In short: The UK HGV Levy is a time-based road user charge for foreign-registered trucks of 12,000 kg or more, and it must be paid before entering the UK. Since 1 April 2026 a 40 t Euro VI articulated truck pays £9.67 per day, £30.95 per week, £61.90 per month or £619 per year. Vans up to 3.5 t and 7.5 t trucks do not pay the levy; for them only individual crossings and roads such as the Dartford Crossing and the M6 Toll apply.
Who pays the HGV Levy – and where?
According to gov.uk, the levy is due for any day an HGV of 12,000 kg or more is driven on a main road in the UK – an A or M road in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. The rate is based on the maximum permitted weight of the vehicle, "also called the maximum total revenue weight of the combination". For payment purposes a day runs from 00:00:00 to 23:59:59.
The online service is only for vehicles registered outside the UK; UK HGVs pay the levy with their vehicle excise duty.
| Vehicle | HGV Levy? | Band |
|---|---|---|
| Van up to 3.5 t | no | – |
| 7.5 t truck | no | – |
| 12–31 t truck | yes | A |
| 31,001–38,000 kg | yes | B |
| 40 t articulated truck | yes | C (38,001 kg and over) |
HGVs that are zero emission at the tailpipe (battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell) are currently exempt.
Rates from 1 April 2026
Rates were increased in line with UK inflation on 1 April 2026, as they were in 2025.
Euro VI
| Band | Weight | Day | Week | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 12,000–31,000 kg | £3.22 | £8.05 | £16.10 | £161 |
| B | 31,001–38,000 kg | £7.74 | £19.35 | £38.70 | £387 |
| C | 38,001 kg+ | £9.67 | £30.95 | £61.90 | £619 |
Euro V or older
| Band | Weight | Day | Week | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 12,000–31,000 kg | £4.18 | £10.45 | £20.90 | £209 |
| B | 31,001–38,000 kg | £10.06 | £25.15 | £50.30 | £503 |
| C | 38,001 kg+ | £10.74 | £40.20 | £80.40 | £804 |
Yearly payments are only possible with a levy service account. The gov.uk tables give final amounts and do not show VAT.
How to pay
- Online through the HGV levy service on gov.uk.
- By phone on +44 330 101 3725, card payments only, 6am to 6pm, seven days a week.
- Payment must be made before entering the UK. Gov.uk states it is the driver's responsibility to check that the vehicle has a valid levy every time it comes to the UK.
Enforcement and fines
A vehicle stopped without a valid levy faces a £300 roadside fine plus the levy for that day. If the fine cannot be paid, the vehicle is immobilised and impounded until payment is made, and storage costs are added. This overview is not legal advice.
Dartford Crossing and M6 Toll
Separately from the levy, some crossings and roads charge every vehicle – including vans and 7.5 t trucks.
Dartford Crossing – charged daily from 6am to 10pm; pay by midnight the day after you cross:
| Vehicle | One-off / pay as you go | Pre-pay account |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles with 2 axles (van, 7.5 t) | £4.20 | £3.60 |
| Vehicles with more than 2 axles (40 t artic) | £8.40 | £7.20 |
Droppable axles count whether up or down; trailer axles count only for articulated vehicles. If you do not pay you get a £70 Penalty Charge Notice (£35 if paid within 14 days, £105 if unpaid), on top of the crossing charge.
M6 Toll – prices from 7 July 2026, VAT inclusive, by number of zones travelled:
| Class | 1 zone | 2 zones | 3 zones | 3 zones with breeze account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 4 (2 axles, 1.3 m+ at 1st axle) | £14.50 | £17.30 | £20.20 | £17.60 |
| Class 5 (more than 2, up to 6 axles, 1.3 m+) | £15.70 | £18.20 | £20.90 | £18.20 |
A high-roof van and a two-axle 7.5 t truck fall into Class 4, a 40 t articulated truck into Class 5. Vans under 1.3 m at the front axle are Class 2. Payment is contactless at the toll plaza.
Worked example: five days in the UK
Assumptions: Euro VI, entering on Monday and leaving on Friday, one Dartford crossing and one trip through all three M6 Toll zones, no accounts.
| Item | Van 3.5 t | Truck 7.5 t | Articulated 40 t |
|---|---|---|---|
| HGV Levy | – | – | week £30.95 |
| Dartford Crossing (1 crossing) | £4.20 | £4.20 | £8.40 |
| M6 Toll, 3 zones | £20.20 (Class 4) | £20.20 | £20.90 |
| Total | £24.40 | £24.40 | £60.25 |
Five daily payments (5 × £9.67 = £48.35) would cost more than the weekly levy; up to three days the daily rate is cheaper. To see how tolls, diesel and fixed costs feed into a per-km rate, read truck cost per km; for the approach via France see France truck tolls 2026.
Logist Calculator calculates road tolls for all European countries where they apply, using HERE routing and toll data reviewed once a year, and adds fuel cost for vans, 7.5 t and 40 t trucks. Calculate your route
FAQ
What weight does the UK HGV levy apply to?
Vehicles with a maximum permitted weight of 12,000 kg or more, including combinations. Vans and 7.5 t trucks do not pay it.
How much is the HGV levy for a 40 t truck in 2026?
For Euro VI (Band C): £9.67 per day, £30.95 per week, £61.90 per month or £619 per year, valid since 1 April 2026.
What happens if I enter the UK without paying the HGV levy?
At a check you pay a £300 roadside fine plus the daily levy; if you cannot pay, the vehicle is immobilised.
Do trucks pay the Dartford Crossing charge?
Yes, between 6am and 10pm: £4.20 for 2 axles and £8.40 for more than 2 axles, payable by midnight the next day.
Sources
- GOV.UK – How to use the HGV levy service
- GOV.UK – HGV levy rates
- GOV.UK – Dart Charge: charges
- GOV.UK – Dart Charge: paying the charge
- GOV.UK – Dart Charge: fines
- M6toll – Pricing
- M6toll – Pricing tables
- M6toll – Price change July 2026
Last updated: October 2026. Levy rates were raised on 1 April in both 2025 and 2026 – check the official source before quoting.