Quick answer: The Heathrow drop off charge is £7 every time a vehicle enters the drop-off zone outside Terminals 2, 3, 4 or 5, at any hour of the day or night. Pay online, by phone on 0330 008 5600 or through Autopay, no later than midnight on the day after your visit. Miss the deadline and you get an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. To avoid it, drop off free at a Heathrow Park & Ride car park and use the free shuttle bus, or book a taxi whose fixed fare already covers the charge.
Information checked against Heathrow’s official Terminal Drop-Off Charge page in October 2026.
Heathrow Drop Off Charge 2026 at a Glance
| What you need to know | Details |
|---|---|
| Charge | £7 per entry (up from £6 on 1 January 2026) |
| Where it applies | Forecourt drop-off zones at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
| When it applies | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Maximum stay | 10 minutes |
| Payment deadline | Midnight on the day after your visit |
| How to pay | Online, automated phone line (0330 008 5600) or Autopay. Card only. |
| If you do not pay | £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days |
| Free alternative | Park & Ride car parks: first 29 minutes free, plus a free shuttle bus |
| Taxis and minicabs | Pay the same £7 every time they enter |
How to Pay the Heathrow Drop Off Charge
There are no barriers or ticket machines. Cameras read your number plate as you drive in, and you pay afterwards or in advance. Payment is by card only. Cash and cheques are not accepted, and you cannot pay at the drop-off zone itself.
Pay online
Use the “Pay now” button on Heathrow’s official Terminal Drop-Off Charge page. It takes you to the payment portal run for Heathrow by APCOA, where you enter your registration and the date of your visit. Starting from Heathrow’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 008 5600 and pay by card. This is handy if you want it settled before you even leave the airport.
Set up Autopay or prepay
If you drop off at Heathrow more than a couple of times a year, a free personal account lets you register your car and switch on Autopay, so every visit is charged automatically. You can also prepay for several drop-offs, and prepaid credit lasts 12 months from purchase.
The payment deadline
If you pay after your visit, the deadline is midnight on the day after you used the zone. Drop off at 6am on Monday and you have until 23:59 on Tuesday. The charge also applies per entry, so if you drive in, leave and come back because someone forgot a bag, you owe £14.
Heathrow Terminal Drop Off Zones (T2, T3, T4 and T5)
Each terminal has its own forecourt zone, and the same £7 charge applies at all four. Here is how to find each one, plus the route our drivers normally take from Camberley. From town we join the M3 at Junction 3 (Lightwater) or Junction 4 (Frimley), then switch to the M25 northbound at Junction 12.
| Terminal | Where the drop-off zone is | Usual route from Camberley |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 | Off Constellation Way. Follow the up ramp to the forecourt. | M25 to Junction 15, M4 east to Junction 4, then the airport spur and tunnel into the central terminal area |
| Terminal 3 | Cosmopolitan Way onto Camborne Road, with four drop-off lanes | Same as Terminal 2, via the central terminal area |
| Terminal 4 | Stratford Road, with three lanes at the top of the ramp | M25 Junction 14, then follow Terminal 4 signs along the Southern Perimeter Road |
| Terminal 5 | Wayfarer Road, splitting into two lanes at the top of the ramp | M25 Junction 14, then the dedicated Terminal 5 spur road |
Double-check your terminal on your booking before you set off. If you drive into the wrong forecourt first and then go to the right one, that counts as two entries and two charges. For typical journey times and traffic advice, see our Camberley to Heathrow taxi guide.
The Free Option: Drop Off at Heathrow Park & Ride
Heathrow’s Park & Ride car parks are the official way to drop off without paying £7. Many road signs still call them Long Stay. You drive in and take a ticket, your passenger catches the free shuttle bus to the terminal doors, and you leave within 29 minutes at no cost. If you stay longer, anything from 30 minutes up to 1 hour 59 minutes costs £9.40.
| Park & Ride car park | Address | Shuttle time to terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Terminals 2 and 3 | Eastern Perimeter Road, TW6 2SB | 10 to 20 minutes |
| Terminal 4 | Scylla Road, off the Southern Perimeter Road, TW6 3XL | 10 to 15 minutes |
| Terminal 5 | Northern Perimeter Road, TW6 2RL | 7 to 10 minutes |
Shuttles run every 15 minutes between 04:00 and 23:30. Outside those hours you need to phone 020 8745 6261 to request a transfer.
Our honest view: Park & Ride is good value if you are travelling light and have time to spare. Once you add the wait for the bus and the ride itself, it can put anywhere from 10 to 35 minutes on the journey. With two big suitcases, young children or a tight check-in, most travellers find £7 for kerbside drop-off is money well spent.
Heathrow Drop Off Options Compared
| Option | Cost | Time to the terminal door | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forecourt drop-off zone | £7 per entry | You stop right at the kerb | Heavy luggage, families, tight timings | Pay by midnight the next day, 10-minute limit, no waiting |
| Park & Ride | Free up to 29 minutes | Bus wait of up to 15 minutes, plus a 7 to 20 minute ride | Light luggage, flexible timings | Regular shuttles stop at 23:30, and £9.40 if you stay 30 minutes or more |
| Terminal Parking (formerly Short Stay) | Normal parking charges for the time you stay | Short walk | Walking passengers in, or collecting someone | Costs add up if you stay a long time |
| Pre-booked taxi | Handled within our fixed fare | You stop right at the kerb | No driving, parking or payment admin | When comparing firms, check the quote includes the charge |
For a wider cost comparison, read our guide to airport parking vs taxi vs Uber.
