Dartford Crossing: Dart Charge payment period extended after new system introduced

Motorists who have recently used the Dartford Crossing are being given an extended period of time to pay, following the introduction of a new system which caused havoc among drivers.

The Dart Charge, the system by which users of the crossing pay, was overhauled at the end of July due to Conduent taking over as the service provider. Those looking to use the crossing had to revalidate their cards if they already had accounts, while drivers without accounts were given an additional few days to pay.

Anyone who failed to revalidate their cards in time or missed the payment date would be liable to receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) if using the crossing.

Issues with the new system however caused delays, after a combination of website maintenance and “exceptionally high demand” left many users frustrated due to being unable to make payments.

As of August 1, National Highways, which manages the Dartford Crossing, said the website was operating as normal. They had also further extended the payment date for drivers who used the crossing between July 27 and August 14, giving them until August 15, after which date they would be subject to a PCN.

National Highways has now said there will be a “final opportunity” to pay at the road crossing rate for a further 14 days.

A spokesperson said: “This will be explained in a letter to the registered keeper, attached to the PCN, where they will offer an opportunity to only pay the standard road user charge. Their aim is to provide a fair and reasonable resolution for any inadvertent delays that might occur during this transition phase.”

The amount due depends on the vehicle driven. Car drivers pay £2 with an account, or £2.50 without, while larger vehicles pay up to £6.

The Dartford Crossing opened in October 1991 for £120 million, and connects Dartford in Kent with Thurrock in Essex. It is estimated more than 40m vehicles use it on an annual basis.