View source for M6 Toll

{{Short description|Toll motorway in England bypassing a busy section of the M6}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox road
| country     = GBR
| type        = M
| route       = 6 Toll
| alternate_name = Midland Expressway
| photo     = Crane Brook - geograph.org.uk - 14791.jpg
| photo_notes = Looking south near [[Hammerwich]], 2005
| map = {{switcher
  | {{maplink-road|from=M6 Toll.map}}M6 Toll highlighted in blue{{hr}}
  | Show interactive map
  | [[File:M6 Toll motorway (Great Britain) map.svg|frameless|x323px]]<br />Shown with UK motorway network{{hr}}
  | Show UK motorways map
  }}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = 
| length_mi   = 27
| direction_a  = Southeast
| terminus_a  = [[Coleshill, Warwickshire|Coleshill]]
| destinations= {{plainlist|
* [[Lichfield]]
* [[Brownhills]]
* [[Cannock]]
  }}
| direction_b = Northwest
| terminus_b  = [[Cannock]]
| established = 2003
| history     = Opened and Completed: 2003
| counties    = {{flatlist|
* [[Warwickshire]]
* [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
* [[Staffordshire]]
  }}
| junction    =  {{plainlist|
* [[File:UK-Motorway-M6.svg|1000x20px]] [[M6 motorway]]
* [[File:UK-Motorway-M42.svg|1000x20px]] [[M42 motorway]]
* [[File:UK-Motorway-M42.svg|1000x20px]] [[M42 motorway]]
* [[File:UK-Motorway-M6.svg|1000x20px]] [[M6 motorway]]
  }}
| e-road      = {{Jct|country=EUR|E|05}}
| maint       = Midland Expressway Ltd.{{efn|Under concession from the [[Department for Transport]] until 2053, on which date the motorway will be returned to the [[Government of the United Kingdom|government]].}}
| previous_type = M
| previous_route = 6
| next_type = M
| next_route = 8
| next_dab= Scotland
}}

The '''M6 Toll''', referred to on some signs as the '''Midland Expressway''' (originally named the '''Birmingham Northern Relief Road''' or '''BNRR'''), and stylised as '''M6toll''',  connects [[M6 motorway|M6]] Junction 3a at the Coleshill Interchange to M6 Junction 11A at [[Wolverhampton]] with {{convert|27|mi}} of six-lane motorway.

The M6 Toll is the only major [[Toll roads in Great Britain|toll road]] in Great Britain, and has two payment plazas, [[Great Wyrley]] Toll Plaza for northbound and [[Weeford]] Toll Plaza for southbound. The northbound toll plaza is situated between junctions T6 and T7, and the southbound between junctions T4 and T3. The weekday contactless card cost is £10.50 for a car and £18.20 for a [[Heavy Goods Vehicle]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Pricing Tables |url= https://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing-tables/ |access-date= 2025-08-24 |website=M6toll}}</ref>

The M6 Toll is part of the (unsigned in the UK) [[international E-road network|E-road]] [[European route E05|E05]] and is subject to the same regulations and policing as other motorways in the UK. It has one service station along its {{convert|27|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch, [[Norton Canes services]].

==History==

===Planning and construction===
Proposals for a new publicly funded motorway were circulated in 1980.<ref name="M6T_About">{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/about/project.asp|title=M6 Toll – Overview|work=M6 Toll|access-date=24 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211200131/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/about/project.asp|archive-date=11 February 2008}}</ref> It was originally to be called the A446(M){{citation needed|date=September 2024}} Birmingham Northern Relief Road (BNRR) and designed to alleviate the increasing congestion on the [[M6 motorway|M6]] through [[Birmingham]] and the [[Black Country]] in England, as well as improving road links to neighbouring parts of [[Staffordshire]] and [[North Warwickshire]]. This was the busiest section of the M6, carrying up to 180,000 vehicles per day when it was designed to carry only 72,000.<ref>{{cite web | title = M6 Toll – four years on | publisher = [[BBC Online]] | date = 30 November 2007 | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2007/11/30/m6_toll_have_your_say_feature.shtml | access-date = 5 September 2015}}</ref>

Five alternative routes were put for consultation in 1980 and a preferred route was published in 1986. In 1989 there was a public inquiry relating to a publicly funded motorway.<ref name=M6T_About/>

In 1989 it was announced that it would be built privately and a competition took place which was won by Midland Expressway Limited in 1991.<ref name=M6T_About/> The contract was for a 53-year concession to build and operate the road as an early form of [[public private partnership]] with the operator paying for the construction and recouping its costs by setting and collecting tolls, allowing for a 3-year construction period followed by 50 years of operation. At the end of this period the infrastructure would be returned to the Government. Toll rates are set at the discretion of the operator at six-monthly intervals and there is no cap on the rates charged.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldhansrd/vo050614/text/50614w04.htm | title = Lords Hansard text | date = 14 June 2005 | access-date = 19 June 2024 | url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060521194001/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldhansrd/vo050614/text/50614w04.htm | archive-date = 21 May 2006}}</ref>

