| Airport | Charge | Time allowed | Since | How to pay | If unpaid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow Airport | £7 | each entry, with a 10 minute maximum stay | 1 January 2026 (up from £6) | online, by phone or by AutoPay, by midnight the day after | an £80 parking charge, cut to £40 if paid within 14 days |
| Gatwick Airport | £10 | up to 10 minutes, then £1 a minute to a 30 minute maximum | 6 January 2026 (up from £7) | online, by phone or by AutoPay, by midnight the day after | a £100 parking charge, cut to £60 if paid within 14 days |
| Stansted Airport | £10 | up to 15 minutes (£28 over 15 minutes, 30 minute maximum) | 16 March 2026 (up from £7) | online or by phone, by midnight the day after | a £100 parking charge, cut to £60 if paid within 14 days |
| Luton Airport | £9 | up to 12 minutes, then £1 a minute to a 30 minute maximum | September 2026 (up from £7 for 10 minutes) | online only, by midnight the day after | a £95 charge for staying past 30 minutes, cut to £55 if paid within 14 days |
All four charges apply to taxis and private hire cars as well as friends and family, which is why most airport taxi firms either add it to the fare or include it. Every fare on A1 Airport Taxis includes it.
Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport charges £7 for each entry, with a 10 minute maximum stay (the Terminal Drop-Off Charge), a price in force since 1 January 2026 (up from £6). It is paid online, by phone or by AutoPay, by midnight the day after. Miss it and the registered keeper gets an £80 parking charge, cut to £40 if paid within 14 days.
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport charges £10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 a minute to a 30 minute maximum (the forecourt drop-off charge), a price in force since 6 January 2026 (up from £7). It is paid online, by phone or by AutoPay, by midnight the day after. Miss it and the registered keeper gets a £100 parking charge, cut to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Stansted Airport
Stansted Airport charges £10 for up to 15 minutes (£28 over 15 minutes, 30 minute maximum) (the Express Set Down charge), a price in force since 16 March 2026 (up from £7). It is paid online or by phone, by midnight the day after. Miss it and the registered keeper gets a £100 parking charge, cut to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Luton Airport
Luton Airport charges £9 for up to 12 minutes, then £1 a minute to a 30 minute maximum (the Drop Off and Pick Up Zone charge), a price in force since September 2026 (up from £7 for 10 minutes). It is paid online only, by midnight the day after. Miss it and the registered keeper gets a £95 charge for staying past 30 minutes, cut to £55 if paid within 14 days.
How to avoid paying it
Each airport has a free drop-off option in an outlying car park with a shuttle bus: Heathrow's Park and Ride, Gatwick's Long Stay (free for 2 hours), Stansted's Mid Stay (free for 60 minutes) and Luton's Long Stay (free for 2 hours). It adds 15 to 30 minutes. In a taxi the charge is already covered, so the driver uses the terminal forecourt.
Questions
How much is the Heathrow drop-off charge?
£7 for each entry, with a 10 minute maximum stay, paid online, by phone or by AutoPay, by midnight the day after.
How much is the Gatwick drop-off charge?
£10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 a minute to a 30 minute maximum, paid online, by phone or by AutoPay, by midnight the day after.
How much is the Stansted drop-off charge?
£10 for up to 15 minutes (£28 over 15 minutes, 30 minute maximum), paid online or by phone, by midnight the day after.
How much is the Luton drop-off charge?
£9 for up to 12 minutes, then £1 a minute to a 30 minute maximum, paid online only, by midnight the day after.