Here you will find all the answers to common questions about how to use the M6toll. If you still can’t find what you are looking for, you can contact customer service here and one of our friendly team will help you.
General
Our Road is open 24hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It would only ever be closed due to a police incident.
Unlike other motorways in the UK, the M6toll is privately owned. It was built and is privately funded – with no government subsidy – by Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL). It will continue to be run by MEL until 2054.
The toll you pay on each journey goes towards maintaining the road and providing 24/7 customer support via our dedicated control room and on-the-road patrols and we fund everything ourselves.
The M6toll connects the M6 at junction 3a to junction 11a of the M6, covering a total distance of 27 miles/ 43km.
If you are using a satnav and haven’t opted to avoid toll roads, it is likely to send you on our road as it’s likely to be the quickest route to your destination.
Please continue driving until you reach a toll plaza, where you will have to pay the toll charge, but you can press the call for assistance button and a member of our team will help you with directions as you exit the M6toll.
Please do not attempt to reverse out of a lane for your own safety and those around you.
We are keen to ensure that people using the M6toll are doing so through their own choice, which is why all signage on the approach roads is designed, and fully approved by National Highways, to meet the requirements of the Department for Transport’s signage policy.
Should you have a complaint with regards to the signage for the M6toll, please contact National Highways directly.
When travelling along the motorway you will approach a toll plaza and be required to present a method of payment (payment card/fuel card/smart device) for the barrier to rise to continue your journey.
Please continue with your journey and do not attempt to retrieve the items in the lane or plaza as the M6toll is a live motorway and your safety may be at risk should you do so.
Please contact Customer Services on 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:00)
We have several ways for our customers to contact us:
Account customers- the easiest way to contact us is by logging into your account. From there you can contact us directly and we will respond within 5 days.
Non-account customers can complete an enquiry form and we will respond with 5 days.
We can also be contacted by telephone on 0330 660 0790 Mon- Fri 0830-1700.
M6toll Accounts
We now use Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras, and account holders who have registered their Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) can use all toll lanes (including the breeze lane). The barrier in the toll lane will raise automatically as you approach. Customers who already have an M6toll TAG can only use the breeze lane.
Yes, your TAG will still work in the lane. As we have now upgraded our tolling system to use ANPR technology we will no longer issue new or replacement TAGs.
Please remember that you can now upgrade to an ANPR account removing the need for a TAG. If you would like to upgrade to an ANPR account, please contact customer services 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30-17:00).
breeze account customers (both ANPR and TAG) can use lanes displaying the ‘b’ symbol or the ‘b’ symbol in conjunction with the contactless symbol at all plazas.
Click here to log into your account. As we have upgraded our customer portal you will now need a password. You will create this the first time that you log in.
If your TAG is lost/stolen, please contact customer services 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30-17:00).
As we have now upgraded our tolling system to use ANPR technology we will no longer issue new or replacement TAGs. We will take the opportunity to upgrade your account to use ANPR.
Yes, otherwise it is unlikely to work, which means the barrier will not rise automatically and you may be delayed in the lane.
Please remember that you can now upgrade to an ANPR account removing the need for a TAG. If you would like to upgrade to an ANPR account, please contact customer services 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30-17:00).
As we have now upgraded our tolling system to use ANPR technology we will no longer issue new or replacement TAG brackets.
Please contact customer services 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30-17:00) and we will upgrade you to an ANPR account.
If you wish to close your account, you can request to do so by logging into your online account here. Once you have made your request, it may take up to 5 days for the request to be completed.
Please log into your online account and update your vehicle here. As we now use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), it’s important that you do this before using the M6toll, as your new vehicle will not be recognised in the lane and the barrier will not rise, causing a delay to your journey. If this happens you will need an alternative method of payment for your journey
If this happens the barrier will not rise, and you will need to press the call for assistance button. The Service Delivery team may issue you with a Payment Notice, or you can pay for the toll with an alternative means of payment. If you take a Payment Notice you can call Customer Services on 0330 660 0790 and they will apply the deferred payment to your account and update your vehicle details.
The simplest reason for this happening is that we do not have your correct vehicle details. Log into your account and check here.
We may have also put a temporary hold on your account. This may be because we have tried to take a payment, and this has failed. Log into your account and check its status here.
Should you wish to discuss your account, log in and raise an enquiry here or call Customer Services on 0330 660 0790, Monday – Friday, 08.30-17:00.
Log into account here to print off historic statements. Should you require statement dated prior to January 2024, please contact customer services 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30-17:00).
Your journey will appear on your account, which could take up to 48 hours if we need to manually check any images from our ANPR system (which is used to calculate your trip cost, based on where you entered and exited M6toll)
In the unlikely event that your journey does not appear on your account after 48 hours, please call our Customer Services Team on 0330 660 0790 (Monday to Friday 08:30 – 17:00).
As the toll plazas are not situated at the end of the road we will not know the final price until you have left the road.
You can return your TAG(s) to us by way of FREEPOST M6TOLL or alternatively you can dispose of your TAG(s) personally by taking it to an appropriate collection point for the recycling of batteries (available in most supermarkets).