There was a second public inquiry from relating to the new scheme in 1994–1995 and a decision to go ahead in 1997. A legal challenge was made by the "Alliance against BNRR" which was cleared in 1998.<ref name=M6T_About/>

Midland Expressway Limited contracted out the construction of the road to a consortium of major contractors [[Carillion]], [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[Balfour Beatty]] and [[Amec Foster Wheeler|Amec]] (together known as CAMBBA).<ref name=M6T_About/>

'''Build phase'''

Site clearance started in 2000, major construction work began over the summer of 2002 and the road opened in December 2003.<ref name=M6T_About/>

2.5 million books, including many [[Mills & Boon]] novels, were pulped and mixed into the [[Asphalt concrete|tarmac]] surface to help absorb water.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3330245.stm|title=M6 Toll built with pulped fiction|date=3 December 2003|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=24 January 2008}}</ref>

In August 2003, freight operators indicated that they planned to keep their vehicles on the heavily congested M6 through Birmingham rather than send them on the new motorway due to high fees. The [[AA Motoring Trust]] said it welcomed the decision to make lorries pay a premium rate explaining that "Car drivers find lorries intimidating and they frequently hold up traffic on motorways when overtaking each other."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article1068918.eceLorry |title=drivers to bypass toll road|date=3 August 2003|author=Ben Webster|work=[[The Times]]|access-date=24 January 2008 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The road was partially opened on 9 December 2003 for traffic entering from local junctions, then fully opened on 14 December 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/3346931.stm|title=M6 Toll figures 'encouraging'|date=24 December 2003|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=24 January 2008}}</ref>

===First year of operation===
On 10 January 2004, five weeks after opening, a short section of the road near [[Sutton Coldfield]] was reduced to one lane to allow for repairs to an uneven surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/content_objectid=13923135_method=full_siteid=50002_headline=-M6-Toll-branded-big-flop-name_page.html |title=M6 Toll branded big flop |date=6 February 2004 |work=icBirmingham |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208191617/http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/content_objectid%3D13923135_method%3Dfull_siteid%3D50002_headline%3D-M6-Toll-branded-big-flop-name_page.html |archive-date=8 February 2007 }}</ref>

On 23 July 2004 prices for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) were reduced from £10 to £6 to encourage them to use the route "for a trial period".<ref name=Aug13/>

===Traffic levels===
In December 2004, one year after opening, Friends of the Earth issued a press release expressing concern that, faced with lower than expected traffic numbers, Midland Expressway were trying to attract new traffic-generating developments to greenbelt and greenfield sites in the M6 Toll Corridor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foe.org.uk/resource/press_releases/first_anniversary_of_m6_to_08122004.html |title=First Anniversary of M6 Toll Opening |date=9 December 2004 |publisher=Friends of the Earth |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050514063135/http://www.foe.org.uk/resource/press_releases/first_anniversary_of_m6_to_08122004.html |archive-date=14 May 2005 }}</ref> and in April 2005 the [[Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors]] reported that there was strong interest in the commercial property market place around the M6 Toll "zone of influence".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rics.org/lostproperty/Jennifer+Deletions/m6toll010405.htm |title=The M6 Toll: 12 Months On |date=1 May 2005 |author=John de Kanter |publisher=Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504075553/http://www.rics.org/lostproperty/Jennifer%2BDeletions/m6toll010405.htm |archive-date= 4 May 2008 }}</ref>

In May 2005, the Macquarie Infrastructure Group reported that traffic figures were "disappointing".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newratings.com/analyst_news/article_814169.html|title= MIG M6 April Traffic Disappointing – GSJBW |date=23 May 2005|work=new ratings|access-date=24 January 2008}}</ref> In August 2005 the Highways Agency confirmed in its own "one year" study showing that usage had settled at around 50,000 vehicle per day (lower than the predicted 74,000) but that traffic volumes on the M6 had reduced slightly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/one_year_after_study.pdf |title=one year after study |publisher=Highways Agency |date=11 August 2005 |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115051216/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/one_year_after_study.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2009 }}</ref>

From 2008, traffic levels started to fall. Traffic in the first quarter of 2009 was 39,000 vehicles-per-day (Monday-Friday figures),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.m6toll.co.uk/about-us/traffic-figures/2009/17-04-09/ |title=M6 Toll Q1 2009 Traffic Figures |access-date=21 September 2015 |archive-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018162142/https://www.m6toll.co.uk/about-us/traffic-figures/2009/17-04-09/ }}</ref> but recovered to reach 54,000 in the second quarter of 2015.<ref name=2015usage>{{cite web|url=https://www.m6toll.co.uk/about-us/traffic-figures/latest-reports/april-june-2015/ |title=M6 Toll Q2 2015 Traffic Figures |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018162141/https://www.m6toll.co.uk/about-us/traffic-figures/latest-reports/april-june-2015/ |archive-date=18 October 2015 }}</ref>

