More than 60,000 Dartford Crossing fines have been cancelled so far this year as the company tasked with managing payments to cross the bridge has been accused of incorrectly issuing fines.

Complaints over incorrect charges from motorists crossing the M25 bridge that links Kent and Essex hit the headlines last year after a new provider won a contract to manage the payments, says The Times. Some drivers were charged dozens of times after their number plates were read incorrectly.

Issues in distinguishing between similar-looking number plates emerged after National Highways turned over the contract to manage payments to the Conduent in a £150 million deal in July 2023.

Nearly £12 million was raised in so-called enforcement income in the four months to April, but many fines are being struck from the record: 63,306 penalty charge notices have already been wiped in 2025.

“National Highways apologises for the inconvenience that some people have faced,” the agency said in its response to the FoI request.

“Past issues from 2023 do not reflect the significantly improved service now provided,” it added, noting that less than 1 per cent of charges are now issued in error.

Enforcement agents are only used “as a last resort”, it said.

If drivers who pass over the Dartford Crossing between 6am and 10pm do not pay their fee by the following midnight, they can be fined £70, or half that amount if they pay within four weeks. The system works on automatic camera recognition.

Last year enforcement income spiked from £29.5 million to £47.9 million. It took as long as 222 days to issue a penalty charge, however, according to National Highways data obtained by The Times. The highest monthly average was 80 days. A total of 56 million vehicles made the trip across the Thames in 2024, paying a total of £115 million in regular tolls.

(Pic: National Highways)