How to apply for Silvertown and Blackwall tunnel charge discounts 

Discounts and exemptions are available for Tower Hamlets low-income residents, NHS staff, small businesses and off-peak Silvertown tunnel crossings but you must pre-register.

The new Silvertown and Blackwall tunnel charges are set to come into effect on 7 April 2025.

User charges will apply for drivers heading both ways from 6 am to 10 pm every day except Christmas Day unless exempt.

Off-peak charges will mean lower prices from 10 am to 4 pm, and 7 pm to 10 pm on weekdays plus on all hours of the weekend but you must register for Auto Pay to benefit from off-peak prices. 

Other discounts are available for lower-income residents, blue badge holders, taxis, breakdown vehicles, charities and local businesses.

Read on for a full list of charges and how to apply for discounts.

What are the charges?

Peak charges apply Monday to Friday, 6 am to 10 am Northbound and 4 pm to 7 pm Southbound. Peak prices are: £2.50 for motorcycles, mopeds and motor tricycles,  £4.00 for cars and small vans, £6.50 for large vans and £10.00 for heavy goods vehicles.

Off-peak charges apply at all other times between 6 am and 10 pm including weekends. Off-peak prices are: £1.50 for motorcycles, mopeds, motor tricycles, cars and small vans, £2.50 for large vans and £5.00 for heavy goods vehicles.

How to register for Auto Pay for off-peak discounts

Auto Pay is an automatic payment method which you can register for online.

Registering for Auto Pay entitles you to reduced charges at off-peak times. If you do not register for Auto Pay, charges can be paid via phone, online payment or app and will be charged at full (peak) price at all times.

You will need to set up a direct debit mandate or credit card to register for Auto Pay. The system will automatically check if you need to pay the tunnel charges and charge your registered payment method each month.

You will first need to sign in or register for a London Road User Charging Account.

To register for Auto Pay or sign up for a London Road User Charging Account visit tfl.gov.uk/auto-pay.

How to register for low-income resident discounts

Residents on certain benefits living in Tower Hamlets and 12 other boroughs will be eligible for a 50 per cent discount on their charges.

The eligible benefits are: Income Support, Income-related Employment, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Carer’s Allowance and Housing Benefit. 

You can apply for a discount online, but you’ll need to supply certain documents to show you’re entitled to the discount.

To apply for the discount you must first sign up for a London Road User Charging Account. 

You will then proceed to fill in the details of your vehicle registration. Only one vehicle may be registered per user.

You will need to provide proof of address but if you are waiting on these documents you can still proceed with the other parts of the application.

For more information and to sign up for Auto Pay and a London Road User Charging Account visit: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/silvertown-blackwall-tunnels-charge/east-london-resident-discount/provisional-resident-before-you-begin-54468

Until your application is successful you will be liable to pay to drive through the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge from 7 April 2025.

If you have Auto Pay, the 50% resident discount applies to both peak and off-peak charges. Without Auto Pay, it only applies to peak charges.

Resident discounts do not apply to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) nor Congestion Charge. There are separate ULEZ discounts and exemptions.

How to register for local small business and charity discounts

Eligible small businesses, sole traders and charities will be eligible for a £1 discount on the off-peak charge on a maximum of three vehicles. 

The discount will be available for at least one year. 

You will also need to set up Auto Pay to be eligible for this discount as it is for off-peak times. 

To register visit tfl.gov.uk/business-discounts. 

Who gets a 100 per cent discount? 

Blue Badge holders, black taxis, zero-emission capable and/or wheelchair accessible private hire vehicles and recovery and breakdown vehicles are eligible for 100 per cent charge discounts but you must be registered.

You can register at tfl/gov.uk/tunnel-discounts.

DVLA-registered minibuses, buses and coaches as well as NHS vehicles exempt from vehicle tax do not need to pay charges and are not required to take any action for this exemption.

NHS reimbursement 

NHS patients can claim reimbursements for their journeys if their hospital says they are clinically too unwell to travel on public transport.

NHS staff may be eligible for reimbursement from their Trust for crossings made in certain circumstances. 

For full guidance on eligibility and claiming patient and staff reimbursement visit tfl.gov.uk/nhs-reimbursement.

What happens if I don’t register for Auto Pay?

If you haven’t pre-registered for Auto-Pay you can pay the charges online at tfl.gov.uk/pay-to-drive or by phone at 0343 222 2222 or via the TfL Pay to Drive app. 

These charges must be paid by midnight on the third day following the journey, or up to 90 days in advance.

The penalty for non-payment is £180, reduced to £90 if paid within two weeks.

Cameras will read your number plate as you enter the tunnel and check whether you have paid and whether you are exempt from paying the charge.

Residents will benefit from free pay-as-you-go bus fares on certain routes including the new express bus service Superloop SL4 and extended route 129 which will go through the Silvertown Tunnel, and the existing route 108 through Blackwall Tunnel.

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