Verified September 2026
M6 Toll to Stafford
The full-route £12.00 toll plus 13 miles of free M6 from J11a. Around 35 miles and 50 to 55 minutes door to door from the M42 / NEC area to central Stafford in 2026.
Car toll, full route
£12.00
Car toll, Breeze
£10.20
Total time
50 to 55 min
The full Stafford trip cost breakdown
From NEC area to central Stafford in a typical petrol car (45 mpg, £1.45 / litre).
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Distance (M42 J9 to central Stafford) | around 35 miles |
| Fuel | £5.00 |
| M6 Toll (full route, contactless) | £12.00 |
| Total marginal cost | £17.00 |
| Time saved vs M6 through Birmingham (peak) | 25 to 45 minutes |
What is at Stafford
The Stafford services area is at M6 J14 north of the town. Central Stafford is at M6 J13. Beacon Park and Stafford railway station are short hops from J13 via the A449. For business visitors to Stafford-based employers (Network Rail, RSGB and others) the M6 Toll plus M6 north is the time-reliable route from any southern origin.
To Stafford via M6 Toll FAQ
What is the M6 Toll cost to Stafford from the south?
From the M42 / NEC (T1) the full-route toll to T8 (M6 J11a) is £12.00 contactless for a car, or £10.20 on a Breeze account. From T8 the free M6 covers the 13 remaining miles to Stafford (M6 J13) in around 15 minutes.
How long does the trip take?
Around 50 to 55 minutes door to door at the 70 mph limit from the M42 / NEC area to central Stafford, of which 22 to 25 minutes is on the toll. The free M6 alternative through Spaghetti Junction at peak is closer to 90 minutes.
Is the toll worth it for a regular Stafford run?
Depends on the time of day and how often. Weekday peak runs from Birmingham, Solihull or the M42 corridor save 25 to 60 minutes by paying the £12.00 toll. Off-peak weekend the free M6 is usually fine; pay only if you hit a traffic alert.
Is there a cheaper partial toll option?
If you can avoid the Spaghetti Junction stretch by entering further north, yes. Joining at T4 (Lichfield north) saves to the 2-zone £9.50 rate, but only if you reach T4 cleanly without using the M6 yourself. Most drivers committed to the full Stafford trip take the full toll because the southern entry is the value.
What about Stoke-on-Trent or Crewe?
Same toll, longer onward leg. T8 to Stoke is 26 miles of free M6 (around 28 minutes), and T8 to Crewe is 32 miles (around 35 minutes). The toll value scales as the trip length grows because the toll spend is fixed at £12.00 regardless.