Heathrow drop-off charge explained
Heathrow charges £7 every time a vehicle enters the drop-off area outside Terminals 2, 3, 4 or 5, 24 hours a day. Taxis and private hire cars pay it too. Dropping off at a Heathrow Park & Ride car park is free.
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How the charge works
- £7 each time a vehicle enters a terminal drop-off area. Entering again means paying again.
- It applies at all four terminals, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- Only the drop-off zones directly in front of the terminals are charged. Drop-offs at the Park & Ride car parks are free.
- You can’t pay at an airport ticket machine or in the drop-off zone itself.
How to pay, and what happens if you don’t
- Pay online, by Heathrow’s automated phone line, or automatically with AutoPay.
- Card payments only; cash and cheques aren’t accepted.
- If you pay after your visit, payment must be made by midnight the next day.
- Missing the deadline leads to an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
Blue Badge discount
Holders of a valid UK or EEA Blue Badge can apply for a 100% discount, even if they don’t drive or own a car. If you’re arriving by taxi or private hire, the discount is applied using that vehicle’s registration number, so mention it when you book.
Drop-offs and pickups with a minicab
Heathrow’s charge applies to taxis and private hire vehicles every time they enter a terminal drop-off area. With us, the drop-off charge isn’t part of the journey price; it’s added to your quote, so you see the full cost before you book.
Pickups are different: Heathrow doesn’t allow picking up or waiting in the forecourt drop-off areas. Drivers collect from Terminal Parking or a Park & Ride car park instead. At Terminal 4, pickups use the Terminal 4 Priority Pick-Up area or Zone A of the Park & Ride car park.
FAQs
Common questions
How much is the Heathrow drop-off charge?
£7 each time a vehicle enters the drop-off area outside Terminal 2, 3, 4 or 5. It applies 24 hours a day.
Do taxis and minicabs pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?
Yes. Heathrow says all taxis and private hire vehicles must pay the charge each time they enter the terminal drop-off zones. With us it’s added to your quote before you book.
When do I have to pay the drop-off charge?
If you pay after your visit, by midnight the next day. Otherwise Heathrow issues an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
Is there a free way to drop off at Heathrow?
Yes. Dropping off at a Heathrow Park & Ride car park is free, though you then take the shuttle bus to the terminal.