Blackwall & Silvertown Tunnels
Since the Silvertown Tunnel opened in 2025, both it and the neighbouring Blackwall Tunnel carry a TfL user charge between 6am and 10pm. A lot of drivers who've used the Blackwall Tunnel for years still don't realise it's now charged.
The charge varies by time of day and vehicle, and it's enforced by camera on the TfL system — so, like the Congestion Charge, it's easy to owe money without knowing.
Pay-as-you-go
£4.20 / crossing
£1.55 on Auto Pay
Fine if you forget
£180.00
Pay-by deadline
By midnight on the third day after you cross, in line with TfL's other charges.
Without Auto Pay you pay £4.20 per crossing at all times. On Auto Pay it's £1.55 off-peak or £4.20 peak (peak = Mon–Fri 06:00–10:00 northbound & 16:00–19:00 southbound). Free 22:00–06:00. Varies by vehicle.
How to pay it yourself
- 1Go to the official TfL tunnels charge service.
- 2Enter your number plate and the date you crossed.
- 3Pay the charge — without Auto Pay it's £4.20 per crossing at all times; on Auto Pay it's £1.55 off-peak or £4.20 at peak.
- 4Set up automatic payment if you use the tunnels regularly (it's the only way to get the off-peak rate).
What happens if you don't pay
A £180 Penalty Charge Notice (reduced if paid early). A cheap tunnel crossing can become a very expensive one.
Managing an existing account for this scheme?
- How to cancel TfL Auto Pay (or move a vehicle off it)
- Locked out of your TfL Auto Pay account? How to recover it
Never think about the Blackwall & Silvertown again
Register your number plate with Snaptoll once, and we keep every crossing covered automatically, before the deadline — so a forgotten payment doesn't have to become a fine.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Blackwall Tunnel now charged?
Yes. Since the Silvertown Tunnel opened in 2025, both tunnels carry a TfL user charge between 6am and 10pm. This is new, and catches out long-time Blackwall users.
How much is the Silvertown/Blackwall tunnel charge?
For a car without Auto Pay it's £4.20 per crossing at all times. On TfL Auto Pay it's £1.55 off-peak or £4.20 at peak (weekday mornings northbound, evenings southbound). It's free between 10pm and 6am.
How does Snaptoll handle the tunnels?
The same TfL account that covers your Congestion Charge and ULEZ also covers the tunnels — so once your plate is registered with us, tunnel crossings stay covered automatically too.
When will the charge appear after I cross?
You're covered the moment you cross. The charge then reaches your card up to 5 working days — the Blackwall & Silvertown operator bills us in arrears, so a short delay before it appears is normal. When we collect, you get a receipt confirming exactly what you were charged.