Dart Charge fines total £177 million in one year
Over 2.4 million penalty notices issued for failing to pay crossing fees.
Trust 42Craft 53Hype 41How this was reported ▾
Central claim attributed to National Highways via FOI, but no named individual or document cited.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
Explains why the story matters and provides specific figures, but lacks comment from those affected or responsible.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
Headline uses 'millions' and 'despite promise' which is slightly sensational but supported by the article.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
1 source assessed · methodology
Over 2.4 million penalty charge notices were issued to drivers failing to pay the Dart Charge at the Dartford Crossing in the 12 months leading up to September 28, 2026. The total value of these fines amounted to £177,987,943, according to figures obtained by EssexLive through a Freedom of Information request.
During the same period, National Highways collected £28,390,129.76 from these penalties. This figure represents the amount actually recovered, which is significantly less than the total value of fines issued. The difference may be attributed to factors such as successful appeals, cancelled fines, outstanding payments, and discounts for prompt payment within 14 days.
QEII Bridge closed southbound due to police incident
Traffic diverted via East Tunnel at Dartford Crossing, causing miles of tailbacks on the M25.
Crossing Costs and Fines
The charges for using the Dartford Crossing are £3.50 for cars and £4.20 for buses, coaches, and two-axle vans. Motorbikes are exempt from the charge. The total value of fines issued, £177,987,943, exceeds the £120 million construction cost of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which opened in October 1991.
Drivers were previously informed that the crossing would eventually become free to use once its construction expenses were covered. This financial milestone was reached 15 years ago. The original Dartford Crossing, a tunnel, opened in 1963, with the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge later added to increase capacity.
M25 drivers face weekend closures
National Highways has scheduled multiple overnight disruptions affecting the motorway and connecting routes.
Questions this report answers
+How many Dart Charge fines were issued in the last year?
More than 2.4 million penalty charge notices were issued in the 12 months leading up to September 28, 2026. These fines were for drivers who failed to pay the required Dart Charge for using the Dartford Crossing.
+What was the total value of the Dart Charge fines issued?
The total value of the Dart Charge fines issued during the 12-month period reached £177,987,943. This figure represents the potential revenue from all penalties issued, before any deductions or recoveries.
+How much money did National Highways actually recover from these fines?
National Highways recovered £28,390,129.76 from the fines issued in the 12 months to September 28, 2026. This amount is considerably less than the total value of fines issued, due to various factors including appeals and payment discounts.
+How much did it cost to build the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge?
The construction cost for the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge was £120 million. The total value of Dart Charge fines issued in the year leading up to September 28, 2026, exceeded this construction cost.
WE FILE
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The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.