Drivers have forfeited more than £3.6 million in unused Dart Charge payments over the past two years, with the majority of the funds retained by the Government. A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request disclosed that £1,812,379 in unused Dart Charge payments were recorded in the 2023/24 fiscal year, in addition to £1,790,559 from the preceding year, totaling £3,602,938 in unclaimed payments.
The Department for Transport (DfT) informed This is Money, the source of the FOI request to National Highways, that the Government typically does not refund the majority of expired payments, resulting in the funds being retained by the authorities.
Dart Charge payments, priced at £3.50 per crossing and utilized by drivers crossing the Dartford Crossing between Essex and Kent, remain valid for 12 months before expiration. Drivers have the option to request a refund for Dart Charges within this 12-month period. Dormant Dart Charge accounts have any remaining funds refunded to the account holder using the original payment method.
The Dartford Crossing sees a high volume of traffic, with up to 180,000 vehicles passing through daily. The DfT stated that all Dart Charge revenue is directed to the department and utilized for transport projects benefiting communities in Essex and Kent, such as the Lower Thames Crossing.
The Government recently raised the Dart Charge fees in September 2025, marking the first increase since 2014. This increase coincides with the approval of the Lower Thames Crossing project, aimed at alleviating 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, set to be the longest road tunnel in the UK.
Since 2009, work on the Lower Thames Crossing project has been ongoing, with over £800 million of taxpayers’ money invested in the planning stage.