‘I’d pay at least twice that to avoid Birmingham’

The M6 toll now costs a tenner, but is it any faster than the normal motorway?The M6 toll has been open since 2003

‘Are we going to take the toll?’

It’s the standard question on any journey along the M6. On the face of it the pros and cons seem obvious.

On the downside the toll now costs around a tenner for a average-sized family car. But for your money you’re likely to get a much quicker and smoother journey and avoid the notorious bottlenecks through Birmingham.

However, is the toll road actually faster and is it worth it? It’s a question cult YouTuber Jon Jefferson, AKA Auto Shenanigans, put to the test in one of his latest videos.

“M6 or M6 Toll?” Jon asked. “One involves going through Birmingham the other costs money.

YouTuber Jon Jefferson testing if the M6 toll was quicker than the normal M6

“It’s a tough choice. Which way do you go?

“Well today I’ll be answering that question, sort of, with a practical experiment to see which motorway is the fastest way. Maybe the M6 Toll isn’t worth the asking price.”

To test the motorways Jon and a ‘stunt double’ set off at the same time – around 7pm on a weekday – from junction 12 of the M6 heading south, before meeting up at Corley services, south of Birmingham – a journey of roughly the same distance.

“Rather than do the test in rush hour, we’re doing it a bit later in the evening after the traffic has died down a bit,” said Jon. “The reason being is that during rush hour, the M6 toll will be faster. It it just will be and that’s not much of a test.

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“I don’t think Stunt Double will have too many issues. But me on the other hand, well, I’ve got the M54 junction, Spaghetti Junction, the Ray Hall Triangle, all of the obstacles. No wonder this stretch of the M6 is b******s. But which way do you think will be faster?

“I’m not sure, but I’m interested to find out because I regularly drive up this way and I love me a bit of the M6 toll no matter what time of day it is. But the question of course is, am I wasting my money at a £10 or a go?”

The stunt double’s journey on the toll went without a hitch. But perhaps surprisingly so did Jon’s.

But which was faster? Jon took 32 minutes and 44 seconds to complete his 34 mile trip, whereas the toll took 26 minutes and eight seconds to do one mile less – a difference of six minutes and 38 seconds.

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So was it worth it? Jon, for his part, is in no doubt whatsoever.

“At a cost of £10.50 [that] is 0.026 per second saved,” he said. “Your experiences may differ, but we can conclude that the M6 toll is indeed quicker outside of rush hour.

“Is it worth it? Absolutely. In fact, I’d pay at least twice that to avoid Birmingham.”