Both tunnels under the Thames between the Greenwich Peninsula and the north bank are charged per crossing, in both directions, from 06:00 to 22:00. There are no barriers and you cannot pay at the tunnel, so drivers who do not know about the charge often find out from a £180 penalty. Charges went up on 21 September 2026.
TfL can issue a PCN if you did not pay for every chargeable crossing, not only if you paid nothing.
Where it applies
Both tunnels connect the A102 north and south of the river. Blackwall Tunnel runs from the west side of the Greenwich Peninsula to the A12 at Poplar. Silvertown Tunnel runs from the east side of the peninsula to the A1026 Lower Lea Crossing and the A13.
When it applies
06:00 to 22:00 every day except Christmas Day, in both directions. Crossings between 22:00 and 06:00 are free. Peak is weekdays 06:00–10:00 northbound and 16:00–19:00 southbound.
What it costs
| Vehicle | Charge |
|---|---|
| Cars and small vans, Auto Pay off-peak | £1.55 |
| Cars and small vans, Auto Pay peak, or paid online or by phone at any time | £4.20 |
| Motorcycles, mopeds, motor tricycles (off-peak / peak or non-Auto Pay) | £1.55 / £2.60 |
| Large vans (off-peak / peak or non-Auto Pay) | £2.60 / £6.80 |
| Heavy goods vehicles (off-peak / peak or non-Auto Pay) | £5.25 / £10.50 |
Without Auto Pay you pay the peak rate at all times. Each crossing is charged, so a return trip is two charges.
Paying: By midnight on the third day after the crossing. Pay on the TfL website.
Exemptions, discounts and permits
- Emergency service vehicles, TfL-licensed taxis, and DVLA-registered minibuses, buses and coaches: no charge.
- Blue Badge holders: 100% discount once registered with TfL (automatic if you already have TfL's Blue Badge discount on that vehicle).
- Zero-emission-capable and wheelchair-accessible TfL private hire vehicles: no charge while carrying out a booking.
- Residents of 12 east London boroughs or the City of London on certain benefits: 50% discount. Small businesses, sole traders and charities in Greenwich, Newham or Tower Hamlets: £1 off off-peak crossings for up to three vehicles.
How to challenge the penalty
You challenge by making written representations to Transport for London (TfL) within 28 days of the date of service. TfL treats a notice as served when it would be delivered in the ordinary course of post (Interpretation Act 1978, section 7), normally about two working days after posting.
These are the grounds the law allows, under the Road User Charging (Enforcement and Adjudication) (London) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/2313):
| Ground | When it fits | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| I was never the registered keeper | The vehicle has never been registered to you, for example the notice went to the wrong person or the plate was misread. | reg 13(3)(a)(i) |
| I had sold or transferred the vehicle before that date | You had already sold, scrapped or transferred the vehicle before the date on the notice. | reg 13(3)(a)(ii) and 13(4) |
| I became the keeper after that date | You bought the vehicle after the date of the journey on the notice. | reg 13(3)(a)(iii) and 13(5) |
| The charge was paid in time and in the right way | You paid the charge for that vehicle and that day within the payment window. | reg 13(3)(b) |
| No penalty charge was payable | The vehicle meets the standard, is exempt, was registered for a 100% discount or grace period, was not driven in the zone, or the journey was outside charging hours. | reg 13(3)(c) |
| The vehicle was taken or used without my consent | The vehicle was stolen, or someone used it without your permission, including cloned plates. | reg 13(3)(d) |
| The penalty is more than the scheme allows | The notice demands more than the scheme's penalty amount, or refuses the discount you paid within time. | reg 13(3)(e) |
| We are a hire firm and the vehicle was on hire | You are a hire firm, the vehicle was hired under a hiring agreement and the hirer signed a statement of liability for penalty charges. | reg 13(3)(f) |
| Special circumstances (TfL discretion) | None of the six grounds fits. TfL says it will consider mitigating circumstances, but the tribunal cannot, so this only helps at the TfL stage. | TfL challenge guidance; not a ground in reg 13(3) |
The London regulations have six fixed grounds and no "compelling reasons" ground. TfL says it will still consider mitigating circumstances, but the adjudicators at London Tribunals cannot consider mitigation or use discretion, so put everything to TfL first.
Challenge online: official page.
- Check the time on the PCN. A crossing before 06:00 or after 22:00 is free, so no penalty is payable.
- Two-wheeled motorbikes are exempt from the Congestion Charge but not from the tunnels charge.
If the authority says no
It sends a notice of rejection. You then have 28 days to appeal to the London Tribunals (Road User Charging Adjudicators), or to pay. See our guide to appealing to the tribunal.
Why one journey can mean two penalties
The charge is per crossing and per direction. A return trip through Blackwall in the morning and Silvertown in the evening is two chargeable crossings. TfL lists "did not pay for all chargeable crossings" as a reason to issue a PCN, so paying once for a return trip still leaves one crossing unpaid.
Worked example
You drove a car north through Blackwall at 08:15 on a Tuesday and back south at 17:30, without Auto Pay, and paid nothing. Each crossing cost £4.20 and you had until midnight on Friday to pay. Two PCNs of £180 can follow; paid within 14 days of service they are £90 each.
Can I challenge this charge? Free check
Free. Your answers stay on this device. Nothing is sent to us.
Letters for Blackwall & Silvertown tunnels
Built from your checker answers, with the right grounds and regulation numbers for your scheme. You see the start of the letter before you pay, then edit it and download it as Word or PDF.
Representation letter
Your formal challenge to the authority, citing each ground that fits with its regulation number, the evidence you enclose and a request to cancel.
Start my letterFull pack
The representation, a tribunal appeal statement, replies at the charge certificate and debt registration stages, witness statement and out-of-time wording, and a bailiff fee check.
Start the full packOne penalty per purchase, usable for 6 months. Full refund within 14 days if you haven't downloaded a letter. Templates you send yourself, not legal advice. See sample letters
Questions people ask
Are the tunnels part of the Congestion Charge?
No. They are a separate TfL charge with their own times. The ULEZ still applies on the approach roads if your vehicle does not meet the standard.
Who decides an appeal?
The Road User Charging Adjudicators at London Tribunals, the same tribunal as for the Congestion Charge and ULEZ.
Sources
Last checked: 13 November 2026. Every fact on this page was checked against these official pages. How we check
Road Fine Check is independent. Not affiliated with TfL, National Highways, any council or crossing operator. To pay a charge, use the official website.