To log in to your account click here and enter your email and password. If it is your first time logging on, you will need to reset your password. Please click ‘forgot your password?’ and follow the instructions.
When you have logged in to your account, you will be able to change your personal details, update your Vehicle Registration Number(s), add and remove your Vehicle Registration Number(s), download statements and invoices.
At the end of your introductory period, you will automatically move onto a standard rate (unless advised otherwise).
If you hold a TAG and want to add more vehicles to your account, please contact us on 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:00) so that we can upgrade you to ANPR.
Yes, please call our Customer Services Team on 0330 660 0790 (Monday to Friday 08:30 – 17:00).
Please call our Customer Services Team on 0330 660 0790 (Monday to Friday 08:30 – 17:00).
Exemptions
Please visit our website here and complete an application form and upload your supporting documentation.
If you are renewing MEP please note it is not possible to do this until your current MEP has expired.
The exemption is ONLY for the registered vehicle on the application. If you are not in that vehicle you will need to pay the toll fee due when in the toll lane.
Yes, please apply here.
Unfortunately, the Blue Badge scheme does not differentiate between those who are entitled to exemption and those who are not.
Because the exemption requires you to be in the nominated vehicle as per your application, the toll fee is non-refundable.
No, the price will stay the same even if the toll prices change. We do, however, regularly review the cost of administering the Mobility Exemption and if that cost changes we will update our website and those new charges will take effect at your next renewal.
A Mobility Exemption only allows free passage on the M6toll for the vehicle registration listed on the application, and the applicant must be present in the vehicle when travelling.
On receipt of the correct eligibility documentation we will send you an email confirming that your Mobility is ready to use. Our Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will identify your vehicle at the toll plazas and raise the barrier automatically to allow you to pass through. Please allow us up to 7 days to review your documentation. If you wish to use the road before receiving your confirmation, then payment of the toll fee will be required.
An application for Mobility Exemption can be made on behalf of an applicant, if the applicant is under 13 years of age, is subject to a Power of Attorney or is unable to do so themselves. If the applicant is under 13 years of age, a parent or guardian is required to sign the application form.
Please call our Customer Services Team on 0330 660 0790 Monday- Friday, 8.30am – 5pm, or email mobilitypass@m6toll.co.uk and one of our team will be pleased to help.
There is a £7.00 administration charge, payable upon each application and renewal.
A Mobility Exemption is valid for one year for the vehicle and the person listed on the application, and an annual application is required.
We will send you an email prior to your Mobility Exemption expiring.
Mobility Exemption customers can use all lanes.
We have upgraded our tolling system to use Automatic Number Plate Recognition, which means that when you approach the plaza, the cameras will be able to identify your vehicle as being associated with a Mobility Exemption, and raise the barrier in the toll lane as you approach.
To qualify for a Mobility Exemption on the M6toll, Midland Expressway Limited is governed by The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. The holder must be in receipt of one of the following and provide evidence when making an application:
- A V5 Vehicle Registration Document showing the vehicle registration number and the road tax classification ‘Disabled’
- A confirmation letter to claim vehicle road tax classification status of ‘Disabled’ and vehicle registration number under a Motability Vehicle Lease Agreement
- War pensioner mobility supplement
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA), by virtue of entitlement to the Mobility Component at the higher rate.
- Is in receipt of disability assistance for children and young people, by virtue of entitlement to the Mobility Component at the higher rate.
- Personal Independent Payment (PIP), by virtue of entitlement to the Mobility component at the enhanced rate
Our full Mobility Exemption Terms and conditions can be found here.
Motorway services area
Parking at the Motorway Services is free for the first 2 hours. After that, a charge of £13 for cars and £33 for caravans and HGVs (£36 including a £10 food voucher) will apply for a stay of up to 24hours. Caravans and HGVs can also upgrade for an extra £3.
HGVs can benefit from a parking package which includes 24 hour parking, £10 food voucher and free passage on the M6toll. For more information click here
Parking is free if you are staying at the Days Inn hotel.
Yes, there is a Days Inn hotel at the Motorway Services with free parking and free wi-fi. Find out more here.
The Motorway Services are accessible from the North and the South carriageways, between junctions T6 and T7.
We have EV chargers located within the Motorway Service area.
Payments
If you use a fuel card when travelling on the M6toll our ‘How to Guide’ can help you navigate your journey more smoothly. Visit M6toll how to guide for fuel card customers (youtube.com) for helpful tips when using a fuel card.
We appreciate that this happens. Press the Call for Assistance button at the payment point in the toll lane and we’ll issue you with a Payment Notice. Please note: you need to settle payment within 6 days to avoid additional charges of at least £70.
For non-stop passage through the toll lanes and automatic payment, simply open an account here.
Non-account holders pay at the payment point in the toll lane at the toll plaza. We accept debit/credit cards, Apple/Google pay, smart device-based payments and fuel cards. If paying by contactless, you can just tap and go.
If you think your vehicle has been misclassified, please call Customer Services on 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:00).
M6toll classifications are determined by our measurement system which is separate from DVLA classifications.
