Independent guide. Not affiliated with Midland Expressway Limited or m6toll.co.uk. Verify prices before travelling.
Verified April 2026Independent guide

How much is the M6 Toll?

The current cost, plus everything else you need before you reach the plaza, brought together by an independent guide. No cash, no fluff, just current prices and clear advice.

Car, full route, contactless
£11.60
All 3 zones, no account
With a Breeze account
£9.80
ANPR billing, no stopping
Saving with Breeze
£1.80 per trip (about 16%)
How accounts work →
Length27 miles (43 km)M6 J3a to M6 J11a
Time saved (peak)30 to 45 minvs M6 through Birmingham
Open24 / 7 / 365Closes only for incidents

Standard contactless prices

Full price list →

The price you pay depends on how many of the three zones you travel through. A full M6 J3a to M6 J11a journey is 3 zones. Tap a contactless card at the barrier or set up an account for ANPR billing.

Vehicle1 zone2 zones3 zones
Class 1
Motorcycle
£3.80£4.70£5.70
Class 2
Car
£6.70£9.10£11.60
Class 3
Car with trailer / light goods
£10.20£13.70£16.50
Class 4
HGV / coach
£14.10£16.80£19.50
Class 5
Large HGV
£15.30£17.70£20.20

What you need to know

Payment

Card only, no cash

Contactless cards, smartphones and Breeze or Lite accounts. Cash was abolished in May 2024.

Zones

Three zones, pay only what you use

Since May 2024 the M6 Toll uses zone pricing. ANPR works out exactly which zones you covered.

Worth it?

Rush hour yes, off peak usually no

Time saved varies hugely with the time of day. We track it scenario by scenario.

The route at a glance

Route map27 miles, 8 junctions, 3 zones
T1
Zone 1
T2
Zone 1
T3
Zone 1 / 2 boundary
T4
Zone 2
T5
Zone 2
T6
Zone 2 / 3 boundary
T7
Zone 3
T8
Zone 3
M6 J3a / ColeshillM6 J11a / Cannock
Zone 1: T1 to T3Zone 2: T3 to T6Zone 3: T6 to T8

See the full junction guide for which T-junction to use for your destination, or the zone breakdown if you are only making a partial journey.

Dive deeper

Commuter calculator

Daily, weekly and annual cost projections

Vans, HGVs and fleets

Class 3 to 5 pricing and VAT reclaim

Free alternatives

Through M6, A38, M42 / M40 routes

Norton Canes services

Fuel, EV charging, food, hotel

Missed payment?

What to do if you didn't pay

Price history

£2 in 2003 to £11.60 today

Common questions

How much does the M6 Toll cost for a car in 2026?
A standard car (Class 2) pays £11.60 for the full 3-zone route at the contactless rate. With a Breeze account the same journey is £9.80, a saving of £1.80 (about 16%). Shorter journeys cost less: 2 zones is £9.10 standard / £8.00 Breeze, 1 zone is £6.70 / £4.00.
Can you pay cash on the M6 Toll?
No. Cash was abolished in May 2024 when the zone-based system launched. You can pay by contactless card or device at the barrier, or set up a free Lite or Breeze account so the toll is taken automatically via ANPR with no stopping.
Is the M6 Toll open 24 hours?
Yes. The M6 Toll runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The only closures are for police incidents, scheduled maintenance overnight or extreme weather.
How much time does the M6 Toll save?
On a typical weekday rush hour the toll saves around 30 to 45 minutes versus the free M6 through Birmingham. Off peak the saving drops to 5 to 10 minutes when the M6 itself is flowing freely. Friday afternoons and bank holiday getaways see the biggest savings.
Is the M6 Toll free for motorcycles?
No. Motorcycles (Class 1) currently pay £5.70 for the full 3-zone route at the standard rate, or £4.80 with a Breeze account. Motorcycles travelled free in the early years of the road but have been charged for over a decade.
What happens if you don't pay the M6 Toll?
ANPR cameras capture every number plate. If a payment is not registered, a £70 penalty charge notice (PCN) is sent to the registered keeper. You usually have a short grace window after travel to settle the toll online without a penalty. See the penalties page for the full appeals process.