2026 drop-off charges
Gatwick Drop-Off Charge 2026
Gatwick charges £10 to drop off at either terminal in 2026. How to pay online or by phone, the £100 fine deadline, the free Long Stay option and the Blue Badge rules.
Gatwick charges £10 to drop a passenger at the North or South Terminal forecourt, for up to 10 minutes. It then costs £1 a minute to a £30 maximum, with a 30 minute limit. The fee rose from £7 to £10 on 6 January 2026, a 43% jump that makes it one of the most expensive drop-offs in the country. There is no barrier: cameras read your plate and you pay by card by midnight the day after. Miss it and it becomes a £100 parking charge, reduced to £60 within 14 days. To avoid the fee, use the free Long Stay car park, which is free for two hours with a shuttle bus.
At a glance
Ways to drop off at Gatwick, compared
The paid forecourt against the free car park and public transport options.
| How you drop off | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| North or South Terminal forecourt | £10, then £1/min (max £30) | Up to 10 minutes | A fast drop and go |
| Long Stay car park plus free shuttle | Free | Up to 2 hours free | A calm, unhurried drop-off |
| Blue Badge holder (registered) | Free | 30 minutes free | Passengers who need more time or help |
| Drop at the station, take the train | From about £8 (Thameslink) | No forecourt fee | Avoiding the charge completely |
From experience: Good to know: the £1-a-minute overstay charge after the first 10 minutes adds up fast, and the queue to reach the forecourt can itself eat into your time at peak periods. If there is any chance of a slow goodbye, the free Long Stay car park is the calmer and cheaper choice, and you can pay the £10 on your phone before you even leave the airport if you do use the forecourt.
How much is the Gatwick drop-off charge in 2026?
Gatwick charges £10 to drop off directly outside the North or South Terminal, for up to 10 minutes. After that it is £1 for each extra minute up to a maximum of £30, and you cannot stay longer than 30 minutes. The fee rose from £7 to £10 on 6 January 2026, a 43% rise that made it one of the most expensive airport drop-offs in the UK, joint with Stansted at £10. The same charge applies at both terminals.
How to pay the Gatwick drop-off charge
The drop-off zones are barrierless, with number-plate cameras, so nobody takes payment at the kerb. You pay by card in one of three ways: online at the Gatwick drop-off payment site, dropoff.gatwickairport.com; by automated phone line on 0330 174 4503; or automatically through a Gatwick AutoPay account, which charges your card after each visit so you never miss the deadline. You can also pay in advance. Payment is due by midnight the day after your visit.
The deadline, and what happens if you forget to pay
Payment is due by midnight the day after your visit. Because there is no machine at the kerb, it is easy to drive off and forget. If you miss the deadline the £10 becomes a £100 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £60 if you pay within 14 days. Pay as soon as you can if you have forgotten, because the amount only rises the longer it is left, and setting up AutoPay is the surest way to avoid a fine.
How to avoid the Gatwick drop-off charge for free
Gatwick has a genuinely free option: drop off or park in the Long Stay car park, which is free for up to two hours, and take the free shuttle bus to the terminal. This is the best choice if you have time, want to come inside, or are collecting someone, because it avoids the £10 forecourt fee entirely. For a quick drop and go the forecourt is faster but much dearer.
Blue Badge holders get a free drop-off
Blue Badge holders can drop off free at the forecourt, but only if you register your number plate with Gatwick in advance, which gives a 30 minute free drop-off session. You can register from three months before travel up to the day before, and you must disable any AutoPay account so it does not charge you automatically. Without registering, the camera charges the standard £10.
Where to drop off at Gatwick North and South Terminal
Both terminals have a drop-off zone on the forecourt lower level, right outside and a short walk from check-in and departures. At the North Terminal the drop-off area sits between the Sofitel hotel and the multi-storey car park; at the South Terminal it is on the lower level directly outside. Neither has a barrier, so you pull into a marked bay, drop your passenger and drive out, and the £10 is read automatically by number-plate cameras. Follow the drop-off signs on the approach roads for your terminal, and drop at the one that matches the airline, because entering a second forecourt means a second £10. The zones are for setting down only. To collect an arriving passenger, use the Long Stay or a short-stay car park and meet them there.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Gatwick drop off charge?