Traffic levels are not published on a regular basis, but can be found in company financial reports published in press, generally around about September the following year.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Vehicles per day
|-
|2005
|50,000
|-
|2006
|40,278<ref name=campaignBT />
|-
|2007
|41,473<ref name=campaignBT>{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=The M6 Toll – ten years on |url=https://bettertransport.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/legacy-files/research-files/M6_Toll_Ten_Years_briefing_Dec2013_FINAL.pdf |website=Campaign for Better transport}}</ref>
|-
|2009 Q1
|39,000
|-
|2012
|30,541<ref name=campaignBT /><ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=14 December 2023 |title=Highs and lows in 20 years of the M6 Toll |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-67706495 |access-date=6 June 2025 |work=BBC News }}</ref>
|-
|2014
|45,890<ref>{{cite news |date=11 February 2016 |title=M6 Toll motorway put up for sale |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-35553865 |access-date=6 June 2025 |work=BBC News }}</ref>
|-
|2015
|54,000<ref name=2015usage />
|-
|2017
|50,030<ref>{{cite web |title=M6 toll – the UK's most expensive – increases to £6.90 {{!}} Autocar |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry-news/m6-toll-%E2%80%93-uk%E2%80%99s-most-expensive-%E2%80%93-increases-%C2%A3690 |access-date=6 June 2025 |website=www.autocar.co.uk }}</ref>
|-
|2019
|46,000<ref>{{cite news |date=14 December 2023 |title=Highs and lows in 20 years of the M6 Toll |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-67706495 |access-date=6 June 2025 |work=BBC News }}</ref>
|-
|2020
|26,000<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2022
|46,715<ref name=M6Profits>{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Jon |date=13 September 2024 |title=M6 Toll owner rakes in the profit after price rises |url=https://www.cityam.com/m6-toll-owner-rakes-in-the-profit-after-price-rises/ |access-date=6 June 2025 |website=City AM }}</ref>
|-
|2024
|48,463<ref name=M6Profits />
|}

===Historical toll rates===
{{Overly detailed|section|details=Why is such a huge table of interest in Wikipedia? [[WP:NOT]]|date=August 2024}}
Daytime cash / contactless card prices for various vehicle classes since opening:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date introduced
! Class 1 (e.g. Motorbike)
! Class 2 (e.g. Car)
! Class 3 (e.g. Car with trailer)
! Class 4 (e.g. Van)
! Class 5 (e.g. HGV)
|-
| 9 December 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/travel/m6-toll-rd.shtml|title=The M6 toll road|work=BBC Birmingham|access-date=24 January 2008}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| £1.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £2.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £5.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £5.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £10.00
|-
| 23 July 2004<ref name="Aug13">{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/about-us/news/2004/13-08-2004|title=The M6 Toll has reached its 10 millionth customer|publisher=M6 Toll|date=13 August 2008|access-date=23 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018162141/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/about-us/news/2004/13-08-2004|archive-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| £1.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £2.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £5.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £5.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £6.00
|-
| 16 August 2004<ref name=Aug13/>
| style="text-align:center;"| £2.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £3.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £6.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £6.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £6.00
|-
| 14 June 2005<ref name="Jun05">{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/chartprices14Jun.pdf |title=Pricing table – valid from 14 June 2005 |publisher=M6 Toll |access-date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910203423/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/chartprices14Jun.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| £2.50
| style="text-align:center;"| £3.50
| style="text-align:center;"| £7.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £7.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £7.00
|-
| 1 January 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/UserFiles/File/Toll%20Price%20Rise%20Toll%20Rates%20from%201-1-08(1).pdf |title=Toll Price Rise 1-1-08 |publisher=M6 Toll |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910203431/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/UserFiles/File/Toll%20Price%20Rise%20Toll%20Rates%20from%201-1-08%281%29.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/UserFiles/File/2ndchartprices1jan08.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910203427/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/UserFiles/File/2ndchartprices1jan08.pdf|archive-date=10 September 2008|title=M6toll pricing pdf chart|access-date=2 January 2008}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| £2.50
| style="text-align:center;"| £4.50
| style="text-align:center;"| £8.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £9.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £9.00
|-
| 1 January 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/UserFiles/File/Pricing%20Table%201-1-09.pdf |title=Pricing table – Prices valid from 1st January 2009 |publisher=M6 Toll |access-date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612211932/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/UserFiles/File/Pricing%20Table%201-1-09.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2011 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| £2.70
| style="text-align:center;"| £4.70
| style="text-align:center;"| £8.40
| style="text-align:center;"| £9.40
| style="text-align:center;"| £9.40
|-
| 1 March 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/UserFiles/File/Pricing%20Table%201-3-10.pdf |title=Pricing table – Prices valid from 1st March 2010 |publisher=M6 Toll |access-date=1 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722034839/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/UserFiles/File/Pricing%20Table%201-3-10.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2011 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| £2.70
| style="text-align:center;"| £5.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £9.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £10.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £10.00
|-
| 1 March 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/media/32179/toll_rates_-01-03-11.pdf|title=Toll Rates for M6 Toll Effective (from 6.00&nbsp;am) 1 March 2011|publisher=M6 Toll|access-date=18 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018162142/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/media/32179/toll_rates_-01-03-11.pdf|archive-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| £3.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £5.30
| style="text-align:center;"| £9.60
| style="text-align:center;"| £10.60
| style="text-align:center;"| £10.60
|-
| 1 March 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/media/57793/tag_and_non-tag_prices.pdf|title=Toll Rates for M6 Toll Effective (from 6.00&nbsp;am) 1 March 2012|publisher=M6 Toll|access-date=18 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523120111/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/media/57793/tag_and_non-tag_prices.pdf|archive-date=23 May 2012}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| £3.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £5.50
| style="text-align:center;"| £10.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £11.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £11.00
|-
| 7 August 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/media/57793/tag_and_non-tag_prices.pdf|title=Toll Rates for M6 Toll Effective (from 6.00&nbsp;am) 7 August 2017|publisher=M6 Toll|access-date=7 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523120111/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/media/57793/tag_and_non-tag_prices.pdf|archive-date=23 May 2012}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| £3.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £5.90
| style="text-align:center;"| £10.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £11.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £11.00
|-
| 8 July 2021<ref>{{cite web |title=Price Changes in effect from the 8th July, 2021 |url=https://www.m6toll.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/PRJuly21.pdf |access-date=30 October 2022 |website=M6 Toll |archive-date=30 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030153333/https://www.m6toll.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/PRJuly21.pdf }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| £3.30
| style="text-align:center;"| £7.00
| style="text-align:center;"| £10.70
| style="text-align:center;"| £12.30
| style="text-align:center;"| £12.60
|-
| 22 August 2022<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/
| title = M6toll – Stress Free Motoring – Pricing Overview
| access-date = 30 October 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221023101658/https://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/
| archive-date = 23 October 2022
}}</ref>

