2026 drop-off charges
Heathrow Drop-Off Charge 2026
Heathrow charges £7 to drop off at any terminal in 2026. How to pay online or by phone, the £80 fine deadline, the free ways to avoid it and Blue Badge rules.
Heathrow charges a flat £7 each time your vehicle enters a terminal drop-off zone, the same at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. The fee rose from £6 on 1 January 2026. There is no barrier and no machine: cameras read your number plate and you pay afterwards, by card, by midnight the day after your visit. Miss the deadline and it becomes an £80 parking charge, reduced to £40 if you pay within 14 days. To avoid the fee, drop at Hatton Cross and ride the last stop in free, or use the Park and Ride which is free for 29 minutes.
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 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal forecourt (any terminal) | £7 per visit | Up to 10 minutes | A fast drop and go |
| Hatton Cross, then one stop by Tube | Free | A few extra minutes | Avoiding the charge completely |
| Park and Ride car park plus shuttle | Free for 29 minutes | Up to 29 minutes free | A calm, unhurried drop-off |
| Blue Badge holder in Park and Ride | Free | First 2 hours free | Passengers who need more time or help |
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 clock includes any time you spend queuing to reach the kerb at busy periods. Say your goodbyes in the car before you join the approach road, and pay on your phone before you leave the airport so you never forget.
How much is the Heathrow drop-off charge in 2026?
Heathrow charges a flat £7 every time your vehicle enters a terminal drop-off zone, whether you stop for 30 seconds or the full 10 minutes. The fee rose from £6 to £7 on 1 January 2026 and is identical at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. It is a set-down charge only, so waiting and picking up are not allowed in the forecourt. The payment system is run for Heathrow by APCOA.
How to pay the Heathrow drop-off charge
The drop-off zones are barrierless, so nobody takes payment at the kerb. You pay afterwards by card in one of three ways: online at the Heathrow drop-off payment site, heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com; by automated phone line on 0330 008 5600; or automatically if you set up an APCOA autopay account, which charges your card after each visit so you never miss the deadline. The same payment covers every terminal, and you can also pay in advance before you travel. Cash and cheque are not accepted.
The deadline, and what happens if you forget to pay
Payment is due by 23:59 the day after your visit. There is no machine at the terminal, so it is easy to drive off and forget. If you miss the deadline the £7 becomes an £80 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £40 if you pay within 14 days. If you have forgotten, pay as soon as you can at heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com, because the charge only escalates the longer it is left. Setting up autopay is the surest way to avoid a fine.
How to avoid the Heathrow drop-off charge
You do not have to pay the £7. The simplest free option is to drop your passenger at Hatton Cross Underground, just before the airport, and let them ride the final stop to any terminal free inside the Heathrow free travel area. Alternatively, the Heathrow Park and Ride car parks are free for up to 29 minutes, which is plenty for a genuine goodbye, then a free bus runs to the terminal. You cannot re-enter the Park and Ride within 24 hours, and it is not open to private hire or trade vehicles.
Blue Badge holders and disabled drivers
Blue Badge holders get the first two hours free in the Heathrow Park and Ride car parks, which removes the forecourt charge entirely and gives far more time than the 10 minute limit. The free arrangement applies to UK and EEA badge holders. Register your vehicle and badge with Heathrow in advance where required, rather than assuming the camera will recognise the exemption at the forecourt.
Picking up is different from dropping off
The £7 charge is for dropping off. You cannot wait or collect a passenger at the forecourt. To pick up an arriving passenger, use the short-stay car park or the Park and Ride and meet them there, which is the correct and usually cheaper option. Circling back into the forecourt to collect someone can trigger a second £7 charge, so plan the pickup around a car park instead.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Heathrow drop off charge?
It is a flat £7 every time you enter a terminal drop-off zone, up from £6 on 1 January 2026. The same £7 applies at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, no matter how briefly you stop.
How do I pay the Heathrow drop off charge?
Pay by card in one of three ways: online at heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com, by automated phone line on 0330 008 5600, or automatically through an APCOA autopay account. Payment is due by midnight the day after your visit and the same method covers every terminal.
What is the phone number to pay the Heathrow drop off charge?
The automated payment line is 0330 008 5600. You can also pay online at heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com. Payments are card only, as cash and cheque are not accepted.
Can I pay the Heathrow drop off charge in advance?
Yes. You can pay before you travel at heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com, or set up an APCOA autopay account that charges your card automatically after each visit, which is the easiest way to avoid missing the deadline.
Who runs the Heathrow drop off charge?
The payment system is operated for Heathrow by APCOA, which is why payments are made at heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com. The £7 charge itself is set by Heathrow Airport.
How long do I have to pay the Heathrow drop off charge?
Until 23:59 the day after your visit. After that the £7 becomes an £80 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £40 if you pay within 14 days.
What happens if I forget to pay the Heathrow drop off charge?
If you miss the next-day deadline the £7 becomes an £80 parking charge, cut to £40 if paid within 14 days. Pay as soon as you can at heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com, as the amount only rises the longer it is left. Autopay avoids the risk entirely.
Is there a free drop off at Heathrow?
Yes. Drop at Hatton Cross Underground and your passenger rides the last stop into any terminal free inside the Heathrow free travel area, or use the Park and Ride car parks which are free for up to 29 minutes with a free bus to the terminal.
Is Heathrow Park and Ride free for dropping off?
The Heathrow Park and Ride car parks are free for up to 29 minutes, which is enough to drop a passenger without paying the £7 forecourt fee. You cannot return within 24 hours, and it is not open to private hire or trade vehicles.
How can I avoid the Heathrow drop off charge?
Drop at Hatton Cross and let your passenger ride one free stop into the terminal, use the Park and Ride which is free for 29 minutes, or, if you hold a Blue Badge, park free for the first two hours in the Park and Ride.
Are Blue Badge holders exempt from the Heathrow drop off charge?
Blue Badge holders get the first two hours free in the Park and Ride car parks, which avoids the forecourt charge. Register your badge and vehicle with Heathrow in advance where required rather than relying on the camera to recognise it.
How long can you stop at Heathrow drop off?
Up to 10 minutes at the forecourt for the £7 fee. The zone is for setting down only, so waiting and picking up are not allowed and a car park should be used instead.
Did the Heathrow drop off charge go up in 2026?
Yes. The charge rose from £6 to £7 on 1 January 2026. It applies the same way at every terminal, and every separate entry to a drop-off zone is charged.
Is the drop off charge the same at every Heathrow terminal?
Yes. The £7 fee and the payment methods are identical at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. There is no cheaper terminal, so drop at whichever one matches the airline.
Can you pick someone up at the Heathrow drop off zone?
No. The forecourt is for dropping off only. To collect an arriving passenger, use the short-stay car park or the Park and Ride and meet them there, which is the correct and usually cheaper option for pickups.
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: 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 Heathrow terminal 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.