Drivers have forfeited over £3.6 million in unused Dart Charge payments over the past two years, with the majority of the funds being retained by the Government. An FOI request disclosed that there were £1,812,379 in unclaimed Dart Charge payments during the 2023/24 fiscal year, in addition to £1,790,559 from the previous year, totaling £3,602,938 in unclaimed payments.
The Department for Transport (DfT) informed This is Money, which submitted the FOI request to National Highways, that the “vast majority” of these expired payments are not refunded and are therefore retained by the Government. Dart Charge payments, priced at £3.50 per journey, are utilized by drivers crossing the Dartford Crossing between Essex and Kent and are valid for 12 months before expiration.
Drivers have the option to request a refund for Dart Charges within the 12-month expiration period. For individuals with dormant Dart Charge accounts, any remaining funds are reimbursed back to the account holder using the original payment information. The Dartford Crossing accommodates up to 180,000 vehicles daily.
A spokesperson for the DfT stated that all Dart Charge revenue is channeled to the DfT and allocated to transportation projects benefiting residents in Essex and Kent, such as the Lower Thames Crossing. The Mirror has reached out to the DfT for further comments. According to AA president Edmund King, the Dartford crossing tolls were supposed to cease once construction costs were settled, a milestone reached in 2003. However, the government opted to maintain the charges to manage traffic and generate revenue.
Under the Transport Act 2000, charging schemes were introduced for all trunk roads, bridges, and tunnels exceeding 600m in length, allowing the Highways Agency to continue collecting crossing fees. The Government raised the Dart Charge in September 2025, marking the first increase since 2014. This decision coincides with the approval of the Lower Thames Crossing project, aimed at easing congestion at the Dartford Crossing.
The upcoming crossing will link the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex through a 2.6-mile tunnel beneath the Thames, becoming the UK’s lengthiest road tunnel. Planning for this project has been ongoing since 2009, with over £800 million of taxpayers’ money dedicated to the planning phase.