FEATURED POST
Guide to London Airports’ drop-off charges
- The Otto Team
- January 22, 2025

Drop-off charges at London airports lead to many Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) for PCO drivers. Last year alone, we saw over 9,000 PCNs were issued across popular London airports, including Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton.
To help you saved your hard-earned money, here’s a simple guide to drop-off fees across a range of airports in London and tips to avoid fines.
- Heathrow Airport
- Gatwick Airport
- Luton Airport
- 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.
- If you frequently visit airports, set up an AutoPay account or online account to avoid penalties.
Heathrow Airport: drop-off charges
What is the Heathrow Airport drop-off charge?
Fee:
- £6 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:
- £6 for up to 10 minutes
- £1 per additional minute up to 20 minutes
- Maximum charge of £26 for 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:
- £5 for 5 minutes (Express Drop-Off)
- £1 per additional minute (up to 20 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?
- Payment must be made online by 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:
- Mid Stay car park: Free for up to 15 minutes. A short walk or free shuttle (5 minutes) is available.
- Long Stay car park: Free for up to 1 hour; £7 for 2 hours. Shuttle buses take 10 minutes to the terminal.
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 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?
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.
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:
- It’s free to collect passengers from the forecourt directly in front of the terminal.
Fine:
- Important reminder: You cannot wait there or leave your car unattended – this could result in a PCN.
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
- Check drop-off charges before heading to any airport.
- Set up AutoPay for frequent airport trips.
- Use free parking zones whenever possible.
- Register for online accounts where available.
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