It is £10 for up to 10 minutes at the North or South Terminal, up from £7 on 6 January 2026, a 43% rise. After 10 minutes it is £1 a minute to a £30 maximum, with a 30 minute overall limit.
How do I pay the Gatwick drop off charge?
Pay by card in one of three ways: online at dropoff.gatwickairport.com, by automated phone line on 0330 174 4503, or automatically through a Gatwick AutoPay account. Payment is due by midnight the day after your visit.
What is the phone number to pay the Gatwick drop off charge?
The automated payment line is 0330 174 4503. You can also pay online at dropoff.gatwickairport.com. Payments are by card, as there is no booth at the kerb.
Can I pay the Gatwick drop off charge in advance?
Yes. You can pay before you travel, or set up a Gatwick AutoPay account at dropoff.gatwickairport.com that charges your card automatically after each visit, which is the easiest way to avoid missing the deadline.
How long do I have to pay the Gatwick drop off charge?
Until midnight the day after your visit. After that the £10 becomes a £100 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £60 if you pay within 14 days.
What happens if I forget to pay the Gatwick drop off charge?
If you miss the next-day deadline the £10 becomes a £100 parking charge, cut to £60 if paid within 14 days. Pay as soon as you can, because it only rises the longer it is left. AutoPay avoids the risk entirely.
Is there a free drop off at Gatwick?
Yes. Drop off or park in the Long Stay car park free for up to two hours and take the free shuttle bus to the terminal. It is a little slower than the £10 forecourt but costs nothing.
How can I avoid the Gatwick drop off charge?
Use the free Long Stay car park and shuttle, be dropped at the station and take the train, or, if you hold a Blue Badge, register in advance for a 30 minute free drop-off at the forecourt.
Are Blue Badge holders exempt from the Gatwick drop off charge?
Blue Badge holders get a 30 minute free drop-off, but you must register your number plate with Gatwick in advance, from three months before travel up to the day before, and disable any AutoPay account. Without registering, the camera charges the standard £10.
How long can you stop at Gatwick drop off?
Up to 10 minutes for the £10 fee, then £1 a minute to a £30 maximum, with an overall 30 minute limit. The zone is for setting down only, not waiting or picking up.
Why did the Gatwick drop off charge go up?
Gatwick raised the fee from £7 to £10 on 6 January 2026, a 43% increase, in line with a wider trend of London airports raising forecourt charges and pushing drivers toward car parks and public transport.
Does the drop off charge apply at both Gatwick terminals?
Yes. The £10 charge applies the same way at both the North and South Terminals. Drop at the terminal that matches the airline, because entering a second forecourt means a second £10 charge.
Can you pick someone up at the Gatwick drop off zone?
No. The forecourt is for dropping off only. To collect an arriving passenger, use the Long Stay or a short-stay car park and meet them there, which is the correct and usually cheaper option.
What is the most you can be charged at Gatwick drop off?
The maximum is £30, reached by staying beyond about 30 minutes from the £10 start plus £1 a minute. The overall time limit in the zone is 30 minutes.
Is Gatwick the most expensive airport to drop off at?
Gatwick is one of the most expensive at £10, joint with Stansted. Heathrow and Luton are cheaper at £7. Only Gatwick and Stansted charge the higher £10 forecourt fee among the main London airports.
Where is the drop-off at Gatwick South Terminal?
The South Terminal drop-off zone is on the forecourt lower level, directly outside the terminal and a short walk from check-in. There are no barriers: pull into a marked bay, drop your passenger and drive out, and the £10 charge is read by number-plate cameras. Follow the drop-off signs on the approach roads.
Where is the drop-off at Gatwick North Terminal?
The North Terminal drop-off zone is on the forecourt lower level, between the Sofitel hotel and the multi-storey car park, a short walk from check-in. It is barrierless, so you pull in, drop off and drive out, and the £10 fee is charged automatically. Follow the drop-off signs for the North Terminal.
Drop-off charges at other London airports
For the full picture at this airport, read the Gatwick airport costs guide covering transport, parking and transfer prices.
Last checked: July 2026 by the AirportCosts editorial team. Airport drop-off fees change often, so we verify them against the airport's own website and update this page when they change.
Source: the official Gatwick drop-off charge page. See how we check airport costs and our editorial policy. Confirm the live fee on the official site before you travel.