| style="text-align:center;"| £3.70
| style="text-align:center;"| £7.60
| style="text-align:center;"| £11.60
| style="text-align:center;"| £13.30
| style="text-align:center;"| £13.80
|-
| 30 August 2023<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/
| title = M6toll – Stress Free Motoring – Pricing Overview
| access-date = 30 August 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230830082420/https://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/
| archive-date = 30 August 2023
}}</ref>

| style="text-align:center;"| £4.20
| style="text-align:center;"| £8.60
| style="text-align:center;"| £12.60
| style="text-align:center;"| £14.90
| style="text-align:center;"| £15.50
|-
|13 October 2023<ref>{{cite news |date=13 October 2023 |title=M6 Toll price increase comes into force |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-67094429 |access-date=16 July 2024 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|£4.70
| style="text-align:center;"|£8.90
| style="text-align:center;"|£12.90
| style="text-align:center;"|£15.30
| style="text-align:center;"|£15.90
|-

|13 May 2024<ref>{{cite news |date=13 October 2023 |title=Has the M6Toll Just Gone up in Price Again? |url=https://www.cathedraltravel.co.uk/diary-of-a-lichfield-chauffeur-taxi-driver-1/has-the-m6toll-just-gone-up-in-price-again |access-date=16 July 2024}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|£4.70
| style="text-align:center;"|£9.70
| style="text-align:center;"|£14.00
| style="text-align:center;"|£16.60
| style="text-align:center;"|£17.20
|-
|24 August 2025<ref>{{cite news |date=24 August 2025|title=Pricing tables |url=https://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing-tables/ |access-date=16 July 2024}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|£5.10
| style="text-align:center;"|£10.50
| style="text-align:center;"|£15.00
| style="text-align:center;"|£17.60
| style="text-align:center;"|£18.20

|}

There is a 5% discount for using a tag. Leasing of one tag currently costs £1.00/month. In addition, a monthly administrative fee of £2.00 is charged if the user wishes to receive a postal statement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://secure.m6toll.co.uk/account/tags.asp?mainmenuid=5 |title=M6 Toll – Overview – Tags |publisher=M6 Toll |date=18 February 2009 |access-date=18 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628191410/https://secure.m6toll.co.uk/account/tags.asp?mainmenuid=5 |archive-date=28 June 2007 }}</ref>

Exit/entry at some of the intermediate junctions away from the main toll booths entails a reduced toll, typically £1 less than the full fee.

