2026 drop-off charges
Heathrow Drop-Off Charge 2026
Heathrow charges £7 per terminal drop-off entry. Check the 10-minute limit, next-day payment deadline, free Park & Ride and Blue Badge discount rules.
Heathrow charges £7 each time a vehicle enters a terminal drop-off zone at Terminals 2, 3, 4 or 5. The forecourt has a 10-minute maximum stay and permits set-down only. Pay online, by phone or through AutoPay by midnight the day after the visit. Missing the deadline can lead to an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. Heathrow Park & Ride is free for the first 29 minutes, and eligible Blue Badge passengers can register for a 100% terminal drop-off discount.
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 entry | 10-minute maximum; set-down only | A fast drop and go |
| Park and Ride car park plus shuttle | Free for 29 minutes | Up to 29 minutes free | A calm, unhurried drop-off |
| Registered Blue Badge terminal drop-off | 100% discount | Register each visit | Eligible Blue Badge passengers |
Practical note: Good to know: the camera records each entry as you enter the terminal drop-off zone, so circling back can create a second £7 charge. Have passengers ready to leave the vehicle, use a car park for waiting or collecting, and pay online before the deadline.
How much is the Heathrow drop-off charge in 2026?
Heathrow charges a flat £7 every time a vehicle enters a terminal drop-off zone. The fee rose from £6 on 1 January 2026 and is identical at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Heathrow also introduced a 10-minute maximum stay. The forecourt is for set-down only, with no waiting or passenger collection. The payment system is operated for Heathrow by APCOA.
How to pay the Heathrow drop-off charge
The drop-off zones have no barriers or payment machines. Pay by card online at heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com, by automated phone on 0330 008 5600, or through an APCOA AutoPay account. You can pay before the trip or by midnight the day after entering the zone. Cash and cheque are not accepted. Each entry needs a separate £7 payment unless an approved discount applies.
Heathrow drop-off locations for Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5
Each terminal has its own forecourt. For Terminal 2, follow Constellation Way and take the up ramp. Terminal 3 uses Cosmopolitan Way into Camborne Road, where four drop-off lanes serve the forecourt. For Terminal 4, follow Stratford Road to the three lanes at the top of the ramp. Terminal 5 uses Wayfarer Road, which splits into two drop-off lanes at the top of the ramp. Follow Drop-Off signs for the passenger's terminal; entering another forecourt creates another £7 charge.
The deadline and what happens if you forget to pay
Payment is due by 23:59 the day after your visit. Missing the deadline can lead to an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. Do not assume that a late £7 payment will cancel a Parking Charge. Follow the payment or appeal instructions on any notice you receive. Set up AutoPay before a future visit if you want APCOA to collect each drop-off charge from your card.
How to avoid the Heathrow drop-off charge
Use Heathrow Park & Ride for a free drop-off followed by the free terminal shuttle. Check the current car park conditions and leave within the free period. Heathrow also includes Hatton Cross in its free rail-transfer zone, but that is a rail interchange benefit, not permission to stop a car at the kerb. Use an authorised parking or drop-off area.
Blue Badge discount and registration deadlines
Eligible UK and EEA Blue Badge passengers can receive a 100% discount on the terminal drop-off charge, including when travelling in a taxi or someone else's car. Heathrow requires a Blue Badge Account and says the first application must be made at least seven days before the next visit; approval can take up to five days. Once the account is active, register the visit date and vehicle number before travel or by midnight the following day. Passengers who cannot apply online can call APCOA, but Heathrow asks them to apply at least 14 days before the drop-off. Blue Badge holders can also use Park & Ride free for the first two hours by using the entry and exit call points.
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?
Pay by 23:59 the day after entering the drop-off zone. Missing the deadline can lead to an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
What happens if I forget to pay the Heathrow drop off charge?
Heathrow can issue an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. Do not assume that a late £7 payment cancels it. Follow the payment or appeal instructions on the notice. AutoPay can prevent the same mistake on a future visit.
Is there a free drop off at Heathrow?
Yes. Heathrow directs drivers to its Park & Ride car parks for free drop-off and a free terminal shuttle. Check the current free period and car park conditions. Hatton Cross free rail travel does not make its surrounding roads an authorised airport drop-off area.
Is Heathrow Park and Ride free for dropping off?
Heathrow offers free drop-off at Park & Ride with a free terminal shuttle, including as an alternative for taxis and private-hire vehicles. Check the current car park entry conditions and free time before travelling; this is not permission to wait indefinitely.
How can I avoid the Heathrow drop off charge?
Use the official Park & Ride drop-off alternative and free shuttle, or follow the Blue Badge registration process if eligible. Do not use Hatton Cross kerbs or roads as an assumed free drop-off area: the airport free-travel map describes rail transfers, not car stopping rights.
Are Blue Badge holders exempt from the Heathrow drop off charge?
Eligible UK and EEA Blue Badge passengers can claim a 100% discount, but Heathrow requires an approved Blue Badge Account and registration of the visit date and vehicle. Heathrow says new applications should be made at least seven days before the next visit because approval can take up to five days.
How long can you stop at Heathrow drop off?
The £7 forecourt has a 10-minute maximum stay and is for setting down only. Waiting and picking up are prohibited, so use Terminal Parking or Park and Ride when more time is needed.
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: August 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.
More official sources: Heathrow Park & Ride prices, shuttle times and locations · Heathrow free travel map · Heathrow 2026 charge and maximum-stay decision