Quick answer: The Gatwick drop-off charge is £10 for up to 10 minutes in the forecourt drop-off zones at North and South Terminal, then £1 for each extra minute up to 20 minutes. The maximum stay is 30 minutes, and the maximum charge is £30. Pay online, by phone on 0330 174 4503 or through AutoPay, no later than midnight on the day after your visit. Otherwise, you will get a £100 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. To avoid the charge, use a Long Stay car park, which is free for up to two hours and has a free shuttle bus to both terminals.
Information checked against London Gatwick’s official drop-off page and FAQs in October 2026.
Gatwick Drop Off Charge 2026 at a Glance
| What you need to know | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum charge | £10 for up to 10 minutes (up from £7 in January 2026) |
| Extra time | £1 for each additional minute, up to 20 minutes |
| Maximum stay | 30 minutes |
| Maximum charge | £30 |
| Where it applies | Forecourt drop-off zones at North Terminal and South Terminal |
| Payment deadline | Midnight on the day after your visit |
| How to pay | Online, automated phone line (0330 174 4503) or AutoPay |
| If you do not pay | £100 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days |
| Free alternative | Long Stay car parks: up to 2 hours free, with a free 24-hour shuttle bus |
| Taxis and minicabs | Not exempt, so they pay the same charge |
How to Pay the Gatwick Drop Off Charge
There are no barriers on Gatwick’s forecourts. Cameras record when your car enters and leaves the zone, and your charge is worked out from that time. This is why Gatwick asks you to pay after you have left the zone, not before. You cannot pay at the kerb or at a machine.
Pay online
Use the “Pay drop-off charge online” button on Gatwick’s official drop-off charges page. Enter your registration and visit details, then pay by card. Starting from Gatwick’s own website is the easiest way to be sure you are on the genuine payment site.
Pay by phone
Call the automated payment line on 0330 174 4503. This is useful if you want it done before you leave the airport roads.
Set up AutoPay
If you use Gatwick regularly, register your vehicle for an AutoPay account,t and each visit is charged automatically. You must set it up before you enter the zone. If you have already used the zone, pay that visit online or by phone first, then set up AutoPay for future trips.
The payment deadline and how the minutes add up
The deadline is midnight on the day after your visit, so a drop-off at 5 am on Saturday must be paid by 23:59 on Sunday. Watch the clock too. A quick 8-minute stop costs £10, but a 15-minute goodbye costs £15, and 20 minutes costs £20.
Gatwick North Terminal and South Terminal Drop-Off Zones
Both drop-off zones sit on the lower level of the forecourt, a short walk from check-in. From Camberley, our drivers normally take the M3 to the M25 at Junction 12, head east on the M25 to Junction 7, then follow the M23 south to Junction 9 for the airport.
| Terminal | Where the drop-off zone is | From M23 Junction 9 |
|---|---|---|
| North Terminal | Lower level, between the Sofitel and the multi-storey car park | Go straight ahead at the J9a roundabout following North Terminal signs, then take the first exit at the next roundabout |
| South Terminal | Lower level of the forecourt | Use the filter lane and turn left at the J9a roundabout for South Terminal, then follow the Drop Off signs. |
Dropped at the wrong terminal? Do not drive round to the other one, because that counts as a new visit and costs another £10. Gatwick’s free inter-terminal shuttle runs 24 hours a day and takes about two minutes, so your passenger can simply ride across. For journey times and route tips from our area, see our Frimley to Gatwick taxi guide.
The Free Option: Drop Off in Gatwick Long Stay
Gatwick’s Long Stay car parks are free for up to two hours when you are dropping off or picking up. Take a ticket at the barrier, park in a normal bay, and walk your passenger to the shuttle stop. The free shuttle buses run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, usually every 10 to 12 minutes. Gatwick puts the ride at about 5 to 10 minutes to the South Terminal and 10 to 12 minutes to the North Terminal, but advises allowing extra time at busy periods. If you stay longer than two hours, roll-up parking rates apply.
Our honest view: Gatwick’s free option is much more generous than Heathrow’s, which only gives you 29 minutes. With two hours, you can walk your passenger to the bus without rushing. For a solo traveller with a cabin bag, it is an easy saving. For a family with several large cases, the extra lifting, the wait and the bus ride often make £10 at the kerb the better choice.
Gatwick Drop Off Options Compared
| Option | Cost | Time to the terminal door | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forecourt drop-off zone | £10 for 10 minutes, then £1 a minute | You stop right at the kerb | Heavy luggage, families, tight timings | Pay after leaving, by midnight the next day, with a 30-minute maximum stay |
| Long Stay car park | Free for up to 2 hours | Shuttle every 10 to 12 minutes, plus a 5 to 12 minute ride | Light luggage, time to spare | Allow extra time at busy periods |
| Short-stay car park | £8 for up to 30 minutes | Short walk to the terminal | Pick-ups, or walking someone in | Roll-up rates after 30 minutes |
| Pre-booked taxi | Fixed fare agreed when you book | You stop right at the kerb | No driving, parking or payment admin | When comparing firms, check whether quotes include the charge |
What Happens If You Do Not Pay?
Miss the midnight deadline and a £100 Parking Charge Notice is issued to the registered keeper, cut to £60 if paid within 14 days. Gatwick’s drop-off scheme is run by Times24, and the PCN letter explains how to pay or appeal on the Times24 website. For questions about a drop-off payment, Gatwick directs drivers to appeals@times24.co.uk.
