The Heathrow drop-off charge
Every Heathrow terminal drop-off area charges £7 per entry. You pay online, by phone or with AutoPay by midnight the day after.
Each time you drive into a drop-off area.
0330 008 5600.
Midnight the day after.
£80 unpaid, £40 within 14 days.
The payment site is run for Heathrow by APCOA. Register for AutoPay if you drop off often, so nothing slips past the deadline.
The drop-off rules
Drop-off areas are for dropping off only. No pick-ups, no waiting, and unattended vehicles may be towed.
Stop, unload and go. A driver who waits for a passenger on the forecourt risks a charge and a tow. The rules apply at every terminal.
Where to pick up at Terminals 2, 3 and 5
Heathrow directs pick-ups to Terminal Parking at Terminals 2, 3 and 5, a short walk from arrivals.
| Time in Terminal Parking at T5 | Drive-up rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 29 minutes | £8.00 |
| 30 to 44 minutes | £12.50 |
| 45 to 59 minutes | £15.50 |
| 1 to 2 hours | £20.00 |
Heathrow's Terminal 5 Terminal Parking tariff, checked 25 September 2026.
Wait for the passenger to clear customs before you drive in, so the clock starts as late as possible.
Free pick-up options
The official Park & Ride is free for the first 29 minutes, and Blue Badge holders get two hours free.
It is further out, so the passenger takes the free bus to meet you, or you time your arrival with theirs. At Terminal 4, Zone A of the Park & Ride is free for up to two hours.
Pick-up at Terminal 4
Terminal 4 has a Priority Pick-Up area, charged by the minute, with a maximum of £200 a day.
It is charged in time bands, from the first 10 minutes up to £25. The Terminal 4 multi-storey closed on 23 June 2026, so Terminal Parking is no longer an option there. Zone A of the Park & Ride is the free alternative.
Blue Badge holders
Heathrow offers Blue Badge holders a 100% discount on the drop-off charge, on application.
Apply before your visit, through Heathrow's drop-off payment service. In the Park & Ride, the first two hours are free for Blue Badge holders.
Valet and the drop-off charge
Heathrow's Valet hands over on a dedicated part of the forecourt, with a 100% discount on the drop-off charge.
So a valet booking avoids the charge at the start of your trip. See the Official Valet guide.
A lift against parking
A lift means a drop-off charge on the way out and pick-up parking on the way home. For a week away, parking can cost less than two return drives.
For a family member doing the drive, add the fuel for two round trips and the ULEZ for a non-compliant car. Compare the total with cheap Heathrow parking before you decide.
Drop-off and the ULEZ
The drop-off areas sit inside London's ULEZ. A non-compliant car pays the daily charge on each day it drives in.
A drop-off and a pick-up on different days means two daily charges. Check the car on Transport for London's checker.
Drop-off and pick-up by terminal
The drop-off charge is the same at every terminal, but the pick-up options differ.
| Terminal | Drop-off | Where to pick up |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 | Charged per entry | Terminal Parking at Terminal 2 |
| Terminal 3 | Charged per entry | Terminal Parking at Terminal 3 |
| Terminal 4 | Charged per entry | Priority Pick-Up area, or Zone A of the Park & Ride |
| Terminal 5 | Charged per entry | Terminal Parking at Terminal 5 |
At every terminal, the official Park & Ride is the free fallback for the first 29 minutes.
How to pay the charge
There are three ways to pay: online, by phone or with AutoPay.
- Online. Through Heathrow's drop-off payment site, run by APCOA, using the number plate.
- By phone. On 0330 008 5600.
- AutoPay. Register the car once and each visit is paid automatically.
- Deadline. Midnight the day after your visit, whichever way you pay.
Pay for each entry. Driving in twice, for example to drop off two groups, means two charges.
The penalty for not paying
An unpaid drop-off charge becomes an £80 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £40 when paid within 14 days.
That is far more than the charge itself, so set a reminder or use AutoPay. The notice is issued through the payment operator, based on the number plate.
Taxis, private hire and hire cars
The drop-off rules apply to every vehicle that uses the forecourt.
Ask your taxi or private hire firm whether the fare includes the drop-off charge. With a hire car, check who pays it, because a hire company may pass on an unpaid charge with an admin fee.
Timing a pick-up well
Wait until the passenger has their bags before you drive in.
Passport control and baggage reclaim can take a long time on a busy day. Track the flight, and ask the passenger to message you once they have their cases. Then drive into Terminal Parking, or ask them to take the free bus to the Park & Ride, so the clock runs for as short a time as possible.
Meet and greet and the forecourt
Meet and greet at Heathrow hands over in the Terminal Parking car park, not on the forecourt, so the drop-off charge does not apply.
Some operators pass on a car park access fee instead, and Maple includes it in the price. Heathrow's Valet is the exception, with a forecourt handover and the drop-off charge covered. See our guide to meet and greet at Heathrow.
When the flight is delayed
Do not circle the airport roads or stop on the verge to wait. Park instead.
Terminal Parking at Terminals 2, 3 and 5, and the Park & Ride everywhere, are the places to wait. At Terminal 4, Zone A of the Park & Ride gives two free hours, which covers most delays. Check the flight status before you leave home, so you do not arrive hours early.
A lift or the train
Heathrow has its own rail and Underground stations, so a lift is not the only way in.
For some passengers, a lift to a nearby station and a train to the terminal avoids the drop-off charge and the airport roads. For families with luggage, a lift to the forecourt or a car park is usually easier.
Tips for a smooth drop-off
Plan the payment before you set off.
- Save the payment details. Keep the payment site or phone line handy.
- Or set up AutoPay. The charge is taken automatically.
- Unload quickly. Waiting is not allowed.
- Pay by the deadline. Midnight the day after.
More questions about drop-off and pick-up at Heathrow
£7 per entry at every terminal drop-off area.
Online, by phone on 0330 008 5600 or with AutoPay, by midnight the day after your visit.
An £80 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
No. Heathrow does not allow pick-ups or waiting in the drop-off areas. Use Terminal Parking or the Park & Ride.
Heathrow offers a 100% discount to Blue Badge holders, on application.
At the Priority Pick-Up area, charged by time, or free for up to two hours in Zone A of the Terminal 4 Park & Ride.
Parking instead? Search your dates above to compare every Heathrow option live. Our code is already in the form, and cancellation cover runs up to 72 hours before arrival.