Drivers have lost 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. According to a recent Freedom of Information request, there were £1,812,379 in unused Dart Charge payments 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, who submitted the FOI request to National Highways, that the Government keeps the “vast majority” of these expired payments without issuing refunds. 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 expiration.
Drivers have the option to request refunds for Dart Charges within the 12-month validity period. Dormant Dart Charge accounts have any remaining funds refunded back to the account holder using the original payment details. The Dartford Crossing sees up to 180,000 vehicles passing through daily.
A spokesperson for the DfT stated that all Dart Charge revenue is channeled to the DfT and allocated to 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 noted that the original agreement for the Dartford Crossing tolls to cease once construction costs were covered was overturned by the government, leading to the charges being retained for traffic management and revenue generation purposes. The Transport Act 2000 enabled charging schemes for all trunk roads, bridges, and tunnels exceeding 600m in length, allowing the Highways Agency to continue charging crossing fees.
In September 2025, the Government raised the Dart Charge fees, the first increase since 2014. This decision coincided with the approval for the Lower Thames Crossing project, aimed at easing congestion at the Dartford Crossing. The new crossing will link the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex through a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames, becoming the UK’s longest road tunnel.
Since 2009, work on the Lower Thames Crossing project has been ongoing, with over £800 million of taxpayers’ money dedicated to planning.