Heathrow drop-off charges: How to pay in 2025

Last updated: July 2025

If you’re a PCO driver, avoiding fines and Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) means more money stays in your pocket. At Otto Car, we’re here to help you protect your earnings – not chip away at them. That’s why we’ve created this practical guide to help you navigate Heathrow’s terminal drop-off charges and avoid expensive penalties.

We also understand that mistakes happen. That’s why Otto Car doesn’t charge any admin fees for PCNs*, giving you one less thing to worry about if an issue does occur. Learn more about why thousands of drivers choose Otto Car and how we deliver real value.

Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in London, meaning it’s also one one of the most common places we see Uber drivers get fined – but it doesn’t have to be, especially for quick drop-offs. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how the charge works, how to pay it properly, and how to avoid it altogether.

• What is the Heathrow drop-off charge?
• How do I pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?
• How does autopay work at Heathrow?
• What if I don’t pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?
• Are there any free drop-off areas at Heathrow?
• Do I get a discount at Heathrow for driving a private-hire vehicle?

*If you wish to pay the PCN, you should do this within 48 hours and let us know to avoid paying a £10 administration fee. If you pay after 48 hours, the fee applies.

What is the Heathrow drop-off charge?

The Heathrow Airport terminal drop-off charge applies to all vehicles that enter the drop-off area. From 1 January 2025, Heathrow’s terminal drop-off charge increased from £5 to £6 per visit.

If you’re dropping off passengers at the Heathrow terminal forecourts, you’ll need to pay the drop-off charge. Here’s what you need to know to make the process smoother and avoid any surprises:

• The terminal drop-off charge applies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• These drop-off areas are located in front of the terminal buildings.
• You’ll see signs before and around the airport to let you know which areas are chargeable terminal zones.
• There are no barriers to enter, so you’ll be tracked as soon as you enter the drop-off zone. This is tracked by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and picks up your vehicle registration number.

If your vehicle doesn’t meet the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) standards, you’ll need to pay a £12.50 daily charge to use Heathrow’s terminal drop-off areas. This doesn’t apply to electric vehicles (EVs), but it’s good to know for non-compliant vehicles.

How do I pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?

You can pay in advance, on the day you drop off passengers, or by midnight the next day. It’s just make sure you don’t forget – missing the payment deadline will result in a fine.

There are three payment methods to choose from for the drop-off charge:

• Automatically once you set up AutoPay
• Online (London Heathrow Airport website)
• By calling an automated telephone service

Why choose AutoPay?

AutoPay is the easiest and fastest way to cover drop-off fees at Heathrow and nearly all UK airports. Spend just 10 minutes setting up your account and adding all your vehicle details in advance – once it’s done, you’re all set for every airport run to Heathrow. No more last-minute stress or unexpected PCNs. Just smooth drop-offs and more time back in your day.

You won’t be able to pay the drop-off charge at an airport ticket machine. You can only pay using one of the three options listed above.

How does AutoPay work at Heathrow?

Heathrow Airport recommend that private hire drivers set up a business account to get the full benefits of AutoPay.

This is a free account and means you can see all the drop-offs you do and sort out any registered Blue-Badge drop-offs by passengers.

You can also be organised with your payments and pay before you complete the drop-off or by midnight the next day. It’s guaranteed to save you time and money in the long-run, so worth the extra few minutes to set up.

Register an AutoPay business account with Heathrow

What if I don’t pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?

If you don’t pay the Heathrow drop-off charge by midnight the next day, you’ll receive an £80 PCN. This can be reduced to £40 if you pay within 14 days of receiving the PCN.

Remember, Otto Car will not register PCO car hire vehicles with Heathrow Airport for you. This is your responsibility. If you do regular drop-offs at Heathrow, you should set up an AutoPay account to avoid fines.

While we can’t pay the drop-off charges for you, we want you to keep as much of your hard-earned cash as possible – and one simple way to do that is by avoiding unnecessary PCN fines. Recently, there’s been a rise in PCN-related text scams. Read our guide on PCN text scams to learn what to look out for and how to protect yourself from falling victim to these fraudulent messages.

Are there any free drop-off areas at Heathrow?

Heathrow offers a free drop-off area at its Park & Ride car parks (previously called Long Stay Parking). You will be able to stay here for up to 29 minutes without being charged.

From here, passengers can catch a free bus transfer to the terminal. This is a helpful way to avoid the drop-off charge.

Find out more about the Park & Ride car parks at Heathrow Airport.

Do private hire vehicles get any discounts?

PCO drivers are not exempt from Heathrow’s drop-off charge and do not qualify for any discounts. This includes electric vehicles – EV drivers are also not exempt from the charge or eligible for reduced rates.

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