M6 Toll

[DeskJockey]

Why have I avoided it for so long?

We normally detour around it on principle because why pay? Driving to Manchester last night Google took me up that way and I was too tired to faff around with settings, so I just pressed on.

What bliss! From joining to the toll plaza I had about 30-40 miles of barely any traffic, saw maybe 20 other vehicles, most of which were lorries heffalumping along in the inside lane. Stuck cruise on and relaxed.

Will not avoid in future.

[GG.]

Yep - I agree - haven't had much occasion to use it but when I have it is more like a french autoroute.

[Jobbo]

It is lovely. It is also quite expensive (though when compared to the inevitable jam on the M6 past Birmingham and Walsall, still seems like good value to me).

I rarely use it but if I do it tends to be in rush hour, and you do get delays at the toll booths. So I have a tag in my car to allow me to use the tag-only lane. Probably works like the peage transponders - I've not used the peage ones to compare - but if you use it rarely then you need to bear in mind that you have to set up an account and add credit to it and there's a small fee of £1 per tag (which I think includes VAT) but you do get a 5% discount. So for me using it approxtimately every other month, the convenience costs just under £10 a year on top of the toll charges. That's well worth it. I have a colleague who used it twice a week and the tag works out as an overall saving for her.

[Simon]

I only ever really go up north on business so it's toll every time and onto the expense sheet.

[Sundayjumper]

I went to University in Lancaster so I spent many an hour crawling past Birmingham in the pre-toll road days. It's totally worth the price.

[Jimmy Choo]

I've only ever been on it once because I'm either going M5/M6 northbound or M5/M42/A42 but I assumed it was like the motorways were in the early days.

[dinny_g]

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK...

Actually speechless to think you haven't used it before

[Explosive Newt]

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK...

Actually speechless to think you haven't used it before

My response also!

I have never not used it. I wish there was an A1 toll.

[dinny_g]

My Kitchen Tap... Why have I never used it ???

I normally walk 10 miles to collect my water from a well in a bucket but this Kitchen Tap is a much better idea.

I'm not going to avoid using it in future...

[Jobbo]

I've only ever been on it once because I'm either going M5/M6 northbound or M5/M42/A42 but I assumed it was like the motorways were in the early days.

That's the M50 - the M6 Toll is more like motorways are in continental Europe.
Though if you want a similar vibe for free, the Aston Clinton bypass on the A41 feels a bit like that too with similar landscaping that is a bit different to most UK roads.

[Mito Man]

Only been that end of the country a handful of times but I used the M6 toll each time. It’s bliss, who would have thought we have our own Autobahn in the UK?!

[Jobbo]

I have seen unmarked cars and camera vans on there so it's not completely free from restrictions btw.

[dinny_g]

I have seen unmarked cars and camera vans on there so it's not completely free from restrictions btw.

Very true...

I've seen an Audi A4 Convertible and a Vauxhall Astra Van with hidden Blues and Two's pulling people over

[Swervin_Mervin]

I have seen unmarked cars and camera vans on there so it's not completely free from restrictions btw.

Very true...

I've seen an Audi A4 Convertible and a Vauxhall Astra Van with hidden Blues and Two's pulling people over

I always get on there these days thinking I'll just take it easy and enjoy the relative calm, and then that goes right out of the window.
Just don't be the fastest on there is the approach I tend to take

[DeskJockey]

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK...

Actually speechless to think you haven't used it before

What can I say? Didn't think it was worth it. When in France we use the toll roads extensively, but that feels like the right thing to do there. M6 Toll didn't strike me as that.

[dinny_g]

I've seen worse to be honest DJ...

A mate if mine was working on a Project in North Wales and they'd drive back to Milton Keynes every Friday evening. 5 of them in a twin cab flat bed - I think the toll was £10 or £12 but they wouldn't each chip in £2 to pay for it so they wen the old M6 way ever Friday evening adding normally 90 minutes to their journey.

Maddness

[Matty]

It's £9 now though....I know what you're all saying but I regularly traverse the Midlands motorways but none of the delays have ever annoyed me enough to pay £9 for the privilege of avoiding them.

Can buy 3 coffees for that to sup on while I'm waiting in the jam.

[dinny_g]

One other word of caution...

I got recently pinged twice for not paying and had no idea that this had happened until I got the bill. The toll plaza was busy so the car in front paid with coins, the barrier lifted and I came up behind and tapped my card. The barrier dipped a little and then raised up again so I gunned it (lets face it, we all hammer it away from Toll booths, right??? )

Turns out the light hadn't gone to green. In this case, the stop trying to collect payment and just issue the notice. But there was no fine - I just had to pay the £8.60

[Gavster]

Yep - I agree - haven't had much occasion to use it but when I have it is more like a french autoroute.

100% that. It's like having a clear head after a cold.

[DeskJockey]

It's £9 now though....I know what you're all saying but I regularly traverse the Midlands motorways but none of the delays have ever annoyed me enough to pay £9 for the privilege of avoiding them.

Can buy 3 coffees for that to sup on while I'm waiting in the jam.

No need to exaggerate, it was £8.60!