Drivers have lost over £3.6 million in unused Dart Charge payments over the last two years, with the majority of the funds being retained by the Government. A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request unveiled that there were £1,812,379 in unused Dart Charge payments in the 2023/24 fiscal year, in addition to £1,790,559 from the preceding year, totaling £3,602,938 in unclaimed payments.
The Department for Transport (DfT) informed This is Money, the source of the FOI request to National Highways, that the government keeps the vast majority of these lapsed payments without issuing refunds. Dart Charge payments, priced at £3.50 each way, are utilized by drivers to traverse the Dartford Crossing between Essex and Kent and are valid for 12 months before expiration.
Drivers can request refunds for Dart Charges within the 12-month expiration window. Dormant Dart Charge accounts have any remaining money refunded back to the account holder through the original payment method. The Dartford Crossing sees up to 180,000 vehicles passing through daily.
A DfT spokesperson stated that all Dart Charge revenue is funneled to the DfT and is utilized for transport projects benefiting communities in Essex and Kent, such as the Lower Thames Crossing. The Mirror has reached out to the DfT for additional comments. AA president Edmund King highlighted that the Dartford Crossing tolls were originally meant to cease once construction costs were covered, a milestone achieved in 2003. However, the government decided to keep the charges for traffic management and revenue generation purposes.
The Transport Act 2000 introduced charging schemes for major roads, bridges, and tunnels exceeding 600 meters in length, enabling the Highways Agency to continue collecting crossing fees. The Dart Charge was increased by the Government in September 2025, marking the first fee adjustment since 2014. This change aligns with the Government’s approval of the Lower Thames Crossing project, aimed at alleviating congestion at the Dartford Crossing.
The new crossing will link the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex via a 2.6-mile tunnel beneath the Thames, set to become the UK’s longest road tunnel. Planning for the project, ongoing since 2009, has seen over £800 million of taxpayers’ money invested.