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Heathrow Drop-Off Charge 2026: £7 per Visit, How to Pay and the Free Option

£7 every time you drive into a terminal forecourt, and £80 if you forget to pay. Here's how the Heathrow drop-off charge works, terminal by terminal, and where to drop off for free.

4 min read · 24 September 2026

How much is the Heathrow drop-off charge?

The Heathrow drop-off charge is £7 every time a vehicle enters a terminal drop-off area. That covers the forecourts right outside Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. It applies 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The £7 is per entry, not per day: go round again and you pay again.

How do I pay?

Online or by phone only (the automated line is 0330 008 5600). There are no barriers and no machines at the kerb. Cameras record your number plate as you enter. You can pay in advance, or afterwards up to midnight the following day.

Miss that deadline and Heathrow issues an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. If you drop people off regularly, a free Heathrow account with autopay removes the risk of forgetting.

Where is each drop-off area?

  • Terminal 2: off Constellation Way, up the ramp.
  • Terminal 3: Cosmopolitan Way on to Camborne Road, then one of four drop-off lanes.
  • Terminal 4: Stratford Road, three lanes at the top of the ramp.
  • Terminal 5: Wayfarer Road, splitting into two lanes at the top of the ramp.

Not sure which terminal you need? Our Heathrow terminal guide covers postcodes and car park levels for every terminal.

Can you pick someone up in the drop-off zone?

No. Waiting and pick-ups are not allowed in the drop-off areas, and unattended vehicles are removed. Pick-ups have to happen in the Terminal Parking car parks (previously called Short Stay) or at Heathrow's own Park & Ride car parks, both of which charge their own parking tariff.

Is there a free drop-off at Heathrow?

Yes. Dropping off is free at Heathrow's Park & Ride car parks (the ones previously known as Long Stay). From there, passengers take a free bus to the terminal. It adds time, so allow for the bus when you plan when to leave home.

Do taxis and minicabs pay the drop-off charge?

Yes. Black cabs and private-hire vehicles pay the same £7 every time they enter a drop-off zone. That cost usually ends up with the passenger, either on the meter or in the fare. When you compare Heathrow airport transfers, ask whether the quote includes it so that you are comparing like with like.

What about Blue Badge holders?

Blue Badge holders can apply for a 100% discount, even if they are not the driver. The discount applies to the vehicle that drops them off, whether that is a friend's car or a taxi. You create a Blue Badge account once (approval can take up to five days) and then confirm the date and number plate for each visit, in advance or by midnight the following day.

Meet & Greet and the drop-off charge

This catches people out. With Heathrow Meet & Greet you do not use the drop-off forecourt at all. The handover takes place in the terminal car park, which has its own entry fee (around £8 for up to 30 minutes, each way). It is a different charge from the £7 drop-off, and it is paid at the car park machine. Our Meet & Greet vs Park & Ride guide explains where each service meets you.

Getting a lift vs parking for the week

A lift to Heathrow costs the driver £7 on the way in. They pay again to pick you up from a car park, and they drive the M25 or M4 twice each way. For a week or more, it is worth comparing with Heathrow Park & Ride or Meet & Greet for your dates. Often the gap is smaller than people expect, and nobody has to take an afternoon off to collect you.

The short version

£7 per entry, at every terminal, all day, every day. Pay online or by phone by midnight the next day, or face an £80 charge. Free drop-off is available at Heathrow's Park & Ride car parks. Taxis pay it too. Blue Badge holders can claim it back in full. Airport charges change, so check Heathrow's drop-off page before you travel.

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