Travel news · 5 min read · December 5, 2025

Heathrow's new £7 drop off and £80 fines – and how to avoid paying them

From January, Heathrow is increasing its terminal drop off charge to £7 and bringing in fines of up to £80 if you stay longer than 10 minutes or forget to pay. At those prices, booking airport parking in advance with Holiday Extras can often work out cheaper than risking the penalty charges, especially at busy times.

Short on time? Let us summarise this guide for you.

Heathrow is raising its terminal drop off charge to £7 and introducing fines of up to £80 if you stay longer than 10 minutes or do not pay, making the forecourt one of the most expensive places to stop your car. In this guide we explain what Heathrow's new rules mean, how drop off charges work at major UK airports, and where you can still avoid or reduce fees by using free waiting zones, long stay car parks or rail links. We also show why, once you factor in the risk of penalty notices, pre-booking airport parking with Holiday Extras can often work out cheaper and less stressful than racing the clock at the terminal.

Last updated: December 5th 2025

Heathrow's new £7 drop off charge and strict 10 minute limit are part of a wider trend – across the UK, airport forecourts are becoming some of the most expensive places to stop your car. With penalty notices at Heathrow set at £80 (reduced to £40 if you pay quickly), a single overstay could cost more than pre booked parking for your whole trip.

There are three main ways people get stung for dropping off and picking up at the airport:

• Not planning ahead: It is possible to drop off for free at almost every airport if you are able to walk to the terminals or work the system, but if you just drive up on the day and pay the gate rate you will pay whatever the airport wants you to pay, and at Heathrow that now includes the risk of an £80 fine if you overstay.
• Picking up: Dropping off is usually straightforward and there are dedicated zones for it. Picking up is more complicated, because you have to wait for your passengers to clear arrivals while you are clocking up by the minute fees in short stay parking, or watching the clock in a 10 minute drop off zone.
• Fines: Many airports are rigorous in pursuing people who drop off without handing over the fee. Heathrow's ANPR system and 10 minute limit will make it even easier to issue penalty notices, and other airports like East Midlands and Stansted already use barrierless systems and cameras to catch drivers trying to dodge the charges.

If you are dropping off or picking up at a busy time, the combination of rising gate prices and hefty fines means parking at the airport, especially when you pre book with Holiday Extras, can often be cheaper and a lot less stressful than hovering on the forecourt.

Heathrow – new £7 charge and £80 fines from January

From January 2026, Heathrow is increasing its terminal drop off charge to £7 per visit at all terminals and introducing a strict 10 minute maximum stay in the forecourt zones. If you stay longer than 10 minutes or do not pay, you will receive a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) of £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.

The charge applies every time a vehicle enters the drop off zone, monitored by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), and must be paid online or by phone by midnight the following day. Blue Badge holders can still register in advance for exemptions and concessions.

Heathrow still offers free alternatives: you can use the Park and Ride (Long Stay) car parks for free drop off and pick up, then take the shuttle bus to the terminal, or drop off at Hatton Cross and ride the Tube into the airport within the Heathrow free travel zone. You will still need to factor in parking limits at the station, and ULEZ if your car is not compliant.

When you add up the new £7 fee plus the risk of an £80 PCN for overrunning, especially if you are dropping off at busy times, pre booking airport parking with Holiday Extras can easily work out cheaper and a lot less stressful than trying to beat the 10 minute timer.

Source: Heathrow Airport – terminal drop off charge and PCN details

Birmingham

Premium Set Down at Birmingham costs £6 for the first 15 minutes and is right outside the terminal, just a short walk to check in. The main Drop Off area is free for up to 10 minutes, with a five to ten minute walk to the terminal via a covered walkway or shuttle bus. Pick up is more expensive, with returning passengers encouraged to use the Short Stay car parks where hourly prices apply.

As a better alternative, at both ends of the journey, you can drive to Birmingham International station and use the free drop off and pick up point in the Short Stay car park there, then catch the free Air Rail link to the airport, which takes about 2 minutes and runs from early morning until late at night.

Source: Birmingham Airport – drop off and pick up

Bristol

Bristol Airport's upgraded transport interchange brings all drop off and pick up into a single area just outside the terminal. The combined Drop & Go and Short Stay & Pick Up zone charges a short stay fee, from around £7 for the first period, with higher bands for longer stays. There is also a free waiting zone for up to an hour a short distance from the terminal, where you can wait before heading in to collect passengers.

Source: Bristol Airport – changes to drop off and short stay fees

Cardiff

Cardiff has a dedicated drop off zone directly outside the terminal for quick goodbyes. For a slightly longer stay, the Long Stay car park offers free parking for a short period, typically up to 20 minutes, and is only a few minutes' walk from the terminal. It is also where passengers with mobility needs can arrange assistance if they need extra time.

