“All toll payments must be made by midnight the day after the crossing,” the Humber Bridge’s chief executive Andrew Arundel said as the new cashless system went live. The shift ends decades of stop‑and‑pay at the booths and puts the onus on drivers and fleet managers to sort payment swiftly. The update follows a formal amendment to the Humber Bridge Act 1959 alongside refreshed byelaws and guidance from the Board. (humberbridge.co.uk)

What changes for motorists is simple but significant. From Saturday 31 January 2026, the car toll without an account rose from £1.50 to £2.00, with account holders paying £1.50. Vans moved to £5.00 (£4.00 with an account) and HGVs to £15.00 (£12.00 with an account). Motorcycles remain free. The Board says the first rise since 2012 reflects higher maintenance and operating costs. (humberbridge.co.uk)

The payment window now runs to 23:59 the day after you cross. Miss it and an Unpaid Toll Notification adds a £25 administration charge - the first admin increase in 11 years, brought in to cover recovery costs, the Board says. Payments can be made via app, website, phone, or at PayPoint outlets across the region. (humberbridge.co.uk)

The bridge is now free‑flow. Cameras read number plates and match payments to journeys; there are no toll booths to stop at. The Board confirmed the approach roads to the former booths are being closed to general traffic, with widened lanes guiding vehicles straight through. (humberbridge.co.uk)

The legal scaffolding matters. The Humber Bridge Act 2013 already allows the Board to obtain keeper details from the DVLA and to recover unpaid tolls from the registered keeper if the driver hasn’t paid. The 2025 byelaws go further in practice, making the driver and the registered keeper jointly and severally liable for the toll and setting the midnight‑next‑day deadline. The 2026 statutory amendment to the 1959 Act underpins this modernised, cashless model. (legislation.gov.uk)

For commuters across Hull, the East Riding and North Lincolnshire, the advice is to register an account or learn how to make a ‘guest’ payment after you travel. The Board’s guidance stresses you won’t see a trip listed first - you simply buy enough guest crossings and the back‑office system will match them against your number plate. (humberbridge.co.uk)

For small firms and fleets, this is an admin job as much as a road one. Keep vehicle registration numbers current, brief drivers on the midnight deadline, and fund accounts in advance where possible. If a payment is missed, the Board will ask the DVLA for the keeper’s details and pursue the unpaid toll plus reasonable costs, so tidy data and clear processes will save money. (humberbridge.co.uk)

Arundel says the change brings the bridge “into line with other crossings in the UK, including Dartford and the Tyne Tunnel,” with more ways to pay and no queues at barriers. After years of planning and trials, the project is pitched as a user‑friendly upgrade rather than a revenue grab - but drivers only feel the benefit if they meet the payment deadline. (humberbridge.co.uk)

Numbers underline why this matters locally. The Board cites around 10 million annual users and says reinvestment of tolls is securing the structure for the next century. With ports, manufacturers and NHS travel all relying on a reliable crossing, smoother traffic and clearer rules are good news - provided charges and charges‑on‑top don’t catch people out. (humberbridge.co.uk)

Bottom line for the region: from 31 January 2026 toll prices changed; from Monday 2 February the new payment window applied. Pay by 23:59 the following day, use the app or PayPoint if needed, and consider an account if you’re a regular. Miss it and the £25 admin lands - avoidable if you plan ahead. (humberbridge.co.uk)