Tolls
In contrast to the original Severn Bridge crossing, the tolls are collected on the Welsh side near Rogiet (but in the same westbound direction as on the first crossing). Tolls can be paid for by cash, debit/credit card or cheque, or by use of the Severn TAG system, which is a wireless electronic toll collection system that does not require vehicles to stop. Cash can be paid at the manned booths or coins can be used at the automated coin gates.
Tolls charges are based on a three tier pricing system:
| Toll category | Description | 2012 charge |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Cars and minibuses with up to 9 seats | £6.00 |
| Category 2 | Small buses with up to 17 seats
Vans up to 3.5 tons |
£12.10 |
| Category 3 | Buses with more than 17 seats
Goods vehicles weighing 3.5 tons or more |
£18.10 |
Motorcycles and UK disabled badge holders travelling in a vehicle are exempted from paying a toll, although these vehicles must stop at the toll booth to confirm their eligibility.
The toll prices are updated every year on 1 January in accordance with the Severn Bridges Act of 1992. In late 2008, UK VAT was reduced from 17.5% to 15%, but the bridge toll remained unchanged. For reasons of convenience the tolls are kept at round multiples of 10p (the bridge toll is largely paid in cash), but the 13p VAT reduction was not passed on immediately. In 2009, the planned toll for cars would have been £5.50, as the announcements listed, but the actual toll charged was £5.40. The tolls rose on 1 January 2012 from £5.70 for cars and £17.20 for a heavy goods vehicle to £6.00 and £18.10 respectively.
Read more about this topic: Second Severn Crossing
Famous quotes containing the word tolls:
“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main.... Any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in Mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
—John Donne (c. 1572–1631)
“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main.... Any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in Mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
—John Donne (c. 1572–1631)