Source: Cardiff Airport – drop off and pick up information

Edinburgh

Edinburgh's paid drop off area is on the ground floor of the multi storey car park opposite the terminal. It costs £6 for up to 10 minutes, with further per minute charges after that. Blue Badge holders get an hour for free in the car parks, while local residents and electric vehicle drivers can apply for discounts.

There is also a free drop off option in the Long Stay car park, but without a dedicated shuttle from the free area you are looking at around a 10 to 12 minute walk to the terminal, so it is best suited for travellers with lighter luggage and plenty of time.

Source: Edinburgh Airport – drop off and pick up

East Midlands

East Midlands offers a Rapid Drop Off area right next to the terminal that costs £5 for up to 15 minutes, with additional per minute charges after that. The airport has moved to a barrierless ANPR system, so you pay online by midnight instead of at a barrier when you leave. There is also an option to use Mid Stay with a short period free, generally enough time to drop off or pick up if you are happy with a short walk or shuttle.

Source: East Midlands Airport – pick up and drop off

Gatwick

Gatwick charges a minimum of £7 to use its dedicated drop off zones at both the North and South terminals for a short stay, with higher charges for longer visits or repeated entries. The charge is applied using ANPR and must be paid online.

If you would rather avoid the fee, you can drop off for free at the Long Stay car parks and take the shuttle bus to the terminal. It adds extra time but can be a good option if you are dropping off a larger group or do not want to race the clock at the forecourt.

Source: Gatwick Airport – drop off charges

Glasgow

Glasgow Airport's main Pick Up and Drop Off area, right next to the terminal, costs £6 for up to 15 minutes following a recent increase. After that, the fee rises by the minute. For a cheaper option there is a Long Stay car park that offers a short period of free parking and a shuttle bus to the terminal, adding a bit more time but avoiding the forecourt charge.

Source: Glasgow Airport – pick up and drop off

Leeds Bradford

Leeds Bradford's Pick Up and Drop Off car park, about a one minute walk from the terminal, charges £7 for up to 10 minutes, with higher charges for longer stays. If you would rather not pay to be that close to the terminal, the airport also offers a One Hour Free Parking Zone a short walk away where you can park for up to 60 minutes at no charge and either walk in or meet returning passengers.

Source: Leeds Bradford Airport – parking and drop off

Liverpool

Liverpool John Lennon Airport's Express Drop Off and Pick Up zone, directly opposite the terminal, charges £6 for up to 10 minutes, with higher tariffs for longer stays. A second drop off area further from the terminal offers 20 minutes free but involves a longer walk to departures and arrivals.

Source: Liverpool Airport – Express Drop Off

Luton

London Luton Airport's closest drop off zone by the terminal currently charges £7 for up to 10 minutes, with additional charges for longer stays and repeat entries. Payment is made using ANPR and online payment rather than barriers.

You can drop off for free at the Mid Stay and Long Stay car parks and take the shuttle bus, or drop at Luton Airport Parkway and take the Luton DART into the terminal. Once you factor in the DART fare, you only save a small amount versus the terminal drop off, so it is mainly useful if you are already arriving by train.

Source: London Luton Airport – drop off and pick up

Manchester

Manchester's terminal forecourt drop off starts at £5 for the shortest stays, with higher prices for up to 10 minutes and a £25 charge if you go over the limit. The airport now uses a barrierless ANPR system, so you pay online or by phone instead of at machines on exit.

There is also a free drop off area a short distance from the terminals, with shuttle buses taking around 5 to 7 minutes to reach check in. Blue Badge holders can still use the forecourt free of charge once they have registered their vehicle with the airport.

Source: Manchester Airport – pick up and drop off

Newcastle

Newcastle Airport's Express Car Park, right in front of the terminal, costs £5 for up to 10 minutes for pick up or drop off, with higher bands for longer stays. If you want to avoid paying to be that close to the front door, Short Stay 2 offers 15 minutes free and is a short walk from the terminal.

Source: Newcastle Airport – picking up and dropping off

Stansted

Stansted's Express Set Down zone, directly outside the terminal, costs £7 for a short stay, with a steep increase if you stay longer or re enter within a short time. The airport has removed barriers and now uses ANPR and online payment for the Express Set Down.

To avoid the fee completely, you can use the Mid Stay car park, which offers a short period, typically up to 60 minutes, free of charge and a shuttle bus that takes about 7 minutes to reach the terminal. It is the safest way to dodge the forecourt fee without stopping on roads where stopping is prohibited and can incur fines.

Source: Stansted Airport – pick up and drop off

Alternatively, plan ahead and either book your airport parking in advance or stay overnight in an airport hotel and stroll into the airport fresh and ready for your holiday the next morning.

Most Holiday Extras customers saved £125 last year on their airport parking vs the gate rate by booking ahead with us. So before you start working out how to jump over a fence while carrying two suitcases, why not see if you would be better parking or sleeping at the airport before your flight?