How much is the Luton drop-off charge?
£9 for up to 12 minutes, then £1 a minute to a 30 minute maximum. The Drop Off and Pick Up Zone charge has been £9 since September 2026 (up from £7 for 10 minutes). It applies 24 hours a day, every day, to cars, taxis and private hire vehicles alike.
Where the drop-off zone is
The zone is a five-minute walk (about 260 metres) from the terminal through a covered tunnel. A full 30 minutes costs £27. Cameras read number plates; payment is online only.
How to pay
Pay online only, by midnight the day after. You cannot pay at the kerb. If you use the zone often, set up AutoPay so it is taken from your card automatically.
What happens if you do not pay
The registered keeper of the car gets a £95 charge for staying past 30 minutes, cut to £55 if paid within 14 days. If you went in a taxi or a hire car, the charge falls on the driver, which is why most drivers add it to the fare.
Blue Badge holders
There is no Blue Badge concession in the zone. Blue Badge holders get 30 minutes free in Terminal Car Park 1 instead.
How to avoid the charge
The free option is the Long Stay car park, free for up to two hours, with a shuttle bus every 20 minutes (about a 10 minute ride) from Bus Bay B, 24 hours a day. It adds 15 to 30 minutes to the trip, so leave earlier.
Picking someone up at Luton
Your driver waits in the Pick Up Zone or Terminal Car Park 1 and meets you in the arrivals hall with a name board. The Pick Up Zone is a five-minute walk from the terminal through a covered tunnel. Terminal Car Park 1 costs £15 for up to 30 minutes and £21.50 for up to an hour.
By taxi, the charge is already paid
Every A1 Airport Taxis fare to Luton Airport includes the £9 Drop Off and Pick Up Zone charge, and every pickup fare includes the car park. Nothing is added at the kerb. See Luton taxi prices from your area, or compare the drop-off charges at all four London airports.
Questions
How much does it cost to drop off at Luton in 2026?
£9 for up to 12 minutes, then £1 a minute to a 30 minute maximum, paid online only, by midnight the day after.
Is there a free drop-off at Luton?
Yes: the Long Stay car park, free for up to two hours, with a shuttle bus every 20 minutes (about a 10 minute ride) from Bus Bay B, 24 hours a day.
Do taxis pay the Luton drop-off charge?
Yes. Taxis and private hire cars pay it like any other vehicle. Our fares already include it.
What is the fine for not paying the Luton drop-off charge?
A £95 charge for staying past 30 minutes, cut to £55 if paid within 14 days.