Heathrow Drop Off Charge – £7 Fee, 10-Minute Limit & Guide
Dropping someone off at Heathrow Airport now costs £7 per visit, with a strict 10-minute time limit. These rules, effective from 1 January 2026, apply at every terminal forecourt. Understanding the payment process, exemptions, and penalty risks is essential to avoid unexpected fines.
The charge covers all vehicles entering the designated drop-off zones outside Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. That includes private cars, taxis, ride-hailing services and vans. Heathrow introduced the changes to reduce congestion, noting that 95% of drop-off visits already take less than ten minutes.
Payment is cashless and must be completed online or by phone. There are no ticket machines, barriers or booths on site. Drivers who miss the payment deadline face a Penalty Charge Notice of £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
What Is the Current Heathrow Drop-Off Charge?
Heathrow Drop-Off Charge at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Current Charge | £7 per visit |
| Effective Date of £7 Charge | 1 January 2026 |
| Payment Methods | Online, phone, or app – card only, no cash |
| Maximum Stay | 10 minutes (new limit from 1 Jan 2026) |
Key Insights About the Drop-Off Charge
- The official Heathrow website currently states a £7 charge, while a Heathrow Facebook post announced an increase to £7 from 1 January 2026, creating some confusion about the exact timing.
- There is no free drop-off at any terminal; all vehicles entering the drop-off zone must pay the fee.
- Blue Badge holders may be exempt from both the charge and the time limit, but they must register in advance via the Heathrow website.
- Failure to pay results in a Parking Charge Notice issued by APCOA, which can be challenged online.
- The 10-minute stay limit introduced in 2026 aims to ease congestion, with overstays attracting the same £80 penalty as non-payment.
Key Facts About Heathrow Drop-Off Charges
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Charge per visit | £7 (official site), previously £6 before January 2026 |
| Payment deadline | By midnight the day after drop-off |
| Payment methods | Credit or debit card only – no cash or cheque |
| Exemptions | Blue Badge holders (must register), certain emergency vehicles |
| Time limit | 10 minutes from entry (enforced from 1 Jan 2026) |
| Penalty for non-payment | £80 Parking Charge Notice (£40 if paid within 14 days) |
| Penalty for overstay | £80 Parking Charge Notice (£40 if paid within 14 days) |
| Enforcement | Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras record entry and exit |
| Operator | APCOA Parking manages the scheme and issues PCNs |
How to Pay the Heathrow Drop-Off Charge
Drivers must pay the £7 fee online through the Heathrow drop-off portal, by phone on 0333 200 7459, or via the Heathrow app. The payment deadline is midnight the following day after entering the drop-off zone. ANPR cameras automatically record the vehicle registration on entry, so no physical ticket is issued.
For regular visitors, Heathrow offers an AutoPay feature that links a payment card to the vehicle registration, removing the need to remember each payment. Pre-payment for multiple visits is also possible through the online portal.
Setting up AutoPay through the Heathrow drop-off portal ensures the £7 fee is handled automatically after each visit. This avoids the risk of forgetting to pay and receiving a Penalty Charge Notice. The system works for all terminals and can be managed online at any time.
Can You Pay After Dropping Someone Off?
Yes. Payment can be made after the drop-off, provided it is completed by midnight the following day. The portal requires only the vehicle registration number. There are no on-site payment machines, so drivers who attempt to pay at the terminal will not find a facility.
What Payment Methods Are Accepted?
- Credit and debit cards (all major card types accepted).
- Online via the Heathrow drop-off portal.
- Phone payment to 0333 200 7459.
- AutoPay for automatic card payment.
- No cash, cheque, or on-site terminal payments.
Are There Exemptions From the Heathrow Drop-Off Charge?
Blue Badge Holders
Blue Badge holders are exempt from both the £7 drop-off charge and the 10-minute maximum stay. However, the exemption is not automatic. Drivers must register their vehicle in advance through the Heathrow website so that the ANPR system recognises the badge holder and waives the fee and time limit.
