2026 drop-off charges
Gatwick Drop-Off Charges 2026
Gatwick charges £10 to drop off at the North or South Terminal for up to 10 minutes. Compare it with the free Long Stay option, how to pay, and the 43% rise explained for 2026.
Gatwick charges £10 to drop off right outside the North or South Terminal, for a stay of up to 10 minutes. The fee jumped from £7 to £10 on 6 January 2026, a 43% rise. After 10 minutes it is £1 a minute to a £30 maximum, with a 30 minute limit. For free, drop off at the Long Stay car park, where up to two hours is free, and take the free 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 included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| North or South Terminal forecourt | £10, then £1/min (max £30) | 10 minutes | A fast drop and go |
| Long Stay car park plus free shuttle bus | Free | Up to 2 hours | Waiting, coming inside or pickups |
| Drop at the station, take the train | From £8 (Thameslink or Southern) | No drop-off 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.
How much is the Gatwick drop-off charge?
Gatwick charges £10 to drop off directly outside the North or South Terminal, for a stay of up to 10 minutes. The fee jumped 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. After the first 10 minutes it is £1 for each extra minute up to a maximum of £30, and you cannot stay longer than 30 minutes.
How to pay the Gatwick drop-off fee
The Gatwick drop-off zones use number-plate cameras with no barrier, so you pay online at gatwickairport.com by midnight the day after your visit. You can also pay by phone on 0330 174 4503, or set up a Gatwick AutoPay account that charges your card automatically after each visit so you never miss the deadline. Pay promptly, because an unpaid drop-off becomes a Parking Charge Notice worth far more than the original £10.
How to avoid the Gatwick drop-off charge for free
Gatwick has a genuinely free option: drop off at the Long Stay car park, where you can stay up to two hours at no charge, 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 fast drop and go the £10 zone is quicker but much dearer.
North and South Terminal
The drop-off charge applies separately at the North and South Terminals, so make sure you are dropping at the right one for the airline. If you reach the wrong terminal you can use the free inter-terminal shuttle train, but driving into a second drop-off zone could mean a second £10 charge, so check the terminal before you set off.
Blue Badge holders and exemptions
Blue Badge holders may be able to use accessible drop-off arrangements rather than the standard charged forecourt, but you should check Gatwick current accessibility guidance and register where required before you travel rather than relying on an automatic exemption at the camera.
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 limit.
How do I pay the Gatwick drop off fee?
Pay online at gatwickairport.com by midnight the day after your visit. The zones are barrierless and camera-controlled, so there is no payment booth at the kerb.
Is there a free drop off at Gatwick?
Yes. You can drop off free at the Long Stay car park for up to two hours and take the free shuttle bus to the terminal. It takes a little longer than the £10 forecourt but costs nothing.
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 in the zone.
What happens if I do not pay the Gatwick drop off charge?
You receive a Parking Charge Notice worth far more than £10, which increases if left unpaid. Paying by midnight the next day keeps it at the £10 rate.
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.
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: June 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 Airport website. See how we check airport costs and our editorial policy. Confirm the live fee on the official site before you travel.