Over the past two years, drivers have forfeited more than £3.6 million in unused Dart Charge payments, 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 unclaimed 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 fees.
The Department for Transport (DfT) informed This is Money, the source of the FOI request to National Highways, that the Government does not refund the vast majority of these expired payments, effectively keeping the funds. Dart Charge payments, which amount to £3.50 each way and are utilized by drivers crossing the Dartford Crossing between Essex and Kent, are valid for 12 months before expiration.
Drivers have the option to request refunds for Dart Charges within the 12-month expiration window. In cases where Dart Charge accounts become inactive, any remaining balance is reimbursed to the account holder using the original payment method. The Dartford Crossing witnesses up to 180,000 vehicles passing through each day.
A spokesperson from the DfT stated that all Dart Charge revenue is received by the DfT and is allocated to transportation projects benefiting residents of Essex and Kent, such as the Lower Thames Crossing. The Mirror reached out to the DfT for further comments. AA president Edmund King highlighted that the Dartford Crossing tolls were initially planned to cease once construction costs were covered, a milestone achieved in 2003. However, the government decided to maintain the charges to manage traffic and generate revenue.
The Transport Act 2000 introduced charging schemes for all trunk roads, bridges, and tunnels exceeding 600 meters in length, allowing the Highways Agency to continue imposing crossing fees. The Government raised the Dart Charge in September 2025, the first increase since 2014. This decision aligns with the approval granted for the Lower Thames Crossing, 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, set to be the longest road tunnel in the UK. Planning for the project has been ongoing since 2009, with over £800 million of public funds allocated for the planning phase.