How M50 Works

The M50 toll is a free‑flow system: cameras read plates as you pass under the gantry; there are no cash booths or barriers. The operator matches plates using ANPR and stores a billable “journey event.”

Lifecycle of a journey

1. Detection: high-resolution cameras capture front/rear plates.
2. Recognition: OCR and confidence checks match your registration.
3. Event: a record is created with time, direction, and plate data.
4. Settlement: you pay online (casual) or via tag/account.

Accounts, tags, and casual pay

Accounts let frequent users store a card and receive discounts. Tags are RFID devices that associate a passage automatically. Casual pay suits tourists: you simply look up the journey and pay with a card—no long-term contract needed.

Deadlines

The pivotal deadline is 8pm the next day. Miss it and the system issues a first-stage penalty. Later reminders raise the amount, and persistent non‑payment can lead to enforcement.

Data and privacy

Plate images are processed to create a billing record. Personal data is retained only as long as necessary under Irish and EU law (GDPR). See our Privacy Policy.