Every major London airport now charges cars to drop passengers outside the terminal. The fees have risen sharply since 2025, the time allowed is short, and the penalties for not paying are steep. This guide sets out what each airport charges in 2026, how long you get, how to pay, how to avoid the fee, and what it means if you book a taxi.
Drop-off charges at a glance
| Airport | Drop-off charge | Time allowed | Free alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | £7 | Drop off and leave straight away | Long stay car parks, with a bus to the terminal |
| Gatwick | £10 | 10 minutes | Long stay car parks, with a bus to the terminal |
| Stansted | £10 | 15 minutes | Mid stay car park, with a bus to the terminal |
| Luton | £7 | 10 minutes | Mid term car park, with a shuttle bus |
| London City | £8 | 5 minutes | None on site |
| Southend | £8 | 10 minutes | Check the airport website |
| Bristol | £8.50 | 10 minutes | Check the airport website |
| Southampton | £7 | 20 minutes | Check the airport website |
The London airport figures are from published summer 2026 rates. The Southend, Bristol and Southampton figures are from early 2026. Airports change their prices and time limits, sometimes more than once a year, so always check the airport’s own website before you travel.
Heathrow
Heathrow’s Terminal Drop Off Charge applies at all four terminals, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The charge is £7, and the zone is for dropping off and leaving straight away. You cannot wait there to collect anyone. Cameras read your number plate as you enter. You then pay online, by phone or through the Heathrow app by midnight on the day after your visit, or set up auto-pay in advance. Blue Badge holders can register for an exemption before they travel.
To avoid the fee, you can drop off for free at the long stay car parks and use the free bus to the terminals. Allow an extra 20 to 30 minutes for this. Taxis and private hire cars pay the same charge as private cars.
Gatwick
Gatwick charges £10 for up to 10 minutes at the North and South Terminal forecourts. Staying longer adds a further charge, and going over the limit can trigger a penalty. As at Heathrow, cameras record your plate. You pay online or by phone by midnight the following day, or set up auto-pay. Free drop-off is available at the long stay car parks, which are linked to both terminals by a free bus. Blue Badge holders can apply for an exemption.
Stansted
Stansted’s forecourt drop-off zone is right outside the single terminal building. It charges £10 for up to 15 minutes, based on summer 2026 rates, and there are further charges if you stay longer. The free option is the mid stay car park, where you can drop off for free and passengers take a bus to the terminal. The bus adds a few minutes to the journey.
Luton
Luton charges £7 for up to 10 minutes in the terminal drop-off zone. There is a free drop-off area in the mid term car park, with a shuttle bus to the terminal. Like the others, Luton uses number-plate cameras, and you pay online by midnight on the following day.
London City
London City introduced a drop-off charge of £8 for up to 5 minutes. The airport is compact, and the forecourt is small, so the short limit is strictly enforced. There is no free drop-off option on the airport site, and most people arrive by DLR. If you are travelling with luggage by car, the charge is hard to avoid.
How you pay, and what happens if you don’t
None of these airports take payment at a barrier any more. They use automatic number-plate recognition. Your options are usually:
- paying online on the airport website, usually by midnight the day after your visit;
- paying by phone;
- setting up an auto-pay account in advance, which is useful if you drop off often;
- using the airport’s app, where one is offered.
If you forget to pay, the airport, or its parking operator, sends a penalty notice to the registered keeper of the car. This usually costs around ten times the original charge, with a reduction for paying quickly. It is easy to forget when you are dropping someone off, so set a reminder on your phone.
Tips to avoid a penalty
- Check that you are paying for the right airport and date. Each airport has its own payment site, and paying the wrong one will not cover you.
- Type your number plate exactly as it appears on the car, with no extra spaces or swapped letters.
- If you are using a hire car, pay the charge yourself rather than leaving it to the rental company, which may add its own admin fee.
- If you drop off at an airport regularly, set up auto-pay so you never miss a payment.
- Keep to the time limit. The clock starts when the camera reads your plate on the way in, not when you stop.
- Do not wait in the drop-off lane for someone who is still inside the terminal.
Picking someone up
Drop-off zones are for dropping off only, and waiting in them to collect someone is not allowed. To pick up a passenger, use the short stay car park, which charges by time, or the free waiting areas some airports provide, where you wait until the passenger calls. At large terminals, the short stay car park can cost more than the drop-off charge once a flight is delayed.
Does your taxi fare include the charge?
With Esskay Cars, yes. Every fare in our booking system already includes the airport drop-off charge for departures, and the parking charge for meet and greet pickups. You will not be asked for anything extra at the terminal. Not every firm works this way. Some quote a lower fare and add the airport charge at the end, so it is worth asking before you book. You can read how pickups work in our meet and greet guide.
Example taxi fares, charges included
Fares checked in our booking system on 24 October 2026 for a weekday trip, per vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats and luggage | Central London to Heathrow | Central London to Gatwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 3 passengers, 3 large cases | £73 | £99 |
| Estate | 4 passengers, 4 large cases | £81 | £109 |
| Executive | 3 passengers, 2 large cases | £93 | £125 |
| People Carrier | 6 passengers, 5 large cases | £93 | £125 |
| 8-Seater Minivan | 8 passengers, 8 large cases | £117 | £151 |
| Executive Minivan | 6 passengers, 6 large cases | £142 | £183 |
| 12-Seater Minibus | 12 passengers, 10 large cases | £258 | £307 |
| 16-Seater Minibus | 16 passengers, 14 large cases | £312 | £364 |
For a fixed price from your own address, use the booking form on this page. More routes are on our Heathrow airport taxi and Gatwick airport taxi pages.
Why the charges keep rising
The airports say drop-off fees are there to cut congestion and pollution on the forecourts, and to encourage people onto public transport. Income from the charges also helps fund their transport projects. Whatever the reason, the trend has been steadily upwards, so it is worth checking the current figure each time you travel.
Is it worth driving yourself?
If someone drives you to the airport and back, the cost is more than it first looks. Add the drop-off charge going out, the short stay parking coming back, fuel, and two return trips for the driver. A one-way taxi with the charge included is often similar in cost and saves your friend or relative four journeys. If you would park your own car for a week or more, compare the parking price with two taxi fares. For trips from Surrey, Sussex and south London, the taxi often works out cheaper.
Airport drop-off charges: common questions
How much is the Gatwick drop-off charge?
£10 for up to 10 minutes, based on published summer 2026 rates.
How much is the Heathrow drop-off charge?
£7, and you must drop off and leave straight away.
How much is the Stansted drop-off charge?
£10 for up to 15 minutes, based on summer 2026 rates. Check the airport website before you travel.
Is there free drop-off at Heathrow and Gatwick?
Yes. Both have free drop-off at their long stay car parks, with a bus to the terminals.
Do Esskay Cars fares include the drop-off charge?
Yes. The airport charge is already built into every fare.
What happens if I do not pay?
A penalty notice is sent to the car’s registered keeper, and it costs far more than the original charge.
Are Blue Badge holders exempt?
Most London airports offer an exemption, but you usually need to register before you travel.