===M6 Expressway===
There was a proposal to build a new toll motorway, called the M6 Expressway running from the end of the M6 Toll to [[Knutsford]], where much of the traffic leaves the M6 for [[Manchester]]. It was announced on 20 July 2006 that this proposal had been abandoned due to excessive costs and anticipated construction problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=215626&NewsAreaID=2 |title=Decision on M6 upgrade announced |date=20 July 2006 |access-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313184117/http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=215626&NewsAreaID=2 |archive-date=13 March 2007 }}</ref>

==Tolls==

===Prices ===

From 13 May 2024, M6 Toll is divided into three zones. Tolls depend on the number of zones entered, determined by [[automatic number-plate recognition]] (ANPR).<ref>{{cite web |title=Pricing tables |url=https://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing-tables/ |website=M6toll |access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pricing |url=https://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/ |website=M6toll |access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" style="vertical-align: bottom;"|Vehicle class
! colspan="3" |Payment at toll booth
! colspan="3" |Payment via account {{nobold|(ANPR or tag)}}
|-
! scope=col style="text-align:center;"| 3 zones
! scope=col | 2 zones
! scope=col | 1 zone
! scope=col | 3 zones
! scope=col | 2 zones
! scope=col | 1 zone
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Class 1 {{nobold|(e.g. motorbike)}}
| £4.70
| £4.00
| £3.30
| £4.30
| £3.70
| £2.00
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Class 2 {{nobold|(e.g. car)}}
| £9.70
| £8.00
| £6.20
| £8.90
| £7.40
| £4.00
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Class 3 {{nobold|(e.g. car & trailer)}}
| £14.00
| £11.70
|  £9.30
| £12.90
| £10.80
|  £6.00
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Class 4 {{nobold|(e.g. van or motorhome)}}
| £16.60
| £14.90
| £13.10
| £15.30
| £13.80
|  £9.00
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Class 5 {{nobold|(e.g. HGV or coach)}}
| £17.20
| £15.70
| £14.20
| £15.90
| £14.60
|  £9.00
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Class 7
| colspan="6" | £33.90
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Class 8
| colspan="6" | £50.80
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Class 9
| colspan="6" | £118.70
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Class 10
| colspan="6" | £322.00
|}

===Collection===
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2021}}
Tolls can be paid by [[credit card|credit]]/[[debit card]] payments or in advance via an M6 Toll tag. Cash payments are not accepted.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pricing |url=https://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/ |access-date=9 October 2022 |website=M6toll }}</ref>
 
Vehicles are classified electronically at the toll booths according to their number of wheels, number of axles and height at first axle. Thus vehicles with trailers are charged extra and some large models of [[Four wheel drive|4x4]] are classified as vans.

Failure to pay the toll for using the motorway is a civil offence; anyone attempting to do so will be issued with an unpaid toll notice and required to send payment. If it is not paid within two days a £10 administration charge is added, plus further costs will be added if the toll is still unpaid after 14 days.

An M6 Toll tag is an [[electronic toll collection]] device attached to a vehicle's windscreen, which records the vehicle's passage through [[toll plaza]]s on the M6 Toll.

Each tag can only be used with the registered [[Registration plate|number plate]] and has a unique account. All accounts on the M6 Toll are pre-paid, and must contain a positive balance, sufficient to cover the cost of the vehicle's toll, in order for the vehicle to be allowed through the toll gate. If the balance is sufficient, the tag will beep once and the barrier at the toll gate will automatically raise. If the balance is low (fewer than three journeys remaining), the tag will beep twice. If the balance of the account cannot cover the cost of the toll, the barrier will remain closed and an alternative method of payment must be used.
Balances can be topped up automatically once a month using [[Direct Debit]] or [[credit card]], or by [[cheque]].

The tags contain a microchip which uses [[radio-frequency identification]] (RFID) technology. Physically, the tag resembles a [[Dartford Crossing#Charges|DART-Tag]], previously used to pay the tolls on the [[Dartford Crossing]]. The two systems do not interoperate.

'''ANPR Systems'''
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2021}}
A new tolling system involving Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology is currently being trialed on the M6 Toll as part of the Road Ahead strategy.

The ANPR cameras will identify licence plate data, removing the need for card payments at the toll plazas and replacing them with a remote payment system linked to online accounts. It will enable seamless end to end journeys and mean customers can manage all transactions via the M6 Toll website, whether for a single vehicle or larger fleets spread across a number of depots.

The ANPR system was Initially launched on 8 April 2021 as a pilot project for business customers, with Maritime, one of the UK's largest logistics operators, becoming the first vehicles to pay for their journeys on the M6toll via the new tolling system.  Once the trials have been completed with Maritime and other commercial vehicle operators, the ANPR system will be rolled out to other road users.