Other Potential Exemptions
No other exemptions have been confirmed in official sources. Licensed taxis, private hire vehicles such as Uber, and commercial vans must all pay the £7 fee. The charge is often passed on to passengers through fare pricing. Emergency vehicles responding to incidents are expected to be exempt, though detailed criteria are not published on the main Heathrow drop-off page.
Is There a Free Drop-Off Option?
There is no free drop-off at any terminal forecourt. The only way to avoid the charge entirely is to use alternative transport such as the Heathrow Express, London Underground, or buses. For those driving, the long-stay car parks offer 30 minutes free parking with a shuttle bus to the terminals, but this is not a dedicated drop-off zone.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay the Drop-Off Charge?
Non-payment or overstaying the 10-minute limit results in a Penalty Charge Notice of £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. APCOA, the enforcement operator, issues the notice by post based on ANPR camera records. If ignored, further enforcement action may follow.
The £80 PCN applies both for failing to pay the £7 charge and for staying longer than 10 minutes. These are separate violations. A driver who both fails to pay and overstays may receive two separate notices. Early payment within 14 days halves the penalty to £40 in each case.
How to Appeal a Parking Charge Notice
Appeals against a PCN can be submitted online through the Heathrow drop-off PCN portal, operated by APCOA. Valid grounds for appeal include unclear signage, evidence of payment attempts, the notice arriving outside the statutory timeframe, or proof of error in the ANPR recording. The portal requires the PCN number and vehicle registration.
All appeals and PCN payments are handled via the official APCOA portal. Phone support is available on 0333 200 7459. Refund requests for incorrect payments should be directed to refunds.heathrowdropoff@apcoa.com. Heathrow recommends checking the portal for the latest instructions before submitting a challenge.
What Are the Time Limits in Heathrow Drop-Off Zones?
10-Minute Maximum Stay
From 1 January 2026, all terminal drop-off zones have a 10-minute maximum stay. The countdown begins when the vehicle enters the zone, recorded by ANPR cameras. Exceeding the limit triggers a Penalty Charge Notice, regardless of whether the £7 fee has been paid.
What Is the Grace Period?
No formal grace period beyond the 10-minute limit has been published. Heathrow has stated that 95% of drop-off visits complete within 10 minutes, suggesting the limit is designed to target only the longest stays. Drivers who need more time should use a short-stay car park instead.
Can You Wait or Pick Up Passengers?
Waiting and pick-ups are not permitted in the drop-off zones. Vehicles must not be left unattended. For picking up arriving passengers, drivers must use the terminal short-stay car parks. The long-stay car parks offer 30 minutes free parking with a free shuttle to the terminals.
Is the Drop-Off Charge the Same at All Heathrow Terminals?
Yes. The £7 charge and the 10-minute limit apply uniformly across Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. There are no reduced rates or any specific terminal. Each terminal has its own designated drop-off forecourt, and the same ANPR enforcement system operates at all locations.
Terminal 2, 3, 4 and 5 Drop-Off Zones
Each terminal has clearly signed drop-off lanes leading directly to the terminal entrance. The charge is per entry, so visiting multiple terminals in one journey would incur a separate £7 fee for each terminal forecourt entered. Heathrow advises planning the drop-off route carefully to avoid multiple charges.
Timeline of Heathrow Drop-Off Charges
- Pre-2025: Heathrow introduced a drop-off charge at an initial amount not specified in available sources. The scheme was progressively expanded to all terminals.
- 1 January 2025: The charge was set at £6 per visit, with no published time limit in the drop-off zones.
- 1 January 2026: The charge increased to £7 per visit, and a 10-minute maximum stay was introduced across all terminal forecourts. Payment deadline remained midnight the following day.
