M6 Toll T1 to T8 cost
The canonical full-length journey on the M6 Toll: T1 at Coleshill at the southern end, all the way to T8 where the toll rejoins the free M6 at J11a near Cannock. The most-bought ticket on the road, 3 zones, 27 miles.
£11.60 contactless or £9.80 Breeze for a car, both directions. £5.70 motorbike, £16.50 large van, £19.50 HGV. The same three-zone full-route rate applies whether you join at M6 J3a or M6 J11a.
What every vehicle pays T1 to T8
| Vehicle | Standard contactless | Breeze account | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 Motorbike | £5.70 | £4.80 | £0.90 |
| Class 2 Car | £11.60 | £9.80 | £1.80 |
| Class 3 Car-with-trailer / large van | £16.50 | £14.10 | £2.40 |
| Class 4 HGV / coach | £19.50 | £16.90 | £2.60 |
| Class 5 Large HGV (6+ axles) | £20.20 | £17.50 | £2.70 |
The T1-to-T8 route in detail
The end-to-end journey takes you through all six intermediate junctions, both toll plazas, and Norton Canes services. The road runs broadly north-east to south-west, with the southern end picking up at M42 J9 and the northern end rejoining the M6 corridor heading to Stafford.
T1 (Coleshill, M6 J3a)
Southern terminus, Zone 1. M42 J9 interchange, NEC and Birmingham Airport access, A446 north exit.
T2 (Bassetts Pole) and T3 (Lichfield south)
Mid-Zone 1 junctions. T3 sits on the Zone 1 / 2 boundary near the southbound toll plaza. A38 access for Tamworth and Drayton Manor.
T4 (Lichfield north) and T5 (Weeford)
Zone 2 junctions. Local access for Lichfield city centre, Burntwood and the A5 corridor.
T6 (Norton Canes)
On the Zone 2 / 3 boundary. Closest junction to Norton Canes services. Northbound toll plaza is just north of here.
T7 (Churchbridge) and T8 (M6 J11a)
Zone 3 junctions. T7 for Cannock and the A460. T8 is the northern terminus rejoining the M6 heading to Stafford and Manchester.
Where the T1-to-T8 traffic actually goes
Three common trip patterns dominate the full-length user base.
- M6 corridor through-traffic. Stoke, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow heading south to or from London via the M40 / M1, using the M6 Toll as the Birmingham bypass. The most common reason to do the full T1-T8 route.
- NEC / Birmingham Airport northbound runs. Conference and flight traffic heading from the South East to Manchester or Liverpool after an event, picking up the toll at T1 from M42 J9.
- Cannock / Stafford to South East commutes. Less common, but a regular pattern for senior business commuters working in the West Midlands from a Cannock or Stafford base.
Time and money on the full route
What you actually buy with the £11.60 at the full T1-to-T8 length.
| Time of day | Saving vs M6 through Spaghetti | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday rush hour (07:00 to 09:30) | 30 to 45 minutes | Yes |
| Weekday midday (09:30 to 16:00) | 10 to 20 minutes | Maybe |
| Weekday evening (16:00 to 19:00) | 25 to 40 minutes | Yes |
| Weekday night (19:00 to 06:00) | 5 to 10 minutes | Skip it |
| Saturday daytime | 10 to 25 minutes | Maybe |
| Sunday morning | 5 to 10 minutes | Skip it |
| Bank holiday Friday | 40 minutes plus | Yes |
See the worth-it page for the full scenario breakdown.
If T1 to T8 is overkill
Most users do not need the full length. Partial journeys cost meaningfully less.