==Midland Expressway Limited==
The contract to build and operate the M6 Toll was won by Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) in 1991.<ref name=M6T_About/> In 2005 MEL reported an operating profit of around £16&nbsp;million. Total revenue was £45&nbsp;million, with staff and other operating costs amounting to £11.4&nbsp;million and depreciation of £17.4&nbsp;million. Taking into account net interest costs of around £43&nbsp;million, that leaves an overall loss of £26.5&nbsp;million in 2005 – their first full financial year.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://tollroadsnews.info/artman/publish/article_1266.shtml |title=M6Toll traffic returning after toll increase last summer |date=13 February 2006 |access-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928025300/http://tollroadsnews.info/artman/publish/article_1266.shtml |archive-date=28 September 2007 }}</ref>

As of June 2005, MEL was 100% owned by [[Atlas Arteria|Macquarie Infrastructure Group]] (MIG) of Australia, which operated several tolled roads in Australia and North America. Long term debt was £819&nbsp;million as of 30 June 2005. Disappointing traffic figures for 2005 led to a price rise in June, and MIG Chief Executive Steve Allen commented in the Australian newspaper ''[[The Age]]'', "What we need is to slow down the M6".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/morgan-takes-the-chair-at-biodiem/2005/08/26/1124562983424.html|title=Morgan takes the chair at BioDiem|date=26 August 2005|access-date=30 September 2007 | location=Melbourne | work=[[The Age]]}}</ref>

Business leaders in [[Staffordshire]], now effectively closer to London, welcomed the opening of the road, saying that it would make it easier to do business there.<ref name="head to head">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3303629.stm|title=Head to head: M6 toll road|date=9 December 2003|access-date=30 September 2007 | work=BBC News}}</ref>

In June 2006 the decision to not increase tolls was put down to disappointing traffic levels and led to a reduction in value for the owner.<ref name="June2006">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/MIGs-toll-decision-leads-to-downgrade/2006/05/23/1148150241558.html|title=MIG's toll decision leads to downgrade|date=23 May 2006|access-date=30 September 2007 | work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref>

In 2010 MIG was split into two, and the M6 Toll is now managed by Macquarie Atlas Roads.<ref>[http://www.macquarie.com/mgl/com/mqa/asset-portfolio MQA Macquarie Atlas Roads: Asset portfolio]. Retrieved 24 July 2012.</ref>

The road was sold to [[IFM Investors]] in June 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40285221|title=M6 Toll is sold to investment group IFM|date=15 June 2017|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=15 June 2017}}</ref>

==Criticisms==

===Design===
The M6 Toll lacks a proper link with the [[M54 motorway|M54]], which joins the M6 {{convert|1.5|mi}} south of the northern end of the M6 Toll. Plans are afoot to link them eventually<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11814.aspx |title=M54 to M6 / M6 (Toll) Link Road |publisher=Highways Agency |access-date=24 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730102600/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11814.aspx |archive-date=30 July 2012 }}</ref> but for the time being traffic between the two has to use either the slow and often congested [[A460 road|A460]] to M54 J1, or go from M54 J2 via the [[A449]] and [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5]] to M6 J12 – an extra 4&nbsp;miles/7&nbsp;km.

===Protest during planning and construction===
Environmental campaigners opposed the road, from its inception. While the road was being built, some advocates of direct action dug tunnels under Moneymore Cottage and two large underground bunkers in an adjacent wood named the Greenwood Camp. The camp was in the path of the road in order to frustrate and delay the work. Peter Faulding, a confined space rescue specialist from Specialist Group International who removed [[Swampy (environmentalist)|Swampy]] the anti-roads protester from the A30 protest and from the Newbury Bypass tunnels, was brought in to safely remove a number of protesters tunnelled deep underground. The tunnels were very complex and on different levels in Moneymore Cottage. Operation Encompass as it was called by the police was run by the Under sheriff of Staffordshire Mr John James, the eviction operation ran for fourteen days enabling construction to begin.
     
[[Friends of the Earth]] claimed that the road would not relieve much traffic from the [[West Midlands conurbation]] as most users using the M6 in that area began or ended their journeys within the conurbation and so the M6 Toll would offer no advantage to them. Their campaign co-ordinator for the West Midlands, Chris Crean, said that although the £900&nbsp;million cost of the road had been borne by private companies, the money should have been spent on public transport.<ref name="head to head"/>

===House of Commons Library briefing paper===
In 2017, the [[House of Commons Library]] produced a briefing paper on road tolls written by Louise Butcher, which included the M6 Toll. The paper suggested that "The M6 toll road has had mixed success; it is unusual in that it is in direct competition with a free motorway running along the same route; this may account for some of the difficulties it has experienced since opening more than a decade ago."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN00442/SN00442.pdf|title=Road tolls |publisher=[[House of Commons Library]]|date= 29 November 2017|access-date=13 March 2022}}</ref>

==Features==
[[File:M6 Toll plaza, Great Wyrley.jpg|thumb|right|Toll plaza for northbound traffic at [[Great Wyrley]]]]
The M6 Toll has several intermediary junctions, and some were designed originally to limit access to discourage local traffic. Like modern toll roads in continental Europe, the M6 Toll still uses [[toll plaza]]s, despite many other tolls in the UK switching to [[Electronic toll collection|electronic toll collection (ETC)]] or being abolished.

