Guide to London Airports' drop-off charges

Drop-off charges at London airports are a common cause of Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) for PCO drivers. Every year, thousands of PCNs are issued at major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted Luton, and London City - often catching drivers out during quick passenger drop-offs.

To help you protect your hard-earned money, we’ve put together a simple guide to airport drop-off fees across London, updated with the latest 2026 prices so you can stay fully up to date. You’ll also find practical tips on avoiding fines and where to look for alternative free drop-off options.

Always keep an eye out for signage around airport drop-off and departure areas, as rules and charges can vary - checking the signs can save you an unnecessary fine.

• London Heathrow Airport
• London Gatwick Airport
• London Luton Airport
• London Stansted Airport
• London City Airport
• Tips to avoid drop-off fines at airports

Important reminders:

• PCO drivers are responsible for registering their cars with airports, this is not Otto Car’s responsibility.
• If you frequently visit airports, set up an AutoPay account to avoid penalties with eligible airports. This is the most convenient option when paying your drop-off charges as you can save time, and potentially money, by doing it through AutoPay.

Heathrow Airport: drop-off charges

What is the Heathrow Airport drop-off charge?

Fee:

• £7 for using the terminal drop-off areas in front of the terminal buildings.

Fine:

• £80 if not paid by midnight the next day, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.

How do I pay the Heathrow Airport drop-off charge?

• Pay with AutoPay, online, by phone.
• You cannot pay at a ticket machine and you’re not allowed to leave your car unattended.
• Payment can be made in advance, on the day, or by midnight the next day.
• AutoPay is the quickest option for managing multiple trips and reviewing payment history - you can set this up before you enter the drop-off area.
• You will need to pay the charge every time you enter the drop-off area.

How does the Heathrow Airport drop off charge work?

They use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Please note, there are no barriers, meaning that you will incur a charge once you enter the drop-off zone.

Free drop-off areas at Heathrow Airport:

• Use the Park & Ride (previously called Long Stay) car parks to drop off passengers for free for up to 29 minutes. A free shuttle bus transfers passengers to terminals.
• Between 30 minutes - 1 hour 59 minutes, this increases to £9.40.
• You cannot book this in advance online and payments should be made at the on-foot machines when you leave.

You can find more information on Heathrow Airport’s website.

Gatwick Airport: drop-off charges

What are the drop-off charges at Gatwick airport?

Fee:

• £10 for up to 10 minutes
• £1 per additional minute up to 20 minutes
• Maximum daily charge of £36 (maximum stay of up to 30 minutes)

Fine:

• £100 if not paid by midnight the next day, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

How does the Gatwick Airport drop-off charge work?

It’s enforced via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

How do I pay the Gatwick Airport drop-off charge?

• Pay with AutoPay, online, by phone.
• You cannot pay at a ticket machine and you’re not allowed to leave your car unattended.
• Payment can be made in advance, on the day, or by midnight the next day.
• AutoPay is the quickest option for managing multiple trips and reviewing payment history - you can set this up before you enter the drop-off area.

Free drop-off areas areas at Gatwick Airport:

• Use Long Stay car parks for up to 2 hours free. Free shuttle buses can take passengers to terminals.
• Make sure you know if the passengers need the North or South Terminal car park before you enter as there are two Long Stay options.

You can find more information on Gatwick Airport’s website.

Luton Airport: drop-off charges

What are the drop-off charges at Luton Airport?

Fee:

• £7 for 10 minutes
• £1 per additional minute for 10 minutes and above (maximum stay of up to 30 minutes)

Fine:

• £95 charge if you stay past 20 minutes, reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days.

How do I pay the drop-off charge at Luton Airport?

• Online payments can be made until midnight the next day.
• You can pay per visit, or set up an online account to automatically pay your drop-off charges.
• You cannot leave your vehicle unattended at a drop-off area.

Free drop-off areas at Luton Airport:

• Long Stay car park: Free for up to 2 hours; £7 for 3 hours. Shuttle buses take 10 minutes to the terminal, every 20 minutes.

You can find more information on Luton Airport’s website.

Stansted Airport: drop-off charges

What is the Stansted Airport drop-off charge?

Fee for Express Set Down (outside the terminal):

• £7 for up to 15 minutes
• £25 for over 15 minutes (maximum stay of up to 30 minutes)

Fee for Short Stay car parks (orange, green, and blue):

• £10 for up to 30 minutes
• £18 for up to 1 hour
• £22 for up to 2 hours
• £35 for up to 4 hours

Fines:

• £20 for re-entering within 30 minutes.
• £100 if you don’t pay your drop-off charges, this is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
• £40 for re-entering Mid Stay Car Park within 1 hour.

How does the Stansted Airport drop-off charge work?

The barriers at the Express Set Down have now been removed (as of 22 January 2025). The new system is powered by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

How do I pay the Stansted Airport drop-off charge?

• For Express Set Down, you can pay online using their payment portal or by phone.

Free drop-off areas at Stansted Airport?

• Use the Mid Stay car park for up to 60 minutes free.
• After 60 minutes, it’s £5 for the next hour.
• After 2 hours, you’ll be charged the day rate of £45.

You can find more information on Stansted Airport’s website.

London City Airport: drop-off charges

What are the drop-off charges at London City Airport?

Fee:

• £8 for up to 5 minutes
• £1 per additional minute (maximum stay of up to 10 minutes)

Fine:

• £100 if you don’t pay your drop-off charges, this is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
• ​You cannot leave your vehicle unattended at a drop-off area.

How do I pay the London City Airport drop-off charge?

• Pay your drop-off charge online by midnight the day after your visit.

How does the London City Airport drop-off charge work?

They use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor traffic in the drop-off areas.

You can find more information on London City Airport’s website.

Tips to avoid drop-off fines at airports

1. Check drop-off charges before heading to any airport.
2. Set up AutoPay for frequent airport trips.
3. Use free parking zones whenever possible.
4. Register for online accounts where available.

Keep your business moving with Otto Car

Whether you’re new to PCO driving or a seasoned professional, our team is here to support you every mile of the journey.

Choosing the right car is key, which is why we offer a wide range of vehicles on flexible Rent to Buy and PCO Car Hire plans - helping you get on the road and earning in no time.

Pop into any Otto Car hub in London for a chat or give us a call on 0203 995 1316 - our team will be more than happy to help.