Short stay at Birmingham
Short stay at Birmingham means the multi-storeys opposite the terminal: Car Parks 1, 2 and 3, all about a minute's walk from check-in.
They are undercover, open around the clock and linked to the terminal by a short walk. Car Park 3 Priority adds reserved ground-level bays. For trips of a night or two, they cost little more than the long stay options; for a week, the gap widens.
Short stay prices
Car Parks 2 and 3 cost less than Car Park 1 for the same walk; Priority costs most.
| Car park | 8 days, full price | 8 days | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Car Parks 2 & 3 | £146.98 | £102.89 | £12.86 |
| Official Car Park 1 | £167.95 | £117.57 | £14.70 |
| Official Car Park 3 Priority | £215.95 | £151.17 | £18.90 |
Sample eight-day prices. The search at the top shows yours.
Walk times and terminal access
All three sit opposite the terminal, and the airport puts the walk at about a minute.
Lifts run to every level. Blue Badge bays in Car Park 1 are next to the pedestrian exit; Car Park 2's are on Level 1, and Car Park 3's to the left of the entry lanes. For anyone who would rather avoid lifts, Priority's ground-level bays remove them entirely.
Height limits and vehicle size
Car Park 1 allows 2.15 metres; Car Parks 2, 3 and Priority allow 2.05.
| Car park | Height limit | Bay size |
|---|---|---|
| Official Car Park 1 | 2.15m | 2.9m × 4.82m |
| Official Car Parks 2 & 3 | 2.05m | Standard |
| Official Car Park 3 Priority | 2.05m | 2.9m × 4.82m |
| Official Car Park 5 | No limit | Surface car park |
For taller vehicles, Car Park 5 has no height limit, at the cost of a longer walk or a short bus ride.
Turn-up tariffs versus booking ahead
The airport's turn-up tariff at the multi-storeys starts at £12 or £13 for an hour and reaches £67 a day.
For a few hours, turning up is fine. For a night or more, the pre-booked price costs much less, and the airport says booking ahead saves up to 70%. Priority cannot be used without a booking.
Picking up passengers
The multi-storeys are closest for meeting a flight, but the airport points drivers to Car Park 5.
Car Park 5 is cheaper for short stays, with a free bus every 15 minutes, and avoids the multi-storey queues. The free Drop Off Car Park allows ten minutes, and Premium Set Down charges by the quarter hour. Our Birmingham drop-off and pick-up guide compares them.
When Priority is worth it
Priority buys a reserved ground-level bay, and nothing else.
It is the most expensive self-park at Birmingham. For a traveller with limited mobility, young children or a dislike of multi-storeys, the certainty of a ground-level space a minute from check-in can be worth it. For everyone else, Car Parks 2 and 3 do the same job for less.
Motorcycles
Car Park 1 has dedicated motorcycle spaces in the permit holder bays on Level 0.
Book as normal with the motorcycle's registration. It is one of the few airports where the terminal multi-storey has a dedicated motorcycle area.
Security
The airport says all its car parks hold Park Mark safer parking status, with CCTV and regular patrols.
The barriers read your number plate, and assistance buttons at the entrances connect to customer service.
Turn-up tariffs in detail
The multi-storeys charge by the hour for short visits, then a flat daily rate.
| Stay | Car Park 1 | Car Parks 2 & 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | £12 | £13 |
| Up to 2 hours | £24 | £26 |
| Up to 4 hours | £48 | £50 |
From the airport's car park pages, checked 25 September 2026.
Beyond four hours, both switch to the airport's daily rate. For a trip of a night or more, the pre-booked price costs far less.
An overnight trip
For one or two nights, the multi-storeys cost little more than the long stay sites.
The price gap between the terminal car parks and the cheapest sites grows with every day away. For a single night, it is small, and the saving in time, especially on an early flight, is worth having. Book Car Parks 2 and 3 for the best value, or Car Park 1 for a taller vehicle.
Accessibility
All three multi-storeys have lifts and Blue Badge bays close to the pedestrian exits.
Car Park 1 has 56 bays for disabled drivers next to the pedestrian exit. Car Park 2 has nine on Level 1, and Car Park 3 five on the surface area by the entry lanes. Blue Badge holders get 30 minutes free in several car parks when validated at the NCP Customer Service Cabin. Priority's ground-level bays avoid lifts altogether.
Business trips
For a day return, a multi-storey is the obvious choice.
A day trip to Edinburgh, Belfast or a European city, with a morning flight out and an evening flight back, suits Car Parks 1, 2 or 3 perfectly. Pre-book for the day and you avoid the higher turn-up rates.
Finding your level
Note the level and row before you walk away.
Multi-storeys all look alike after a week away. Take a photo of the level sign and the bay number, and keep the ticket or confirmation with your passport. The lifts run to every level, and the pedestrian exits are signed from each floor.
Short stay or Car Park 5
Car Park 5 costs less and suits pick-ups; the multi-storeys suit trips where every minute counts.
For collecting someone, the airport recommends Car Park 5 and its free bus. For a short business trip with an early flight, Car Parks 2 and 3 get you to check-in fastest. Both are official, both let you keep your keys, and our code takes up to 30% off selected products.
Which short stay car park to pick
Match the car park to the vehicle and the trip.
| You want | Choose |
|---|---|
| The same walk for less | Official Car Parks 2 & 3 |
| A taller vehicle | Official Car Park 1 |
| A reserved ground-level bay | Official Car Park 3 Priority |
| A cheaper short stay with a bus | Official Car Park 5 |
Our view on short stay
For most short trips, Car Parks 2 and 3 are the best buy at Birmingham.
They share Car Park 1's short walk, undercover parking and round-the-clock lifts, and cost less on our sample prices. Car Park 1 earns its premium only for taller vehicles and motorcyclists. Priority makes sense when a reserved ground-level bay matters more than the price, for instance with limited mobility or young children on an early flight. And when you are only collecting someone, Car Park 5 is cheaper and the airport's own recommendation. Book ahead and even the multi-storeys cost far less than the turn-up tariff.
Short stay at Birmingham: questions answered
Car Parks 1, 2 and 3 are all about a minute's walk, per the airport. Car Park 3 Priority offers ground-level bays in the same spot.
2.15 metres in Car Park 1 and 2.05 metres in Car Parks 2 and 3.
Yes, at the airport's turn-up tariff. Car Park 3 Priority is pre-book only.
The airport points drivers to Car Park 5, which is cheaper and has a free bus, though it is further out.
Yes, 30 minutes in several car parks when validated at the NCP Customer Service Cabin.
Ready to book? The search at the top compares every Birmingham car park we sell. Cancel free within 24 hours of booking. Pre-booking here costs up to 80% less than the drive-up rate.