The construction of the motorway threatened the restoration of the [[Lichfield Canal]], which cut across the motorway's route. The Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust campaigned and raised funds to build an [[Lichfield Canal Aqueduct|aqueduct]] to carry the canal over the motorway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.m6toll.co.uk/about/environment.asp |title=Stress Free Motoring – Not found |publisher=M6toll |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207132342/http://www.m6toll.co.uk/about/environment.asp |archive-date=7 February 2012 }}</ref> The aqueduct has been finished but the canal has yet to reach it, giving it an odd appearance, known to some local residents as "The Climbing Lemming Bridge".

In 2014/2015 Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust received a Social Investment Business (SIB) grant of £336,000 which will enable the Trust to buy land on either side of the aqueduct and carry out the necessary work to rebuild the canal to bring the aqueduct into use.

In April 2015, Midland Expressway Limited donated £50,000 to Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust to honour an undertaking they made when the M6 Toll was built. The donation is a "substantial contribution" towards the cost of reinstating the Crane Brook Culvert which was removed when the motorway was built.

=== Norton Canes Motorway Services Area ===
The motorway's only [[motorway service station|service station]] is situated at [[Norton Canes services|Norton Canes]], between junctions T6 and T7. It is operated by Roadchef, which has a 25-year lease on the site and the company also uses the site as its head office.

Opened on 9 March 2004, it is positioned so that it can be accessed before reaching the main toll plaza in either direction. In 2019, the Motorway Services User Survey found that Norton Canes had the highest customer satisfaction of any motorway services in the UK. In 2021, Norton Canes was voted in the top 5 UK service stations in a Which consumer survey, and was the highest positioned Midlands-based service station in the same survey.

=== Charitable Work ===
Since the road opened in 2003, M6 Toll's 'Drive for Charity' initiative has given away more than £1 million to good causes. This has included a regular cash fund of up to £1,500 given away every month to charities, schools, sports clubs or voluntary organisations helping to enhance the lives of local people.

The M6 Toll also supports the [[Midlands Air Ambulance|Midlands Air Ambulance charity.]] The funding provided enabled the organisation to launch the 'Sky Champs' education programme, an online learning management system, and range of education packs, launched at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as schools were heavily impacted by the national lockdown

M6 Toll also provides regular support to the 'Ride to the Wall' initiative, providing free passage for bikers attending the event at the National Memorial Arboretum in October each year.

==Junctions==
{{Cleanup road junction list|date=December 2021}}
The towns, cities and roads listed are those given on road signs on the motorway as the junction is approached.

