Heathrow Airport drop-off charge
£7 per entry. Here's how to pay it, what happens if you forget, and the free way to drop off or pick up at London Heathrow Airport.
When do I have to pay by?
Pay on Heathrow's official site
We don't take payments. That link goes to the airport's own page.
The charge
| Time | Price |
|---|---|
| Every entry into a terminal drop-off zone | £7.00 |
It's a flat £7 every time your vehicle enters a drop-off zone, however short the stop. Go round again and you pay again. No pick-ups or waiting are allowed in the drop-off zones. The charge applies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
How to pay Pay later, by midnight the day after
- Online on Heathrow's Terminal Drop-Off Charge page (single drop-off, prepay, or autopay with an account)
- By automated phone line: 0330 008 5600
- Card only. You can't pay at a ticket machine or in the drop-off zone
Can you pay in advance? Yes. You can prepay for one or more drop-offs online or by phone; prepaid credit lasts 12 months.
Forgot to pay?
If it's not paid by midnight the day after, London Heathrow Airport sends a Parking Charge to the registered keeper. £80 Parking Charge, cut to £40 if paid within 14 days.
You can still pay or appeal it: follow the instructions on the letter. APCOA customer services 0333 200 7459; refunds: refunds.heathrowdropoff@apcoa.com.
Free drop-off and pick-up
Drop-off is free in Heathrow's Park & Ride car parks, where passengers take a free bus transfer to the terminal. For pick-ups, Park & Ride is free for the first 29 minutes.
Picking someone up at Heathrow
| Time | Price |
|---|---|
| 0–29 minutes | £8.00 |
| 30–44 minutes | £12.50 |
| 45–59 minutes | £15.50 |
| 1–2 hours | £20.00 |
| Time | Price |
|---|---|
| 0–29 minutes | Free |
| 30 minutes – 1 hour 59 minutes | £9.40 |
| Time | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 minutes | £7.00 |
| 11–29 minutes | £14.00 |
| 30–60 minutes | £25.00 |
| Time | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | Free |
| 2–4 hours | £9.40 |
You can't pick up from the terminal forecourt drop-off zones. Heathrow says pick-ups must be made from its Terminal Parking or Park & Ride car parks. Uber riders meet their driver on foot in their terminal's Terminal Parking car park. From 23 June 2026 the Terminal 4 multi-storey car park closed for redevelopment, so T4 pick-ups use the Priority Pick-Up area or Park & Ride Zone A.
Blue Badge holders and discounts
UK and EEA Blue Badge holders can get a 100% discount on the drop-off charge through a Heathrow Blue Badge Account, even if they don't own the car. Register at least 7 days before your next visit (approval can take up to 5 days); then confirm each visit before it or by midnight the day after. By phone (0333 200 7459) you must apply at least 14 days before. Blue Badge holders also get the first 2 hours free in Park & Ride car parks.
Emergency and military vehicles are exempt. Motorbikes, buses and coaches, recovery vehicles and Heathrow Valet Parking bookings get a 100% discount automatically. There's no exemption for electric cars. Taxis and private hire vehicles pay too.
Where to go
Each terminal has its own drop-off zone on the forecourt. Number plate cameras record you on entry; there are no barriers.
By terminal
Lift or park: which is cheaper?
Being dropped off and picked up means your driver does the trip twice each way: four journeys. This adds that up using Heathrow's own charges.
15p a mile is a starting point; change it to suit your car. Parking prices change by date, so get a quote from the airport's own parking site.
Questions
How much is the drop-off charge at Heathrow Airport?
£7 per entry in the Terminal Drop-Off zones (T2, T3, T4 and T5 forecourts). It's a flat £7 every time your vehicle enters a drop-off zone, however short the stop. Go round again and you pay again. No pick-ups or waiting are allowed in the drop-off zones. The charge applies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
How do I pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?
Online on Heathrow's Terminal Drop-Off Charge page (single drop-off, prepay, or autopay with an account); By automated phone line: 0330 008 5600; Card only. You can't pay at a ticket machine or in the drop-off zone. You must pay by midnight the day after.
What happens if I forget to pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?
£80 Parking Charge, cut to £40 if paid within 14 days. It's sent to the registered keeper of the car.
Can I pay the Heathrow drop-off charge in advance?
Yes. You can prepay for one or more drop-offs online or by phone; prepaid credit lasts 12 months.
Is there free drop-off at Heathrow Airport?
Drop-off is free in Heathrow's Park & Ride car parks, where passengers take a free bus transfer to the terminal. For pick-ups, Park & Ride is free for the first 29 minutes.
Do Blue Badge holders pay to drop off at Heathrow Airport?
UK and EEA Blue Badge holders can get a 100% discount on the drop-off charge through a Heathrow Blue Badge Account, even if they don't own the car. Register at least 7 days before your next visit (approval can take up to 5 days); then confirm each visit before it or by midnight the day after. By phone (0333 200 7459) you must apply at least 14 days before. Blue Badge holders also get the first 2 hours free in Park & Ride car parks.
Where do I pick someone up at Heathrow Airport?
Terminal Parking (T2, T3, T5), 2-minute walk (0–29 minutes: £8.00). You can't pick up from the terminal forecourt drop-off zones. Heathrow says pick-ups must be made from its Terminal Parking or Park & Ride car parks. Uber riders meet their driver on foot in their terminal's Terminal Parking car park. From 23 June 2026 the Terminal 4 multi-storey car park closed for redevelopment, so T4 pick-ups use the Priority Pick-Up area or Park & Ride Zone A.
Sources
Checked on London Heathrow Airport's own website on 15 October 2026. Airports change these charges often, so check the signs on the day. Spotted a change? Email hello@airportdropoff.co.uk.