Dart Charge refund: how to claim your money back
Credit left on a closed or dormant account, an overpayment, or a crossing paid twice can all be refunded. It is not automatic in every case, so you ask Dart Charge and they return it to your original payment method.
The short answer
Request the refund at gov.uk or on 0300 300 0120. Credit goes back to your original card in up to 10 working days.
Raise an online enquiry through the Dart Charge service, or call the contact centre (every day, 8am to 8pm). Any money held on the account is refunded to the same payment method it came in on. If that card has expired, a cheque is sent to the account address instead.
Start at gov.ukWhen Dart Charge owes you a refund
There are three common situations. All are refunded to the payment method the money originally came from.
Credit on a closed or dormant account
Pre-pay accounts hold a balance. If the account is closed, or goes dormant and auto-closes after 90 days, the remaining credit is refundable. This is the biggest single pool of unclaimed money in the system, so it is worth checking if you ever ran a pre-pay account.
An overpayment
If you were charged more than the rate for your vehicle class, or topped up an account you no longer use, the surplus can be returned once you flag it.
A crossing paid twice
Two separate transactions for the same crossing (for example, you paid, then paid again unsure it went through) leave a duplicate that Dart Charge can refund.
Dormant accounts and the 90-day auto-closure
A Dart Charge account is flagged dormant when any of these is true:
- There is no vehicle registered on the account.
- There is no valid payment method on file.
- The account does not hold enough funds.
- There has been no crossing for 12 or more months.
Once dormant, the account automatically closes after 90 days and any credit on it is refunded. Because that credit can otherwise sit unclaimed, contact Dart Charge if you think an old account of yours held a balance.
How to request your refund
1. Raise an online enquiry
Sign in to the Dart Charge service at gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge and raise an enquiry asking for the refund of your account balance or overpayment.
2. Or call the contact centre
Prefer the phone? Call 0300 300 0120 (every day, 8am to 8pm) and ask for a refund. Have the account number or vehicle registration ready.
All contact routes3. Wait for the money
Refunds to a valid card land in up to 10 working days. If the card has expired, a cheque is sent to the name and address on the account, which takes longer.
Fined for a crossing you had already paid? That is a challenge, not a refund.
If a Penalty Charge Notice was issued for a crossing you did pay, do not pay the fine. Challenge the PCN within 28 days with your payment confirmation and it is cancelled outright. How to challenge a PCN.
Source: National Highways Dart Charge help centre (refund and account closure guidance) and gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge, checked July 2026. Refund method and timescales are set by Dart Charge and can change; the contact centre confirms the current position for your account.
Dart Charge refund questions
How do I get a Dart Charge refund?+
Request it directly from Dart Charge, either by raising an online enquiry through the Dart Charge service at gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge or by calling 0300 300 0120 (every day, 8am to 8pm). Any credit is refunded to the same payment method the money came in on. There is no separate refund form: you ask, and they process it.
How long does a Dart Charge refund take?+
A refund to a valid debit or credit card takes up to 10 working days. If the card on the account has expired or is no longer valid, Dart Charge issues a cheque to the name and address on the account instead, which takes significantly longer.
What happens to the credit if my account closes?+
An account is marked dormant if it has no vehicle registered, no valid payment method, not enough funds, or no crossing for 12 or more months. A dormant account automatically closes after 90 days, and any credit held on it is refunded. Historically large sums have sat unclaimed in closed accounts, so if you think you had a balance it is worth contacting Dart Charge to make sure the refund reaches you.
Can I get a refund if I paid the crossing twice?+
Yes. If you paid the same crossing twice, or paid more than the charge for your vehicle class, contact Dart Charge to request the difference back. It is returned to the original payment method. You cannot actually pay a single crossing twice once it shows as settled, so a genuine double payment usually means two separate transactions that need reconciling.
I was fined but I had already paid the crossing. Is that a refund?+
No, that is a challenge, not a refund. If a Penalty Charge Notice was issued for a crossing you had already paid, do not pay the fine: challenge the PCN in writing within 28 days with your payment confirmation. The PCN is cancelled rather than refunded.
Do I get a refund if I close my Dart Charge account on purpose?+
Yes. When you close your account, any money held on it at the time of closure is refunded using the same payment method the payments came from. Card refunds take up to 10 working days; if the card has expired, a cheque is sent to the account address.