The M6 Toll zone system explained

Since May 2024 the M6 Toll has charged by zones, not as a single flat fare. You pay only for the zones you travel through. A full M6 J3a to M6 J11a journey covers all three.

Quick answer

Three zones, priced separately. A car pays £11.60 for all three (£9.80 with Breeze), £9.10 for two zones, or £6.70 for one zone.

Route map27 miles, 8 junctions, 3 zones

Zone 1

Zone 1 / 2 boundary

Zone 2

Zone 2 / 3 boundary

Zone 3

M6 J3a / ColeshillM6 J11a / Cannock

Zone 1: T1 to T3Zone 2: T3 to T6Zone 3: T6 to T8

Which junctions sit in which zone

Zone 1

Southern section

T1 (Coleshill) and T2 (Bassetts Pole) sit inside Zone 1, with T3 (Lichfield south) on the Zone 1 / 2 boundary. M42 / NEC end of the road.

Zone 2

Middle section

T4 (Lichfield north) and T5 (Weeford) sit inside Zone 2, with T6 (Norton Canes) on the Zone 2 / 3 boundary. The quietest stretch of the route.

Zone 3

Northern section

T7 (Churchbridge) and T8 (M6 J11a) sit inside Zone 3, with T6 (Norton Canes) on the Zone 2 / 3 boundary. Norton Canes services are between T6 and T7.

Exact zone boundaries are set by Midland Expressway Limited and may shift slightly. Always verify against m6toll.co.uk if planning a partial journey.

Common journeys and what they cost

Journey	Zones	Standard (car)	Breeze (car)
M6 J3a to M6 J11a (full length)	3 zones	£11.60	£9.80
T1 to T7	3 zones	£11.60	£9.80
T1 to T4 (Coleshill to Lichfield)	2 zones	£9.10	£8.00
T3 to T7 (Lichfield to Cannock)	2 zones	£9.10	£8.00
T1 to T2 (within Zone 1)	1 zone	£6.70	£4.00
T6 to T8 (within Zone 3)	1 zone	£6.70	£4.00

For non-car prices, see the full pricing tables.

Zone FAQ

When did the M6 Toll switch to zones?

May 2024. Before that, the M6 Toll used flat-rate pricing where every journey paid the same regardless of distance. The zone system means short trips now cost considerably less than the full route, and was rolled out at the same time cash was abolished.

How does the system know which zones I travelled in?

ANPR cameras at every junction read your number plate on entry and exit. The system calculates which zones you covered and bills the correct amount automatically. There is nothing to select or declare.

What is the cheapest zone combination for a car?

A single zone for a Class 2 car is £6.70 contactless, or just £4.00 with a Breeze account. That is roughly 35% to 65% cheaper than the full 3-zone route depending on the account you use.

Is the section south of T1 free?

Yes. The very short section that the M6 Toll shares with the M42 (south of T1) is not part of the toll. The toll begins at T1 itself. If you join or leave at T1 you pay only for the zones you actually drive in.