{| style="margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em; text-align:center" class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#0080d0; color:white; 
| colspan="7" | '''M6 Toll motorway'''
|-
!scope=col|Junction 
!scope=col|Coordinates
!scope=col|Northbound exits
!scope=col|Tolls
!scope=col|Southbound exits
!scope=col|Tolls
!scope=col|Toll zone
|- 
| [[M6 motorway|M6]] J11A
| {{coord|52.6682|-2.0716|type:landmark|name=M6 J11A}}
| ''Motorway continues as'' [[M6 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''M6'''</span>]] ''towards [[Stafford]]''
| None
| ''Start of motorway''
| None
| —
|- 
| T8
| {{coord|52.6649|-2.0572|type:landmark|name=T8 Wedges Mills}}
| [[M6 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M6 South)'''</span>]], [[Wolverhampton]] [[A460 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A460'''</span>]]
| None
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| None
| C
|- 
| T7
| {{coord|52.6725|-2.0154|type:landmark|name=T7 Churchbridge}}
| [[Walsall]], [[Cannock]] [[A34 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A34'''</span>]], [[Rugeley]] [[A460 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A460'''</span>]]
| None
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| None
| C
|- 
| "background:#dcdcfe;"| 
| {{coord|52.6677|-2.0003|type:landmark|name=Great Wyrley Toll Plaza}}
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| ''Toll plaza''
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| 
| 
|
| C
|-
|
| {{coord|52.6626|-1.9693|type:landmark|name=Norton Canes services}}
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| ''[[Norton Canes services]]''
| B
|- 
| T6
| {{coord|52.6621|-1.926|type:landmark|name=T6 Brownhills}}
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| [[Brownhills]], [[Burntwood]] [[A5195 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''A5195'''</span>]]
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| Exit
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| [[Brownhills]], [[Burntwood]] [[A5195 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:black; background:white">'''A5195'''</span>]]
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| Exit
| B
|- 
| T5
| {{coord|52.6478|-1.8348|type:landmark|name=T5 Wall}}
| {{no2}} ''No access (on-slip only)''
| None
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| [[Lichfield]] [[A5148 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A5148'''</span>]], [[Burton upon Trent|Burton]] [[A38 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A38'''</span>]]
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| Exit
| B
|- 
| T4
| {{coord|52.6384|-1.8111|type:landmark|name=T4 Weeford Junction}}
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| [[Burton upon Trent|Burton]], [[Lichfield]] [[A38 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A38'''</span>]], [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]] [[A5 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A5'''</span>]]
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| Exit
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]], [[M42 motorway|<span style="color:white; background:#0079C1">'''(M42 North)'''</span>]] [[A5 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A5'''</span>]]
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| Exit
| B
|- 
|
| {{coord|52.6232|-1.8007|type:landmark|name=Weeford Park Toll Plaza}}
| 
| 
| style="text-align:center;background:#dcdcfe"| ''Toll plaza''
| style="text-align:center;background:#dcdcfe"|
| B
|- 
| rowspan=2| T3
| {{coord|52.57966|-1.77773|type:landmark|name=T3 Langley Mill (north)}}
| {{no2}} ''No access''
|
| [[Birmingham]], [[Sutton Coldfield]] [[A38 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A38'''</span>]]
| 
| B
|- 
| {{coord|52.5658|-1.7654|type:landmark|name=T3 Langley Mill (south)}}
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| [[Sutton Coldfield]] [[A38 road (Great Britain)|<span style="color:#FFD200; background:#00703C">'''A38'''</span>]]
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| Exit
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| ''No access (on-slip only)''
| style="background:#dcdcfe;"| Entry
| B
|- 
| T2
| {{coord|52.5516|-1.7368|type:landmark|name=T2}}
| {{no2|No entry or exit}}
| None
| {{no2|[[A446 road|A446]] ([[M42 motorway|M42]] north) – [[Coleshill, Warwickshire|Coleshill]]}}
| None
| A
|-
| T1
| {{coord|52.5293|-1.7296|type:landmark|name=T1}}
| Split for [[M42 motorway|M42]] northbound, entry from [[A4097 road|A4097]] ([[M42 motorway|M42]] J9, A446)
| None
| {{no2|Merge with [[M42 motorway|M42]] southbound}}
| None
| A
|-
| M42 J8
| {{coord|52.5091|-1.7255|type:landmark|name=M42 J8}}
| {{no2|Merge from [[M6 motorway|M6]] J4a southbound}}
| None
| {{no2|No entry or exit}}
| None
| —
|-
| M42 J7A
| {{coord|52.4815|-1.7103|type:landmark|name=M42 J7A}}
| {{no2|Merge from [[M42 motorway|M42]] northbound}}
| None
| {{no2|Split for [[M42 motorway|M42]] southbound}}
| None
| — 
|-
| M6 J3A
| {{coord|52.4739|-1.6717|type:landmark|name=M6 J3A}}
| {{no2|Begins from M6 northbound}}
| None
| {{no2|Merge with [[M6 motorway|M6]] southbound}}
| None
| —
|-
{{jctbtm|keys=incomplete,toll|col=7|conv=no}}

The southernmost section of the M6 Toll, south of Junction T1, is shared by traffic using the M42. Vehicles using only this {{Convert | 5 | mi | 0 | spell = in | adj = on}} section are not charged a toll fee.

==Statutory instruments==
Each [[motorway]] in England requires that a legal document called a [[statutory instrument (UK)|statutory instrument]] be published, detailing the route of the road, before it can be built. The dates given on these statutory instruments relate to when the document was published, and not when the road was built. Provided below is a list (possibly incomplete) of the statutory instruments relating to the M6 Toll.
* Statutory Instrument 1998 No. 121: The Birmingham Northern Relief Road and Connecting Roads Scheme 1998 [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1998/19980121.htm S.I. 1998/121]
* Statutory Instrument 1998 No. 124: The Birmingham Northern Relief Road Toll Order 1998 [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1998/19980124.htm S.I. 1998/124]
* Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 2186: The M6 Toll (Collection of Tolls) Regulations 2003 [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032186.htm S.I. 2003/2186]
* Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 2187: The M6 Toll Wide Load Routes (Speed Limit) Regulations 2003 [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032187.htm S.I. 2003/2187]
* Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 2188: The M6 Toll (Speed Limit) Regulations 2003 [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032188.htm S.I. 2003/2188]

==See also==
* [[List of motorways in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Shunpiking]], the avoidance or boycott of toll roads

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{OSM relation|12406293|M6 Toll|link=yes}}
{{commons category}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{GeoGroup}}
* [http://www.m6toll.co.uk Official site]
* [http://www.notolls.org.uk/m6tollchart.htm Traffic figures on National Alliance Against Tolls site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090623074741/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m6toll.htm The Motorway Archive – M6 Toll]

{{Motorways in the United Kingdom}}
{{Motorways and Trunk Roads in England}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:6-0006t}}
[[Category:Electronic toll collection]]
[[Category:Motorways in England]]
[[Category:Toll roads in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Transport in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Transport in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Roads in Warwickshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Walsall]]
[[Category:Roads in the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:M6 motorway]]