Drivers have forfeited over £3.6 million in unused Dart Charge payments over the past two years, with the Government retaining the majority of these funds. A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request 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 previous year, totaling £3,602,938 in unclaimed payments.
According to the Department for Transport (DfT), the “vast majority” of these lapsed payments are not reimbursed and are thus retained by the Government. Dart Charge payments, priced at £3.50 per crossing, are utilized by drivers to traverse the Dartford Crossing connecting Essex and Kent and remain valid for 12 months before expiration.
Drivers can request refunds for Dart Charges within the 12-month expiration window. For drivers with dormant Dart Charge accounts, any remaining funds are reimbursed to the account holder using the original payment details. The Dartford Crossing sees up to 180,000 vehicles passing through daily.
The DfT spokesperson mentioned that all Dart Charge revenue is directed to the DfT and is allocated to transportation projects benefiting residents of Essex and Kent, such as the Lower Thames Crossing initiative. The Government raised the Dart Charge in September 2025, marking the first increase since 2014. This move coincides with the approval of the Lower Thames Crossing project by the Government, aiming to alleviate congestion at the Dartford Crossing.
The 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 become the UK’s longest road tunnel. Since 2009, work on the project has been ongoing, with over £800 million of taxpayers’ money invested in planning.
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