Dart Charge — wrong vehicle class charged or vehicle exempt
Dart Charge has multiple vehicle classes (motorcycle exempt; car ≤3500kg; two-axle goods/bus; multi-axle HGV). PCNs frequently mis-class. Exemptions: emergency vehicles, recovery attending an incident on the crossing, some military and agricultural vehicles.
Legal basis
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Charging Scheme Order 2013 (SI 2013/2249) Schedule (charges and exemptions); Transport Act 2000 s.169; Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (vehicle classification)
How to identify this in your case
V5C confirms vehicle class and weight. Check the PCN-charged class against actual class. Confirm any exemption (emergency dispatch records, recovery operator reports).
Sample appeal wording
Dear Sir/Madam, Re: Dart Charge PCN [NUMBER] — Vehicle [REG] — [DATE] I challenge this PCN. The charging classification / exemption status is wrong. Vehicle: [REG], [Make/Model/Tax Class per V5C] Unladen weight: [kg] Charging class per V5C and Scheme Order: [Class A motorcycle / Class B car ≤3500kg / etc.] Class the PCN applies: [as per PCN] [OR: My vehicle was exempt because operating as a recovery vehicle attending [incident]; evidence attached.] Under the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Charging Scheme Order 2013, the charge applicable to my vehicle is £[X], not £[Y] as charged. The PCN is wrongly issued. Please correct the classification or cancel the PCN. Yours faithfully, [NAME]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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