By MinicabTransfer editorial team · Updated
As of October 2026, the Heathrow drop off charge is £7 every time a vehicle enters a terminal drop-off area at Terminals 2, 3, 4 or 5. It applies 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and is collected by number-plate cameras, so you pay online, by phone or by autopay, not at the kerb. If you don’t pay by midnight the next day, Heathrow issues an £80 Parking Charge Notice.
This guide is for anyone being driven to Heathrow: by a friend, a family member or a pre-booked minicab. It covers what the charge is, how to pay it, the penalties, the free alternative, and how it shows up in a private hire fare. Figures come from Heathrow’s official drop-off charge page. Heathrow sets and changes the fee, so check that page before you travel.
What is the Heathrow drop-off charge?
The Terminal Drop-Off Charge is a fee for using the drop-off areas directly outside Heathrow’s terminals. Each terminal has its own drop-off area with a dedicated access road. Cameras using automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) record every vehicle that enters, so there are no barriers or tickets.
The key facts, as published by Heathrow:
| Detail | As of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Charge | £7 per entry |
| Terminals covered | 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
| Hours | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Re-entering the zone | Charged again each time |
| Pick-ups and waiting | Not permitted in the drop-off areas |
| Payment deadline | Midnight the day after your drop-off |
| Penalty | £80 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days |
| Payment methods | Online, automated phone line, or autopay. Card only |
Two details catch people out. First, the charge is per entry, not per day. If you drop one person at Terminal 5, drive round and come back with a forgotten bag, that’s two charges. Second, the drop-off areas are for dropping off only. Waiting there or collecting arriving passengers is not allowed, and Heathrow warns that unattended vehicles may be removed.
How to pay the Heathrow drop-off charge
You can’t pay at a ticket machine or in the drop-off zone. Heathrow offers three ways to pay, all by card:
- Pay online in advance. Buy a drop-off before you travel through the Heathrow drop-off website. Heathrow says prepaid drop-offs are valid for 12 months from purchase.
- Pay online or by phone afterwards. Use the website or the automated phone line (Heathrow lists 0330 008 5600) any time up to midnight the day after your drop-off. You’ll need the vehicle’s registration.
- Set up autopay. Register a personal account, add your vehicle and switch on autopay. Every drop-off is then charged automatically, which removes the risk of forgetting.
Using a friend’s or a hire car? The charge follows the number plate, not the driver. Whoever is driving should make sure that registration is paid for, or set up on autopay, before the deadline.
What happens if you don’t pay?
If the charge isn’t paid by midnight the next day, Heathrow says the registered keeper receives an £80 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. That is more than ten times the original fee, so it’s worth paying on the day.
If you think a charge has been applied in error, Heathrow’s page explains how to request a refund or make a complaint through its drop-off operator. Keep your payment confirmation until any risk of a dispute has passed.
Who doesn’t pay: exemptions and discounts
Heathrow applies some exemptions and discounts automatically, and some need registering in advance:
- Emergency and military vehicles are exempt automatically.
- Roadside recovery vehicles, two-wheeled motorbikes, buses and coaches (subject to height limits) and vehicles booked for Heathrow Valet Parking receive a 100% discount automatically.
- Blue Badge holders get a 100% discount with a valid UK or EEA Blue Badge, even when someone else drives them, including in a taxi. You need to register a Blue Badge account first. Heathrow says approval can take up to five days, and phone applications must be made at least 14 days before the drop-off.
- Electric vehicles get no exemption. An EV pays the same £7 as any other car.
The free alternative: Park & Ride drop-off
If you’d rather not pay, Heathrow offers free drop-off at its Park & Ride car parks, which were previously called Long Stay. A free shuttle bus takes passengers on to the terminal. Heathrow’s Park & Ride page says shuttles run every 15 minutes and lists these journey times:
| Park & Ride car park serves | Shuttle to terminal |
|---|---|
| Terminals 2 and 3 | 10–20 minutes |
| Terminal 4 | 10–15 minutes |
| Terminal 5 | 7–10 minutes |
The trade-off is time and effort. Add the wait for the bus and the ride itself, and the free option can add 20 to 35 minutes to your journey. With heavy cases, young children or a tight check-in, many people decide the £7 forecourt drop-off is worth it.
Collecting someone instead? The drop-off areas can’t be used for pick-ups. Heathrow directs collections to its Terminal Parking or Park & Ride car parks. Its passenger pick-up page lists the current options, including changes at Terminal 4 from 23 June 2026.
How the drop-off charge affects minicab fares
Heathrow states that all taxis and private hire vehicles must pay the £7 charge each time they enter a drop-off zone. The question for you is whether it’s already in the price you’re quoted or added on top.
There is no single answer. Some private hire operators build the charge into their Heathrow fares. Others list it as a separate extra, alongside items such as parking for arrivals. Neither approach is wrong, but you should know which one you’re getting before you travel.
When you compare fares for a Heathrow journey on MinicabTransfer, you see fares from TfL-licensed private hire operators. Fares for Heathrow to central London start from £74 for a saloon. 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.
Questions worth asking the operator:
- Does the quoted fare include the Heathrow Terminal Drop-Off Charge?
- If not, how much will be added, and when is it charged?
- If I’m a Blue Badge holder, can the vehicle be registered so the charge doesn’t apply?
- Will the driver use the terminal forecourt or a Park & Ride car park?
Blue Badge holders travelling by minicab. Heathrow lets you register the vehicle that drops you off, including a taxi, so the discount applies. Ask the operator for the vehicle registration in advance so you can add it to your Blue Badge account in time.
Planning your trip to Heathrow
The drop-off charge is a small part of getting to Heathrow on time. For departures, most airlines recommend arriving two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul one, and traffic on the M4 and A4 varies widely through the day.
If you’re still deciding how to travel, our guide to Heathrow to central London by chauffeur, taxi or train compares the options honestly, including when the train is the better choice. For more on terminals and journey options, see the Heathrow airport page and our overview of airport transfers across London. Flying from Gatwick instead? It charges differently, as explained in our Gatwick drop-off charge guide.