By MinicabTransfer editorial team · Updated
As of October 2026, the Gatwick drop off charge is £10 for the first 10 minutes on the forecourt outside either the North or South Terminal, then £1 for each additional minute, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes. There are no barriers: cameras record the vehicle, and you pay online, by phone or by AutoPay by midnight the next day. Blue Badge holders are exempt, and Gatwick offers two hours’ free parking in its Long Stay car parks as an alternative.
This guide covers where the drop-off zones are, how the time-based charge works, how to pay it, what happens if you don’t, and how it affects a pre-booked minicab fare. Figures are taken from Gatwick’s official drop-off page. Gatwick sets and changes the fee, so check that page before you travel.
How the Gatwick drop-off charge works
Unlike Heathrow’s flat per-entry fee, Gatwick charges by time spent on the forecourt. The clock starts when you enter the drop-off zone and stops when you leave.
| Detail | As of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| First 10 minutes | £10 |
| Each extra minute | £1 |
| Maximum stay | 30 minutes |
| Maximum daily charge | £30 |
| Terminals | North and South |
| Payment deadline | Midnight the day after your visit |
| Ways to pay | Online, automated phone line, or AutoPay |
| Blue Badge holders | Exempt |
| If you don’t pay | Parking Charge Notice (PCN) |
In practice, a quick stop is the cheapest. Pull into a bay, unload, say goodbye and leave inside 10 minutes and you pay the minimum. A long farewell on the forecourt costs £1 a minute on top.
Want more time to say goodbye? Gatwick itself recommends its Short Stay car parks for longer goodbyes rather than the forecourt. Check the current Short Stay rates on gatwickairport.com.
Where are the drop-off zones?
Both terminals have their drop-off zone on the lower level of the forecourt, with marked bays.
- North Terminal: on the lower level, between the Sofitel hotel and the multi-storey car park.
- South Terminal: on the lower level outside the terminal.
Check which terminal your airline uses before you set off. Arriving at the wrong terminal means a transfer between the two and lost time. Your booking confirmation or the airline’s website will tell you.
How to pay the Gatwick drop-off charge
There’s nowhere to pay on the forecourt. Gatwick lists three ways:
- AutoPay account. Register at Gatwick’s drop-off website before your visit and the charge is taken automatically. Gatwick describes this as the easiest option. If you’ve already made the drop-off, you can’t use AutoPay for that visit.
- Online. Use the payment link on Gatwick’s drop-off page, with the vehicle registration.
- By phone. Gatwick lists an automated line, 0330 174 4503.
Whichever you choose, pay by midnight on the day after your drop-off. If you use the forecourt regularly, for example dropping a partner off for frequent work trips, AutoPay saves remembering each time.
What happens if you forget to pay?
Gatwick says that if the charge isn’t paid by midnight the day after, the registered keeper will be issued with a Parking Charge Notice (PCN). Its page doesn’t publish the PCN amount, and appeals and payments go through the enforcement company named in the notice. A PCN will cost considerably more than the charge itself, so pay on the day.
The charge follows the number plate. If you’re driven in a friend’s car or a hire car, make sure whoever is responsible for that registration knows to pay.
Exemptions and free alternatives
Blue Badge holders are exempt from the drop-off charge. Gatwick’s page explains how to register, so do this before you travel.
Long Stay car parks are the free option. Gatwick says you can park there free for two hours, with a free shuttle bus to the terminals. That suits a driver who isn’t pressed for time and passengers who can manage their bags on a bus.
| Option | Cost (as of October 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal forecourt | £10 for 10 minutes, then £1 a minute | Heavy luggage, tight timings, quick goodbyes |
| Short Stay car park | Standard Short Stay rates | Walking someone to check-in |
| Long Stay car park + shuttle | Free for two hours | Light luggage and time to spare |
If you’re collecting someone, the forecourt drop-off zone isn’t the place to wait. Gatwick’s pick-up page lists express pick-up bays in Car Park 6 (North Terminal) and Car Park 3 (South Terminal), charged at Short Stay rates, and free pick-up for up to two hours from Long Stay.
How the drop-off charge affects minicab fares
Private hire vehicles use the same forecourt as everyone else, so a minicab dropping you at the terminal incurs the charge. How it reaches you depends on the operator. Some build it into their Gatwick fares. Others show it as a separate extra, alongside items such as parking when they collect you from arrivals.
When you compare fares to Gatwick on MinicabTransfer, you see fares from TfL-licensed private hire operators. Fares for Gatwick to central London start from £99 for a saloon, and from £139 for an MPV. MinicabTransfer doesn’t operate cars: we forward your quote request to the operator you choose, and that operator confirms the final fare and what it includes directly with you.
Before you travel, ask the operator:
- Is the Gatwick drop-off charge included in the quoted fare, or added on top?
- If it’s extra, is it the minimum charge, or could it be more if the driver helps with bags?
- Is a Blue Badge holder travelling? Gatwick exempts Blue Badge holders, so ask how the operator handles this.
Lots of luggage? Say so when you request a quote. An estate or MPV with room for everything makes the forecourt stop quicker, and that keeps the charge to the minimum. You can see the vehicle types partner operators offer on the fleet page.
Timing your trip to Gatwick
Journey times by road from central London to Gatwick vary a lot with traffic on the M23 and the routes out of town. Our guide to how early to leave central London for Gatwick has a timing table by time of day and terminal.
For more on the airport itself, including terminal details and return journeys, see the Gatwick airport page. If you also fly from Heathrow, note that it charges a flat fee per entry instead, as explained in our Heathrow drop-off charge guide. Travelling between the two airports? See our guide to the Heathrow to Gatwick transfer.