Airport drop-off charges
UK airport drop-off charges, compared
Every major UK airport now charges for dropping off or picking up passengers at the terminal. Fees, time limits, and PCN amounts differ by airport, and by how long you actually stopped.
Heathrow
Enforced by APCOA Parking on behalf of Heathrow Airport Ltd
- Drop-off fee:
- £7 per drop-off (all terminal drop-off zones)
- Unpaid charge:
- £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days
Gatwick
Enforced by APCOA Parking on behalf of Gatwick Airport Ltd
- Drop-off fee:
- £10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 per extra minute up to a £30 maximum at 30 minutes (North and South Terminal)
- Unpaid charge:
- £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days
Stansted
Enforced by APCOA Parking on behalf of Manchester Airport Group (MAG)
- Drop-off fee:
- £10 for stays up to 15 minutes, £28 for 15–30 minutes (Express Set Down, effective 19 March 2026)
- Unpaid charge:
- £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days
Manchester Airport
Enforced by Manchester Airport Group (MAG) / APCOA
- Drop-off fee:
- £5.50 for up to 5 minutes, £6.50 for up to 10 minutes, £25 for up to the 30-minute maximum stay (Terminal 2 and 3 forecourts)
- Unpaid charge:
- £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days
Frequently asked questions
Are airport drop-off charges legally enforceable?▼
Usually yes, if the airport followed its own process correctly: the signage is normally clear and the legal authority well-established. But airport operators still have to comply with POFA 2012 if they want to pursue the registered keeper rather than the driver, and ANPR camera errors, payment processing failures, and missed deadlines are all genuine grounds to challenge a specific charge.
Why do fees keep changing?▼
Airports review drop-off pricing periodically, and several raised their charges during 2026: Heathrow from £6 to £7, Gatwick and Stansted moved to tiered per-minute pricing. We check each airport's current fee against its own official page and record the date we last verified it: see the "fees checked against" line on each airport's page.
Do Blue Badge holders have to pay?▼
At most of these airports, yes there is an exemption, but the process differs: some require you to register in advance, others just require showing the badge on arrival. Check the specific airport's page for its exact exemption process.
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Upload your notice and we will identify the airport, the enforcing operator, and whether you have grounds to challenge it.
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