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 (FOI) 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) disclosed that the “vast majority” of these expired payments are not refunded and are therefore kept by the Government. Dart Charge payments, priced at £3.50 each way, are utilized by motorists to traverse the Dartford Crossing between Essex and Kent, remaining valid for 12 months before expiration.
Drivers have the option to request a refund for Dart Charges within the 12-month expiration period. In cases where Dart Charge accounts become dormant, any remaining funds are reimbursed to the account holder using the original payment details. The Dartford Crossing sees a daily traffic volume of up to 180,000 vehicles.
A DfT spokesperson stated that all Dart Charge revenue is directed 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 comments. AA president Edmund King highlighted the historical agreement of toll removal upon bridge construction cost repayment in 2003, which was later reversed by the government for traffic management and revenue generation purposes.
The Transport Act 2000 introduced charging schemes for trunk roads, bridges, and tunnels exceeding 600m in length, permitting the Highways Agency to continue charging crossing fees. In September 2025, the Government raised the Dart Charge, marking the first increase since 2014. This development 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 through a 2.6-mile tunnel beneath the Thames, becoming the UK’s longest road tunnel. Planning for the project, initiated in 2009, has consumed over £800 million of taxpayers’ money.
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