Do not be tempted to stop on the approach roads instead. Gatwick has red routes around the airport where stopping, waiting and unloading are not allowed. Breaking them also brings a £100 enforcement charge, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. The two legal ways to drop off without paying are the Long Stay car parks or a registered Blue Badge exemption.
Blue Badge Exemption at Gatwick
Blue Badge holders are exempt from the Gatwick drop-off charge, but only if the vehicle is registered in advance through Times24. A few rules matter:
- Register for every trip. You can register any time from three months before your flight up to the day before you travel. Applications made on the day may not be accepted.
- The exemption covers 30 minutes. Each registered drop-off gives you a free 30-minute session in the zone.
- Travelling by taxi? Register using the taxi’s number plate, then show the confirmation email to your driver. If you book with us, ask for the vehicle registration when you book, and we can give you the details in time to register.
- Using your own car with AutoPay? Switch AutoPay off for that visit, or the charge may still be taken automatically.
If you need a badge in the first place, you can apply for a Blue Badge on GOV.UK.
Do Taxis Pay the Gatwick Drop Off Charge?
Yes. Taxis and private hire vehicles are not exempt, so every taxi that uses the forecourt pays the charge. What varies is how that cost reaches you. Some firms build it into the price, some add it as an extra at the end, and metered taxis may simply add it to the fare.
When you book a Gatwick airport taxi with us, your fare is fixed when you book, with no hidden charges added at the end. Because the drop-off is tied to our vehicle, there is no deadline for you to remember and no penalty notice can ever be sent to you. If you are weighing up when to book, our guide on whether to pre-book a taxi to Gatwick or book on the day will help.
Picking Someone Up from Gatwick?
Gatwick asks drivers to collect passengers from the Short Stay car parks, because pick-ups usually take longer than drop-offs and the forecourt zones are charged by the minute. Short Stay costs £8 for up to 30 minutes. Alternatively, park free for up to two hours in Long Stay and let your passenger take the shuttle out to you. Taxi and private hire drivers are directed to meet passengers in the Short Stay car parks, while Uber has its own signposted areas.
On arrivals, we track your flight, and your driver gets in touch before pickup, so you know exactly where to go once you are through baggage reclaim. Find out how our meet and greet airport pickup works.
Gatwick vs Heathrow Drop Off Charges
If you fly from both airports, the rules differ more than most people expect:
| Gatwick | Heathrow | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic charge | £10 for up to 10 minutes | £7 per entry |
| Staying longer | £1 a minute up to 20 minutes, with a 30-minute maximum stay | 10-minute maximum stay |
| Payment deadline | Midnight the day after | Midnight the day after |
| Penalty | £100, or £60 within 14 days | £80, or £40 within 14 days |
| Free option | Long Stay, free for up to 2 hours | Park & Ride, free for up to 29 minutes |
| Blue Badge | Register each trip, from 3 months before up to the day before | Register a Blue Badge account at least 7 days before first use |
For the full Heathrow rules, terminal by terminal, read our guide to the Heathrow drop-off charge.
Tips from Our Drivers for a Smooth Gatwick Drop-Off
- Pay after you leave, not before. Gatwick calculates the charge from your exit time, so pay once you are out of the zone, then forget about it.
- Unload in one go. Have bags ready by the boot and passports in hand, because every minute after the first 10 costs £1.
- Check North or South the night before. If you do get it wrong, use the free inter-terminal shuttle rather than driving into a second zone.
- Never stop on a red route. A quick roadside drop costs more than the forecourt if it is caught on camera.
- Blue Badge holders, register early. The cut-off is the day before you travel, so do it when you book your trip.
- Using Long Stay? Build extra time into your plan for the wait and the shuttle ride, especially in the morning rush.
FAQs
How much is the Gatwick drop-off charge in 2026?
It is £10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 for each additional minute up to 20 minutes. The maximum stay is 30 minutes, and the maximum charge is £30.
How do I pay the Gatwick drop-off charge?
Pay online through Gatwick’s official drop-off page, by phone on 0330 174 4503, or automatically with an AutoPay account set up before your visit. Pay after you have left the zone.
When do I have to pay the Gatwick drop-off charge by?
By midnight on the day after your visit to the drop-off zone.
Can I drop off for free at Gatwick?
Yes. The Long Stay car parks are free for up to two hours when you are dropping off or picking up, and a free shuttle bus runs 24 hours a day to both terminals.
What is the fine for not paying the Gatwick drop-off charge?
A £100 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Is the drop-off charge the same at North and South Terminal?
Yes. The same tariff, time limits and payment rules apply at both terminals.
Do taxis pay the Gatwick drop-off charge?
Yes. Taxis and private hire vehicles are not exempt. Check whether a quote includes the charge. With Camberley Cars, your fare is fixed when you book, with no hidden charges added at the end.
Can I pick someone up in the Gatwick drop-off zone?
Gatwick asks drivers to use the Short Stay car parks for pick-ups, because collections take longer and the forecourt zones are charged by the minute with a 30-minute maximum stay.
Are Blue Badge holders exempt from the Gatwick drop-off charge?
Yes, if the vehicle is registered in advance for each trip, from three months before up to the day before travel. The exemption covers a 30-minute drop-off session.
Skip the Gatwick Drop Off Charge Hassle
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