Certainty vs Uncertainty About the Drop-Off Charge
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| The charge is per visit regardless of which terminal is used. | The current charge as of late 2025: Heathrow.com states £7, but a Heathrow Facebook post implies the rate was £6 before the January 2026 increase. No official clarification reconciling this discrepancy was found in available sources. |
| Payment must be made by credit or debit card; no cash is accepted. | The full list of exemptions beyond Blue Badge holders has not been published in detail. Specific emergency vehicle criteria are not clearly defined. |
| Non-payment leads to a Parking Charge Notice issued by APCOA. | Whether a formal grace period existed before the 10-minute limit was introduced is not documented in official sources. |
| The charge increased to £7 and the 10-minute limit was introduced on 1 January 2026, per Heathrow’s official announcements. | It is uncertain whether the Heathrow website reflected the £7 charge prematurely or whether the Facebook post referred to a different component of the fee structure. |
Analysis: Why the Confusion and What It Means for Drivers
The discrepancy between the Heathrow website stating a £7 charge and the Heathrow Facebook post announcing an increase to £7 from 1 January 2026 has created uncertainty. It is possible that the website was updated ahead of the official change date, or that the Facebook post was referring to a different aspect of the pricing structure. Drivers should check the official Heathrow drop-off page on the day of travel for the most current rate.
The introduction of the 10-minute limit signals a shift toward stricter enforcement. Drivers who previously lingered in the drop-off zone without penalty now face a clear time constraint. Understanding the appeals process through APCOA is essential for anyone who receives a PCN. Using the free 30-minute parking at long-stay car parks with shuttle access remains a viable alternative for those who want to avoid the charge entirely.
Official Sources and Quotations
“The £7 charge applies each time your vehicle enters a terminal drop-off zone – £7 for every single visit. Payments can only be made by card.”
— Heathrow.com, Terminal Drop-Off Charge page
“From 1 January 2026, the Terminal Drop-Off Charge will increase to £7. We will also be introducing a maximum stay of 10 minutes in the drop-off zone.”
— Heathrow Airport, official Facebook announcement
“From 1 January 2025, all vehicles entering Heathrow terminal drop-off areas will pay a £6 charge per visit, though discounts and exemptions apply.”
— Inshur blog, Heathrow drop-off charge explainer
Summary: What to Know Before You Drive to Heathrow
The Heathrow drop-off charge is £7 per visit with a 10-minute maximum stay, enforced by ANPR cameras across all terminals. Payment must be made by card online or by phone before midnight the following day. Blue Badge holders can register for an exemption. Non-payment or overstay results in an £80 Penalty Charge Notice. For the latest information, check Heathrow Airport Terminal Drop-Off Charge: Comprehensive 2026 Update on the official Heathrow website before travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay the Heathrow drop-off charge with cash?
No. Payments must be made by credit or debit card online, by phone, or via the Heathrow app. No cash or cheques are accepted.
Is there a charge for dropping off at Heathrow Terminal 2?
Yes. The same £7 charge applies at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. There are no reduced rates at any terminal.
How long can I stay in the Heathrow drop-off zone?
From 1 January 2026, the maximum stay is 10 minutes. Exceeding this limit results in an £80 Penalty Charge Notice.
Do taxis and ride-shares have to pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?
Yes. The charge applies to all vehicles entering the drop-off zone, including taxis, private hire vehicles and vans.
Where can I appeal a Heathrow drop-off parking charge?
Appeals and PCN payments are handled through the official APCOA portal. You will need the PCN number and vehicle registration.
When did the Heathrow drop-off charge increase to £7?
The increase from £6 to £7 took effect on 1 January 2026, along with the introduction of the 10-minute maximum stay.
Can I drop someone off for free at Heathrow?
No. All terminal drop-off zones require payment. The only free option is the long-stay car park with 30 minutes free parking and a shuttle bus.
Is the Heathrow drop-off charge per person or per vehicle?
The charge is per vehicle per entry into a drop-off zone, regardless of how many passengers are in the car.
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