per day. Its examples include "removals, weddings" within a longer list. Cancelling does not bring money back: “if a suspension is no longer required, it can be cancelled through the applicant’s account, however, refunds cannot be given for periods of unused time”. And on red routes the borough has no say: “The London Borough of Bexley cannot authorise dispensations or suspensions for red routes, you will need to apply to Transport for London.”
What this page has not confirmed for Dartford itself
No fee or notice period is given here for a street inside the borough of Dartford.
We did not find a readable Dartford Borough Council or Kent County Council page on bay suspensions, so ask the council which body issues the suspension for your road, how many days it needs and what it charges before you set a moving date. The figures above for the crossing apply wherever you start from; the Bexley figures apply only to Bexley streets.
How other councils set their rules
Notice, fees and who decides all vary from place to place.
Surrey runs one county scheme, which the Surrey page sets out. The London boroughs of Ealing and Hillingdon price their bays separately on the Southall and Uxbridge pages, and Bristol's council page adds a clean air zone for older vans. If you are comparing quotes, the removals costs guide shows what a quote should list.
Questions about moving abroad from Dartford
Does the Dart Charge apply at weekends?
Yes.
GOV.UK says charges apply every day, including weekends and bank holidays, between 6am and 10pm.
How long do I have to pay after crossing?
Until midnight the day after the crossing.
A late payment can bring a fine, and Wikipedia notes there are no signs warning of penalty charges.
Which axle class is a removal lorry?
A vehicle with two axles is class C and one with more than two is class D.
Droppable axles are counted whether they are up or down, so ask the removal firm.
How much notice does Bexley need for a bay suspension?
At least three working days; a dispensation on yellow lines needs at least one working day.
Both are Bexley rules and do not apply to Dartford streets.
Do you have a fee for Dartford Borough streets?
No.
We could not read a Dartford Borough Council or Kent County Council page, so ask the council before you set the date.
Tell us about your Dartford move
Share your departure postcode, the month you plan to leave, your destination and a rough idea of the load.
About International Removals Companies
International Removals Companies is an enquiry and introduction service run by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, in partnership with AGM Group. We don't move goods ourselves: the removal company quotes for your move and carries it out, so check its credentials and terms before you book. Our service is free. Discuss the quotation and booking terms directly with the removal company.
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