Warning after toll bridge driver racks up £20k debt

A driver has been hit with demands totalling £20,000 in unpaid toll penalties after an apparent administrative mix-up linked to a local discount scheme.

Toll operator Merseyflow, which manages the Runcorn-Widnes crossings, has urged motorists to ensure their vehicle details are kept current when enrolled in its Local User Discount Scheme (LUDS).

Residents living nearby qualify for free journeys under the scheme, but must update their records whenever they change cars.

The warning follows a case in which a local motorist allegedly failed to submit proof of eligibility after replacing his vehicle. As a result, penalty charges accumulated from December 2023 — when his permit expired — through to November 2024.

According to the operator, the man switched vehicles in June 2024 but did not supply the required documentation confirming his continued eligibility.

Mounting penalties

Nine months later, the driver submitted the paperwork and his free-travel status was restored, Merseyflow said. However, by then the outstanding fines had been referred to debt collectors.

The penalties reportedly relate both to his current vehicle and to another car he says he sold in 2021.

Speaking to BBC, the motorist said he had “done all the right things” but described the situation as extremely stressful.

A Merseyflow spokesperson stressed that motorists must also notify the DVLA immediately when selling or transferring a vehicle to avoid liability for charges.

Failing to do so can lead to fines of up to £1,000, the spokesperson added.

They said enforcement agents are only used as a final step after multiple warnings: “Cases reaching this stage will have had numerous opportunities for payment, including at least five written notices.”

The company advised drivers not to ignore penalty charge notices, warning that debts can escalate significantly once passed to enforcement agents.

Busy crossings

The toll applies to vehicles using the Mersey Gateway and the nearby Silver Jubilee Bridge. More than 27 million journeys were recorded across the two routes in 2025, with roughly 84,000 vehicles using them daily.

Merseyflow said the case highlights the importance of keeping registration details up to date to avoid unexpected penalties.