Drivers have lost over £3.6 million in unclaimed Dart Charge payments in the past two years, with the majority of the funds being retained by the Government. A recent Freedom of Information request disclosed that £1,812,379 worth of unused Dart Charge payments were recorded in 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, the entity that submitted the FOI request to National Highways, that the Government does not refund the vast majority of these expired payments, thus keeping the funds. Dart Charge payments, priced at £3.50 each way, are utilized by drivers crossing the Dartford Crossing between Essex and Kent and are valid for 12 months before expiring.
Drivers have the option to request a refund on Dart Charges within the 12-month expiration window. For individuals with dormant Dart Charge accounts, any remaining funds are reimbursed to the account holder through the original payment method. The Dartford Crossing sees up to 180,000 vehicles passing through daily.
A spokesperson for the DfT stated that all Dart Charge revenue is remitted to the DfT and 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 further comment. AA president Edmund King highlighted the historical context of the Dartford Crossing tolls and the government’s decision to maintain charges beyond the bridge’s construction costs being paid off.
The Transport Act 2000 introduced charging schemes for trunk roads, bridges, and tunnels exceeding 600m, enabling the Highways Agency to continue imposing crossing fees. The Government raised the Dart Charge in September 2025, marking the first increase since 2014. This adjustment coincides with the approval of the Lower Thames Crossing project, aimed at alleviating congestion at the Dartford Crossing.
The proposed 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 lengthiest road tunnel. Planning for this project, which commenced in 2009, has consumed over £800 million of taxpayer funds.
