As of January 1, 2026, the terminal drop-off charge at Heathrow Airport is £7 per visit for a maximum stay of 10 minutes. This fee applies to all terminals, 24/7, and must be paid online by midnight the next day to avoid an £80 fine. Free,10-minute drop-offs remain available at the Long Stay car parks, which require a shuttle transfer.
To avoid the Heathrow drop-off charge, use the free Long Stay car parks (now called Park & Ride) for up to 30 minutes and take the free shuttle bus to the terminal, or alternatively, drop passengers at Hatton Cross tube station for a cheaper tube ride to the airport. These alternatives add a few minutes but bypass the £7 terminal fee, which applies to the forecourts.
What happens if I forgot to pay Heathrow drop off charge?
If you forgot to pay the Heathrow drop-off charge, you'll receive an £80 Parking Charge Notice (PCN), but you can reduce it to £40 by paying within 14 days via the official Heathrow PCN payment website (APCOA) using your registration, or by calling 0330 008 5600. Act quickly to pay the reduced fine, or challenge it if you believe it's unfair, but be aware that late payment of the PCN or ignoring it leads to further charges and debt recovery.
How to pay for short stay parking at Heathrow Terminal 2?
The Short Stay car park is a great option for making any pick-ups or drop-offs from Terminal 2. Stays less than 24 hours in length should be paid for when exiting the car park at either ticket machines or the exit gates, with the on-the-day prices below applying.
Yes, you do need to pay the £12.50 ULEZ charge for Heathrow Airport if your vehicle isn't compliant with the emissions standards, as the airport is within the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) for Greater London, effective from August 2023, and the charge applies for driving in the zone 24/7 (except Christmas Day). You'll pay this fee in addition to any other airport drop-off/pick-up charges if your vehicle doesn't meet the ULEZ criteria.
How to Pay Heathrow Drop Off Charge | Step-by-Step Guide
How much do you pay for Heathrow drop-off?
Please note: There is a £6 charge for vehicles entering the drop-off areas. You can pay in advance, on the day you drop-off or by midnight the next day.
Members of the public can use the Long Stay (Heathrow Park & Ride) car parks for up to 30 minutes free of charge. Upon exit, the barriers will read your ticket or registration number. For Blue Badge holders, the first 2 hours of parking are free.
The drop-off area for Heathrow Terminal 2 is located off Constellation Way, where following the up ramp will bring you to the Terminal 2 drop-off area. Each visit to this area costs £7, and all payments need to be made online or by phone.
No, there's no grace period for the Heathrow Terminal Drop-Off Charge; it's £7 as of Jan 2026, and you must pay by midnight the following day or risk an £80 PCN, though you get a 10-minute limit to actually drop off before a potential Parking Charge Notice (PCN). The charge applies immediately upon entering the zone, and waiting for pick-ups is not allowed and should be done in the short-stay car parks.
What happens if I drive through Heathrow drop off by mistake?
Missing the £7 drop-off fee can quickly turn into an £80 penalty charge notice. This can stretch your budget and affect your ability to pay your weekly PCO car hire fee if you are using a hire plan. Fortunately, there are free and cheaper alternatives to stop Heathrow drop-off charge from eating into your profits.
For free drop-offs at Heathrow, use any of the Park & Ride (formerly Long Stay) car parks for up to 30 minutes and take the free shuttle bus to your terminal; alternatively, Blue Badge holders can get free parking for up to 2 hours in these car parks (registration required). The official Terminal Drop-Off zones have a £7 (or more) charge and a strict 10-minute limit, so avoid them for free drop-offs.
Heathrow drop-off exemptions exist for Blue Badge holders (must register in advance), emergency/military/Heathrow operational vehicles (automatic), roadside recovery vehicles, and two-wheeled motorcycles, all receiving 100% discounts or full exemption, while coaches/buses use designated bays. To avoid the charge for passengers, use free drop-off in Park & Ride car parks with a free shuttle, book official Valet Parking, or arrange drop-offs at nearby public transport, as PCO-licensed vehicles, taxis, and EVs still pay.
To avoid airport drop-off charges, use the airport's free long-stay or mid-stay car parks (often with free shuttle buses or short walks), find nearby public transport hubs for drop-offs, look for designated free drop-off zones outside the paid areas, or check for Blue Badge exemptions, always confirming your airport's specific options online beforehand.
The drop-off fee was first suggested in 2020, as part of plans to reduce airport traffic. Heathrow said the charge was introduced in October 2021 because the airport was hit hard by the pandemic. It added the charge would help protect jobs and go towards sustainable transport schemes at the airport.
Heathrow still offers free alternatives: you can use the Park and Ride (Long Stay) car parks for free drop off and pick up, then take the shuttle bus to the terminal. Skip the fees.
Free pick-ups can be made from the Terminal 2 Park & Ride car park, where you can wait for up to 30 minutes free of charge. Buses run between the terminal and car park every 15 minutes. Pick-ups should not take place from our terminal forecourt drop-off areas.
The cheapest day-rate is in our Park & Ride car parks, where prices start at £46.80 for the first 24-hour period. Priority Park & Ride, previously Business Parking, prices start from £47.90, whilst our unique Terminal 5 Pod Parking costs £59.60 for the first day.
Can I drop off a passenger at Heathrow for free? Yes, at Heathrow Long Stay Car Park you can park up for up to 30 minutes FREE of charge. The Long Stay Car Park is situated a 5-minute shuttle ride from the terminals.
No, you cannot pick up from Heathrow's terminal drop-off zones, as these are strictly for dropping passengers off, monitored by cameras, and you risk fines; instead, use the Short Stay car parks (pay on exit) or the Long Stay (Park & Ride) car parks for up to 30 minutes free, taking a shuttle to the terminal for pick-ups.
