Payzone retailers will soon be able to accept payments for the Dartford Crossing.

The fee, known as the Dart Charge, comes into effect at the end of November and removes the need for vehicles to stop at payment booths with a view to reducing congestion.

Through the system, drivers will be able to pay the charge in advance or by midnight the day after the crossing at any Payzone outlet. The in-store payment option is exclusive to Payzone and users of the Dartford Crossing can find their nearest outlet on the Payzone website.

There are 136,000 crossings made daily and retailers will receive commission on every transaction.

Sales and marketing manager Mark Mellor said: “We’re really excited to provide the facility to pay Dart Charge in all Payzone shops on behalf of Sanef and the Highways Agency. The Payzone convenience network will make it easy for a consumer to top up their account, or pay Dart Charge in cash, at a local Payzone store throughout the whole of the UK. This deal will also be great news for our retailers who will benefit both from providing the service and increased footfall.”

Highways Agency Project director Nigel Gray added that the Payzone arrangement would give drivers another payment option. “Making it as easy as possible to pay Dart Charge has been a top priority for us,” he said. “We recognise that not everyone will want to pay online or by phone. This deal with Payzone will mean drivers will be able to pay at thousands of convenient locations across the country.”