Stansted has one terminal building, which makes meeting your driver straightforward. With Esskay Cars, the driver waits for you in the international arrivals hall with a name board, after you have cleared passport control and customs. They park in the short-stay car park next to the terminal, a few minutes’ walk away. For departures, we drop you at the terminal drop-off zone, and the charge for using it is included in your fare.
Quick answers
- How many terminals? One.
- Where is my driver? In the arrivals hall, after customs.
- Where is the car? In the short-stay car park beside the terminal.
- Drop-off charge? Included in our fare.
- Driver late if my flight is late? No. They track the flight.
Where exactly do I meet my taxi at Stansted?
In the arrivals hall on the ground floor of the terminal, where passengers come out from customs.
Once you have collected your bags and walked through customs, you enter the arrivals area. Your driver is among the people waiting there, holding a sign with your name. If you cannot spot them, stay in the hall and call or WhatsApp the number on your booking. Do not go to the bus station or the taxi rank outside, because pre-booked drivers are not allowed to wait there.
Why does the driver wait inside rather than outside?
Stansted only lets pre-booked cars pick up from its car parks, not from the roads in front of the terminal.
The forecourt is kept for buses, coaches and the airport’s own taxi rank. A pre-booked car must park in the short-stay car park, which is why the driver comes in to find you and then walks you to the car.
How long does it take to get through Stansted arrivals?
Usually 20 to 40 minutes on a European flight, longer at busy times.
Passport queues at Stansted can be long in the evening and at the start of school holidays, when many flights land close together. The driver follows your flight and allows for this. If you are stuck in a long queue, send the driver a quick message.
Where will I be dropped for my flight?
At the terminal drop-off zone, which is a short walk from check-in.
Stansted charges a fee for every vehicle that uses the terminal drop-off. That fee is already included in our fixed fare, so you have nothing to pay. There is also a free drop-off in the mid-stay car park, linked to the terminal by bus, but we take you right to the terminal so you do not have to wait for the bus with your bags.
How early should I arrive at Stansted?
Two hours before a European flight, or three hours before long-haul.
Security at Stansted can be very busy between 5am and 8am, when the morning wave of low-cost flights leaves. If you have a bag to drop, add some time for the queue at the bag drop desks.
How much is a taxi to Stansted?
From Bishop’s Stortford £54, from Harlow £64, from Chelmsford £68 and from central London £110 in a saloon.
| Stansted | Saloon | Estate | People carrier | 8-seater | 16-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop’s Stortford | £54 | £61 | £73 | £97 | £270 |
| Epping | £52 | £60 | £69 | £92 | £301 |
| Harlow | £64 | £73 | £86 | £114 | £294 |
| Chelmsford | £68 | £78 | £92 | £122 | £308 |
| Hertford | £77 | £87 | £103 | £137 | £318 |
| Cambridge | £86 | £98 | £115 | £153 | £341 |
| Colchester | £89 | £101 | £119 | £158 | £347 |
| Central London (Victoria) | £110 | £125 | £147 | £195 | £371 |
| Canary Wharf | £91 | £103 | £121 | £161 | £355 |
Prices from our booking system, checked in October 2026, one way per vehicle.
Can I be collected from a hotel at Stansted?
Yes. We collect from hotels at the airport and in nearby towns such as Bishop’s Stortford and Great Dunmow.
Give us the hotel name, and the driver will meet you in reception at the time you choose.
What if my flight is diverted to another airport?
Call us on 0207 8400 344, and we will move the pick-up to where you land.
Flights due into Stansted are sometimes diverted to Luton, Southend or another airport in bad weather. We will arrange for the driver to meet you there, and agree any change in fare with you before they set off.
Does Stansted have a separate domestic arrivals area?
UK and Irish flights arrive into the same terminal, and those passengers come out into the arrivals hall too, usually without the passport queue.
Domestic passengers are often out much faster, so it helps to have the right flight number on the booking. The driver will plan to be in the hall earlier for a domestic arrival.
How do I get from the arrivals hall to the car?
The driver walks you to the short-stay car park, which is a few minutes on foot from arrivals, with your luggage.
The route is covered for much of the way. If you have a lot of bags, the driver takes a trolley or helps carry them. For passengers with limited mobility, tell us in advance and we will plan the meeting point.
Can I get assistance at Stansted?
Yes. Stansted offers free assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, which you book through your airline.
If you use the service, the assistance team brings you through the terminal. Tell us, and the driver will meet you where the team hands you over. Please mention a wheelchair or walking aid when you book, so we send a suitable vehicle.
What is the best time to fly from Stansted to avoid queues?
Mid-morning and early afternoon are usually quieter than the first wave between 5am and 8am.
If you have a choice of flights, a late-morning departure means a calmer airport and no need for a very early pick-up. If you are on the early wave, leave plenty of time.
How long is the drive from the terminal to my home?
From Bishop’s Stortford about 10 to 15 minutes, from Harlow 20 to 25, from Chelmsford 35 to 45, from Cambridge 35 to 45, and from central London about an hour to an hour and 20 minutes.
Most journeys leave the airport on the M11 or the A120. The fare is fixed, so traffic does not change the price.
Can a friend collect me instead?
Yes, but they will need to park in the short-stay car park and pay for parking, or use the drop-off zone, which also has a charge.
A pre-booked taxi includes all of that in one fixed price, and the driver comes into the hall to meet you.
Do you pick up from Stansted at night?
Yes. We run 24 hours a day, at the same fixed fares.
Late arrivals at Stansted are common, especially in summer. The driver tracks the flight and waits, however late it lands.
Which airlines fly from Stansted?
Stansted is the main London base for Ryanair, and it also serves Jet2, easyJet and other airlines.
Because all flights use the same terminal, you never need to worry about going to the wrong building. Check your airline’s check-in and bag drop times, which can differ. Ryanair, for example, closes bag drop a set time before departure, so arrive with time to spare.
What if I cannot find my driver at Stansted?
Stay in the arrivals hall and call the driver or our office on 0207 8400 344.
If your phone has no signal or roaming is switched off, connect to the free airport Wi-Fi and send a WhatsApp message to 020 3355 8186. The information desk can also help you get in touch.
How do I book a Stansted pick-up?
Enter Stansted Airport as the pick-up in the booking form at the top of this page, add your flight number and confirm.
Or call 0207 8400 344. See also Stansted airport taxi and Stansted taxi prices.
Stansted pick-up and drop-off: common questions
Where do pre-booked taxis pick up at Stansted?
In the arrivals hall, after customs.
How many terminals does Stansted have?
One.
Is the Stansted drop-off charge included?
Yes, it is in our fare.
Where do pre-booked cars park at Stansted?
In the short-stay car park next to the terminal.
What if my Stansted flight is delayed?
The driver tracks it and waits.
What if my flight is diverted?
Call us, and we move the pick-up.
