Drivers have forfeited over £3.6 million in unused Dart Charge payments over the past two years, with the majority of the funds retained by the Government. An inquiry disclosed that there were £1,812,379 in unclaimed Dart Charge payments in the 2023/24 fiscal year, in addition to £1,790,559 from the prior year, totaling £3,602,938 in unclaimed funds.
The Department for Transport (DfT) informed This is Money, the party that submitted the Freedom of Information (FOI) request to National Highways, that the Government does not refund the vast majority of these expired payments, thus retaining them. Dart Charge payments, priced at £3.50 per trip and utilized by drivers crossing the Dartford Crossing connecting Essex and Kent, are valid for a year before expiration.
Drivers have the option to request refunds for Dart Charges within the 12-month expiration window. Dormant Dart Charge accounts have any remaining funds refunded to the account holder using the initial payment information. The Dartford Crossing accommodates up to 180,000 vehicles daily.
A DfT spokesperson stated that all Dart Charge revenue is channeled to the DfT and funneled into transportation projects benefiting communities in Essex and Kent, like the Lower Thames Crossing initiative. The Mirror has reached out to the DfT for additional input. AA president Edmund King noted the history of tolls at the Dartford Crossing and the government’s decision to maintain charges beyond the original agreement.
The Transport Act 2000 ushered in charging schemes for major roadways, bridges, and tunnels exceeding 600 meters in length, enabling the Highways Agency to continue imposing crossing fees. The Government raised the Dart Charge in September 2025, the first increase since 2014, coinciding with approval for the Lower Thames Crossing to alleviate congestion at the Dartford Crossing.
The forthcoming 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 lengthiest road tunnel. Planning for the project, ongoing since 2009, has consumed over £800 million in public funds.
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