2026 drop-off charges
Heathrow Drop-Off Charges 2026
Heathrow charges £7 to drop off at any terminal for up to 10 minutes, paid online by midnight the next day. Compare it with the free car park option, how to pay, and the Blue Badge rules for 2026.
Heathrow charges a flat £7 to drop a passenger at any terminal forecourt, for a stay of up to 10 minutes. The fee rose from £6 on 1 January 2026 and applies the same way at every terminal. There is no barrier: cameras read your number plate and you pay online by midnight the day after. To skip the fee you would use a Long Stay or Park and Ride car park and the free transfer bus.
At a glance
Ways to drop off at Heathrow, compared
The paid forecourt against the free car park and public transport options.
| How you drop off | Cost | Time included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal forecourt (any terminal) | £7 | 10 minutes | A fast drop and go |
| Long Stay car park plus free shuttle bus | Short-stay parking rate | As long as you need | Waiting or coming inside the terminal |
| Drop at a station, take the train | From £5.90 (Piccadilly line) | No drop-off fee | Avoiding the charge completely |
From experience: Good to know: the number-plate camera triggers as you turn into the drop-off road, not at the terminal doors, so the 10 minute clock includes the time you spend queuing to reach the kerb at busy periods. Say your goodbyes in the car before you join the approach road.
How much is the Heathrow drop-off charge?
Heathrow charges a flat £7 to drop a passenger at any terminal forecourt, for a stay of up to 10 minutes. The fee rose from £6 to £7 on 1 January 2026 and now applies the same way at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Every entry into a terminal drop-off zone costs £7 regardless of how briefly you stop, so a 30 second goodbye costs the same as the full 10 minutes.
How to pay the Heathrow drop-off fee
Heathrow drop-off zones have no barriers. Number-plate cameras record your visit and you pay online at heathrow.com or in the Heathrow app by 23:59 the day after. There is no option to pay at a machine or in the zone itself. You can also pre-pay for one or several drop-offs online or by phone before you travel, which is the easiest way to avoid forgetting. If you are paying afterwards, do it before you leave the airport or set a reminder the moment you drive away.
What happens if you do not pay
If you miss the next-day deadline, Heathrow issues an £80 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £40 if you pay within 14 days. That is more than ten times the £7 fee, so paying on time is the only sensible option. Treat the drop-off like a toll you must settle rather than an optional charge.
How to avoid the Heathrow drop-off charge
There is no free drop-off at the terminal itself. The way around the £7 is to use one of Heathrow Long Stay or Park and Ride car parks and take the free transfer bus into the terminal. This only saves money if you would otherwise wait longer than 10 minutes or want to come inside, because you still pay the short-stay parking rate. For a quick drop and go, the £7 forecourt fee is usually simplest.
Blue Badge holders and exemptions
Registered Blue Badge holders get a 100% discount and are also exempt from the 10-minute maximum stay, but you must register your vehicle and badge with Heathrow in advance rather than assuming the camera will recognise it. Without registering, the system charges the standard £7 and you would have to claim it back, so arrange the exemption before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Heathrow drop off charge?
It is £7 for a stay of up to 10 minutes at any terminal, up from £6 on 1 January 2026. The same fee applies at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 no matter how briefly you stop.
How do I pay the Heathrow drop off fee?
Pay online at heathrow.com or in the Heathrow app by 23:59 the day after your visit. The zones are barrierless with number-plate cameras, so there is no booth and no one collects payment at the kerb.
Is there a free drop off at Heathrow?
There is no free forecourt drop-off. The only way to avoid the £7 is to use a Long Stay or Park and Ride car park and the free transfer bus, which makes sense only if you need longer than 10 minutes or want to go inside.
How long can you stop at Heathrow drop off?
Up to 10 minutes for the £7 fee. The zones are for setting down only, so waiting or picking someone up is not allowed and a car park should be used instead.
What happens if I do not pay the Heathrow drop off charge?
You receive a Parking Charge Notice that costs far more than £7 and increases if left unpaid. Paying by midnight the next day is the only way to keep it at the £7 rate.
Are Blue Badge holders exempt from the Heathrow drop off charge?
Yes, but only if you register your Blue Badge and vehicle with Heathrow in advance. Without registering, the camera charges the standard £7 and you would need to claim it back.
Drop-off charges at other London airports
For the full picture at this airport, read the Heathrow 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 Heathrow website. See how we check airport costs and our editorial policy. Confirm the live fee on the official site before you travel.