What does it cost to drop off at Heathrow Airport?
Heathrow Airport charges £7 every time a vehicle enters a terminal drop-off area, at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. The charge applies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The most important thing to remember: you can't pay at the airport. Pay online, by phone or with autopay, by midnight on the day after your visit.
Heathrow Drop-Off Charges: Good To Know
If you're using any of the Heathrow Airport drop-off areas, these four points could save you a lot of trouble.
1. It's £7 for every visit
If you leave and come back in, you pay again: two visits cost £14.
2. There's a drop-off zone at every terminal
Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 each have a drop-off zone in front of the terminal building, and the same rules apply at all of them.
3. You can't pay at the airport
Cameras read your number plate as you enter. There's no ticket machine in the drop-off zones, so pay online, on the automated phone line (0330 008 5600) or with autopay, by midnight on the day after your visit. Payment is by card only.
4. Don't leave your vehicle unattended
No waiting or pick-ups are allowed in the drop-off areas, and vehicles left unattended will be removed by the police.
How do I pay Heathrow Drop-Off Charges?
You have three ways to pay:
- Online, on Heathrow's drop-off payment website (run by APCOA Parking). Enter your registration number to find your visit.
- By phone, on the automated line: 0330 008 5600.
- With autopay, once you've set up a free account (see below).
Payments are by card only; cash and cheques aren't accepted.
How does drop-off at Heathrow Airport work?
When you arrive, drive straight into the drop-off zone in front of your terminal, drop your passengers off and drive away. Cameras record your number plate, and the £7 charge applies to every single visit.
Pick-ups aren't allowed in the drop-off areas. To collect someone, use the terminal car parks or a Park & Ride car park.
Can I pay Heathrow Drop-Off Charges in advance?
Yes, and it's the easiest way to make sure you don't forget. You can pay for a single drop-off or pre-pay for several, online or by phone. Prepayments last for 12 months, and any unused prepaid funds expire 12 months from the date you bought them.
A free personal account lets you add a vehicle, pre-pay, set up autopay and see your trip history. Businesses, taxi drivers and private-hire operators can open a free business account with several vehicles and autopay.
What happens if I don't pay?
If the charge isn't paid by midnight on the day after your visit, the vehicle's owner is sent an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if it's paid within 14 days. Heathrow's drop-off charge page explains how to pay or appeal one.
Free drop-off at Heathrow Airport
Free drop-off is available at Heathrow's Park & Ride car parks (previously called Long Stay), where your passengers can take a free bus to the terminal:
- Terminals 2 & 3: Long Stay Terminal 2 & 3, Eastern Perimeter Road, TW6 2SB
- Terminal 4: Long Stay Terminal 4, Scylla Road, TW6 3XL
- Terminal 5: Long Stay Terminal 5, Northern Perimeter Road, TW6 2RL
Don't book in advance: drive up to the gates and take a ticket. The first 29 minutes are free, and staying between 30 minutes and 1 hour 59 minutes costs £9.40, paid at the machines when you leave. The buses run every 15 minutes between 04:00 and 23:30.
Our Airport Free Drop-Off Checker shows the free drop-off options at other major UK airports too.
Exemptions and discounts
These don't pay the charge, and don't need to apply:
- emergency service vehicles, such as police, ambulances and fire engines
- military vehicles
- roadside recovery vehicles, two-wheeled motorbikes, and buses and coaches (there are height restrictions on the forecourts)
- vehicles booked into Heathrow Valet Parking
There's no exemption or discount for electric vehicles, and all taxis (black cabs) and private-hire vehicles pay the £7 charge each time they enter.
Blue Badge holders
If you hold a UK or EEA Blue Badge, you can apply for a 100% discount for the vehicle that drops you off, even if you don't drive or own a vehicle.
Apply online by creating a Blue Badge account and uploading your badge once, on the Blue Badge application page. Approval can take up to 5 days, so apply at least 7 days before your next visit. If you can't apply online, call customer services on 0333 200 7459 at least 14 days before you drop off. If you're arriving by taxi, apply with the taxi's registration number, up to 3 months in advance.
At the Park & Ride car parks, Blue Badge holders get the first 2 hours free.
Who runs the Heathrow drop-off scheme?
APCOA Parking runs it for Heathrow. Customer services: 0333 200 7459. Refunds: refunds.heathrowdropoff@apcoa.com. Complaints: complaints.heathrowdropoff@apcoa.com.
Parking at Heathrow Airport
If you'd rather park than drop off, we compare Heathrow Airport parking, including Park & Ride, the official terminal car parks and Meet & Greet. Search your dates at the top of this page for prices you can book.
Charges and rules checked on 28 October 2026 against Heathrow's official Terminal Drop-Off Charge page. They can change, so check there before you travel.