Photo: Mike Bird / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
The M50 around Dublin has no toll booths. Cameras read your number plate as you pass the tolling point between Junction 6 (Blanchardstown) and Junction 7 (Lucan). If you have no tag or eFlow account, you must pay by 8pm the day after your journey, or penalties start. For a car the 2026 toll is €3.80 unregistered, €3.20 with a video account and €2.60 with a tag. This guide is for new drivers in Ireland: how to pay, what happens if you forget, and how the other toll roads work.
Key facts (2026)
- One tolling point on the M50, between Junctions 6 and 7. There is no cash payment at the tolling point.
- Pay by 8pm the day after your journey if you are not registered.
- Late penalties: €4 first, then €51 more, then €128 more, on top of the toll.
- Pay online at eflow.ie, by phone, or with cash at Payzone outlets.
- All other toll roads in Ireland have barrier plazas where you pay as you pass.
- Learner permit holders cannot drive on motorways, including the M50.
How much is the M50 toll for a car?
| Vehicle | Tag | Video account | Unregistered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car (up to 8 passengers plus driver) | €2.60 | €3.20 | €3.80 |
| Goods vehicle up to 2,000 kg | €3.60 | €4.20 | €4.90 |
Figures from Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s “Applicable tolls 2026” table. You pay each time you pass the tolling point. If you join and leave the M50 without crossing the stretch between Junctions 6 and 7, no toll is charged.
How to pay the M50 toll
| Option | How it works | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Pay per trip (unregistered) | Online at eflow.ie, by card on 0818 50 10 50 (or +353 1 461 0122 from abroad), or with cash at a Payzone outlet | 8pm the day after your journey |
| eFlow video account | Register your number plate with eFlow; trips are charged to your account at a lower rate | No 8pm deadline |
| Electronic toll tag | A tag in the windscreen, linked to an account; the lowest rate. Tags also work in electronic tag lanes at barrier tolls; check which tolls your tag provider covers | No 8pm deadline |
For a new driver who uses the M50 only now and then, paying per trip is fine if you set a reminder. If you will use it every week, an account removes the risk of penalties and costs less per trip.
What happens if you do not pay the M50 toll on time?
The penalties go to the registered owner of the car. Under the M50 bye-laws:
- Miss 8pm the next day: a Standard Toll Request. Pay the toll plus a €4 penalty within 14 days.
- Still unpaid: an Unpaid Toll Notice. Pay a further €51 penalty, plus the first penalty and the toll, within 56 days.
- Still unpaid: a final default toll adds €128 more. A resolver letter and a Final Toll Violator Notice from the enforcement provider come before further action.
- Still unpaid: the case may go to civil or criminal enforcement.
So one forgotten €3.80 trip can grow to more than €186 if you ignore the letters. If you drive a family car, tell the owner, since the letters go to them.
Other toll roads in Ireland
Every other toll road uses barrier plazas, so you pay as you go through. Transport Infrastructure Ireland lists these toll locations:
- M1 Gormanston to Monasterboice
- M3 Clonee to Kells (two plazas: Blackbull and Grange)
- M4 Kilcock, Enfield to Kinnegad
- N6 Galway to Ballinasloe
- M7/M8 Portlaoise to Castletown and Portlaoise to Cullahill
- N8 Rathcormac to Fermoy bypass
- N25 Waterford City bypass
- Limerick Tunnel
- Dublin Port Tunnel
- East Link Toll Bridge
At barrier plazas you can use a manual lane with an attendant (cash or card), automatic coin or contactless card lanes, or electronic tag lanes. Charges differ by road and are listed on each toll’s page on the TII website.
Dublin Port Tunnel
Cars pay a toll that varies by time of day and direction. HGVs and buses or coaches with more than 25 seats are exempt. Check current rates with Dublin Tunnel before you travel.
Tolls and learner drivers
Learner permit holders cannot drive on motorways, so the M50 and most tolled routes are off limits until you pass. After you pass, your first M50 trip is a good time to set up a payment habit. For lane discipline and joining, see motorways and tunnels in Ireland, and for the rare emergency, what to do if you meet a wrong-way driver.
Common questions
When do I have to pay the M50 toll?
By 8pm on the day after your journey, if you have no tag or eFlow video account.
Can I pay the M50 toll in cash?
Not at the road. You can pay cash at Payzone outlets nationwide.
Can I pay before I travel?
eFlow handles advance payments on eflow.ie. Check the current options there before you pay.
I forgot to pay. What should I do?
Pay as soon as you notice. Once the deadline passes, a €4 penalty is added and must be paid within 14 days. Paying early stops the larger penalties.
Is every part of the M50 tolled?
No. The only tolling point is between Junction 6 (Blanchardstown) and Junction 7 (Lucan).
Who gets the penalty if I drive my parents’ car?
The registered owner of the vehicle receives the toll request and penalties.
Back to the complete guide to learning to drive in Ireland. See also after you pass in Ireland and N plates in Ireland.
Sources
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland, “M50 Barrier Free Tolling” (tii.ie)
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland, “Tolling FAQs” (tii.ie)
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland, “Pay a Toll” (tii.ie)
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland, “Toll Locations and Charges” (tii.ie)
- Transport Infrastructure Ireland, “Tolling information” (tii.ie)