What Happens If You Forget to Pay?
Heathrow uses automatic number-plate recognition, so an unpaid visit leads to an £80 Parking Charge sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle. It drops to £40 if you pay within 14 days. A few other rules catch people out:
- 10-minute maximum stay. APCOA, which runs the scheme for Heathrow, has a 10-minute limit on all forecourts, and staying longer can also lead to a Parking Charge.
- No waiting or pick-ups. The forecourts are for setting passengers down only.
- Never leave the car. Unattended vehicles in the drop-off zones can be towed or removed by the police.
If you have paid but still receive a Parking Charge, or paid twice by mistake, contact APCOA customer services on 0333 200 7459 and have your payment receipt ready.
Blue Badge Holders and Other Exemptions
Holders of a valid UK or EEA Blue Badge can get a 100% discount, even if they do not drive or own a car. The discount applies to whichever vehicle drops them off, including a taxi.
- Set up a Blue Badge account first. You register once and upload your badge. Approval can take up to five days, so Heathrow asks you to apply at least seven days before your next visit.
- Confirm each visit. Log in and add the date and the registration of the car dropping you off, either beforehand or by midnight the next day.
- Travelling by taxi? Use the taxi’s registration and tell the driver at the start of the journey. Let us know when you book and we can confirm the car’s registration with you before the day.
- Prefer not to register? Blue Badge holders get the first two hours free at Park & Ride by using the call point at the barrier.
If you need a badge, you can apply for a Blue Badge on GOV.UK.
Some vehicles are exempt or discounted automatically: emergency service and military vehicles, recovery vehicles, motorbikes, buses and coaches, and cars booked into Heathrow Valet Parking. There is no discount for electric cars.
Do Taxis Pay the Heathrow Drop Off Charge?
Yes. Every black cab and private hire vehicle pays £7 each time it enters a drop-off zone. What differs is how that cost reaches you. A metered black cab normally adds it to the fare, some minicab firms add it as an extra at the end of the trip, and others build it into the price they quote.
On our fixed-fare Camberley to Heathrow taxis, the drop-off charge is handled for you. You do not pay it separately or worry about a deadline, and because the car is ours, a charge notice will never land on your doormat. If you are comparing quotes, ask each firm whether the £7 is included. Our guide to fixed fare vs meter taxis explains why an agreed price matters on airport runs.
Picking Someone Up from Heathrow Instead?
The drop-off charge only covers dropping off. Pick-ups and waiting are not allowed on the terminal forecourts at all. If you are collecting someone yourself, use a Terminal Parking car park or a Park & Ride car park. At Park & Ride, the first 29 minutes are free and your passenger takes the shuttle out to you. Terminal 4 also has a paid Priority Pick-Up option.
On arrivals, we track your flight and your driver gets in touch before pickup, then meets you at the terminal car park, so there is no searching around the forecourt. See how our meet and greet airport pickup works, or explore our full airport taxi service.
Tips from Our Drivers for a Smooth Heathrow Drop-Off
- Pay straight away. Paying as you leave the forecourt, or switching on Autopay, removes the most common cause of Parking Charges: simply forgetting.
- Get ready before the ramp. Have passports, phones and bags in hand before you reach the zone, so you are out well inside the 10-minute limit.
- Do not loop back. Every re-entry is another £7, so check the boot and seats before your passenger walks away.
- Check the terminal the night before. Going to the wrong forecourt first means two entries and two charges.
- Flying very early? Regular Park & Ride shuttles start at 04:00, so for the first departures of the day, kerbside drop-off is usually the safer choice.
- Pay through the official route. Start from Heathrow’s own website so you know you are paying the genuine £7 charge.
FAQs
How much is the Heathrow drop-off charge in 2026?
It is £7 per entry into a terminal drop-off zone at Terminals 2, 3, 4 or 5. The charge went up from £6 on 1 January 2026.
How do I pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?
Pay online through Heathrow’s official drop-off charge page, by phone on 0330 008 5600, or automatically with an Autopay account. Only card payments are accepted.
When do I have to pay by?
You can pay in advance, or by midnight on the day after your visit. Prepaid credit stays valid for 12 months from purchase.
Is there a free drop-off at Heathrow?
Yes. Heathrow’s Park & Ride car parks, formerly Long Stay, are free for the first 29 minutes, and a free shuttle bus takes passengers to the terminal.
What happens if I forget to pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?
The registered keeper receives an £80 Parking Charge, which is reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
Do I pay again if I enter the drop-off zone twice?
Yes. The £7 charge applies every time the vehicle enters a drop-off zone, including if you drive to a second terminal.
Do taxis and Ubers pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?
Yes. All black cabs and private hire vehicles pay £7 per entry. Check whether your quote includes it. With Camberley Cars, the charge is handled within your fixed Heathrow fare.
Can I pick someone up in the Heathrow drop-off zone?
No. Pick-ups and waiting are not permitted on the forecourts. Use Terminal Parking or a Park & Ride car park instead.
Is the drop off charge the same at Heathrow Terminal 5?
Yes. Terminal 5 charges the same £7 per entry as Terminals 2, 3 and 4, with the same payment rules and the same 10-minute limit.
Let Us Handle the Heathrow Drop Off Charge
Book a fixed-fare Heathrow transfer from Camberley, Frimley, Farnborough or Sandhurst, with flight tracking included and the drop-off charge taken care of. Choose a saloon, MPV, executive car or minibus from our fleet to suit your group and luggage.
Book Your Heathrow Taxi or call +44 1276 66888, 24 hours a day.
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