Our measurement system has sensors in each lane which measure the height of your vehicle and count the number axles and wheels, including trailers.
Please click here to check the classification of your vehicle.
Please click here for our current prices.
The easiest way to pay for your journeys is to set up an account. Find more information here.
If you have not passed through a toll plaza, you have not used the road. However, our Customer Services Team can check whether any outstanding payments are due for a particular Vehicle Registration Number. Simply call Customer Services on 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:00)
Discounted pricing is one of the benefits of having an account. To learn more and to open an account, please click here.
Our new, fairer pricing is based on where you join and where you leave the road (and the type of vehicle you’re driving).
The 27 mile length of the M6toll is split into 3 zones. Our new, fairer pricing is based on how many zones you pass through on your journey.
Your card issuer pre-authorises the maximum toll for your vehicle type when you tap your card/device at the toll booth (this will appear as ‘pending’ in your banking App). The final amount charged may be less if you only travelled through one or two zones. This will be shown on your online receipt.
Once the final price has been confirmed, payment will be taken automatically (this may appear as a second transaction) and the pre-authorised amount will be release back to your bank account.
ANPR cameras are used to record where you join and leave the M6toll. At the toll plaza – which is not located at the end of the road – your card issuer will pre-authorise the maximum toll for your vehicle type (this may be shown as a pending transaction in your banking App). The final price is normally calculated automatically, which can take up to 48 hours if we need to manually check any of the ANPR images. Once the final price has been confirmed, payment will be taken automatically from the pre-authorised amount.
Safety
If you have broken down or need assistance, a member of our highly trained team will be with you as quickly as possible, and we will do everything we can to get you on your way again.
If you have broken down, there are emergency roadside telephones along the full length of the road, which can be used to call for assistance. Where possible, we will dispatch our specialist Incident Support Unit to your location.
The M6toll is regulated and policed the same as any other motorway in England. The standard speed limit is 70mph, which reduces at the approach to the toll plazas.
Midland Expressway Limited is the operator of the M6toll and our teams are passionate about maintaining all aspects of the road to the highest of standards.
We also have a 24/7 control room team, who check for incidents, debris and anything else that could affect your journey.
Receipts
Receipts are available online, which can take up to 48 hours after you have left the M6toll. This allows time for our automated system to verify where you joined and left the road, and to calculate the final cost. Simply click here and follow the instructions. Please note that receipts cannot be printed at the toll booths.
To download a receipt, you will simply need the following:
- date of your journey
- your Vehicle Registration Number
- the approximate time of travel OR the last 4 digits of the card that you paid with.
If you paid using apple/google pay the last 4 digits of your virtual card will be different to your physical card. To find out how to find your virtual card number see here
The price for your journey is now based on where you join and where you leave the road, making it fairer for everyone. It can take the system up to 48 hours if we need to double-check any of the images from our ANPR cameras.
To get a receipt, simply click here and follow the instructions.
If you paid using Apple/Google Pay, please see step-by-step instructions to obtain your virtual card details here
Receipts for fuel card customers are available except for Allstar. If you paid using an Allstar fuel card, please contact them to obtain a statement/ receipt. Please note that fuel card receipts do not include VAT.
Yes, simply click here and follow the instructions.
You can download a receipt for any journey made from 20th January 2024, which is when we moved to the new system. Should you need a receipt for a journey made before this date, please call Customer Services on 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:00)
Payment Notice
To pay online simply click here. Please remember that you have 6 days from the date your trip was validated to pay to avoid additional charges of at least £70.
You can also click on the link found within the text message received shortly after your journey, or by calling Customer Services on 0330 660 0790 (Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:00)
The Terms and Conditions for our Deferred Payments can be found here.
Should you wish to appeal your Payment Notice, this must be done within 6 days following the date when your trip was validated by contacting our Customer Services Team on 0330 660 0790, Monday- Friday 08:30-17:00. otherwise, it will be passed to our debt recovery agency.
You will be required to provide evidence to support your appeal.
Payment Notices will be available to pay online after you have left the M6toll, this can be up to 48 hours if we need to double-check any of the images from our ANPR cameras. This allows time for our automated system to verify where you joined and left the road, and to calculate the final cost.
Simply click here and follow the instructions.
In the unlikely event that your payment notice cannot be downloaded after 48 hours, please call our Customer Services Team on 0330 660 0790 (Monday to Friday 08:30 – 17:00)
Complaints
If you are an account customer, the easiest way to make a complaint is to log into your account here. From your account you will be able to contact us, and we will respond within 5 days.
If you are a non-account customer, please send an email to customercomplaints@m6toll.co.uk
We can also be contacted by telephone on 0330 660 0790 Mon- Fri 0830-1700.
Should you wish to exercise your right to be forgotten in-line with our Privacy policy, which can be viewed here, then please contact us on 0330 660 0790
We pride ourselves on the M6toll being the most reliable and smart route through the Midlands. However, we do not guarantee journey times, and incidents, roadworks and congestion can sometimes delay you en-route. We will always try to minimise any disruption to your journey in such situations.