Drivers have lost over £3.6 million in unused Dart Charge payments over the past two years, with the majority of these 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) informed This is Money, who submitted the FOI request to National Highways, that the Government keeps the “vast majority” of these expired payments rather than issuing refunds. Dart Charge payments, priced at £3.50 each way for motorists crossing the Dartford Crossing between Essex and Kent, remain valid for 12 months before expiration.
Drivers have the option to request refunds for unused Dart Charges within the 12-month expiration period. In cases where Dart Charge accounts become inactive, the remaining funds are refunded back to the account holder using the original payment details. The Dartford Crossing sees up to 180,000 vehicles pass through daily.
A DfT spokesperson stated that all Dart Charge revenue goes to the DfT and is used for transport projects benefiting communities in Essex and Kent, such as the Lower Thames Crossing. The Mirror reached out to the DfT for further comment. AA president Edmund King highlighted the history of Dartford crossing tolls and the government’s decision to continue charging even after construction costs were covered.
The Transport Act 2000 allowed the Highways Agency to implement charging schemes for trunk roads, bridges, and tunnels exceeding 600m in length. The Government raised the Dart Charge in September 2025, marking the first increase since 2014, coinciding with plans for the Lower Thames Crossing to alleviate congestion at the Dartford Crossing.
The proposed Lower Thames 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, set to be the UK’s longest road tunnel. Planning for the project, which began in 2009, has already utilized over £800 million in taxpayer money.
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