Heathrow Airport Drop-Off Charge 2026 — £7 Fee, Terminal Guide & Payment Deadline

Payment Deadline & How to Pay

Payment must be completed by midnight (23:59 GMT) on the day following your visit. You can also pre-pay before travelling. Payment is online only — there are no on-site options, cash facilities, or attendants at the drop-off zones.

• Online: visit the Heathrow Terminal Drop-Off Charge payment page, enter your registration, visit date and payment details; confirmation is immediate.
• AutoPay: register your vehicle for automatic payment after each visit — ideal for frequent visitors and business operators.
• Telephone: pay by credit/debit card via the automated payment line. [OPERATOR: number TBC.]
• Keep confirmation: a digital receipt is available immediately after payment — save it for your records.

If You Miss the Deadline — the £80 PCN

Failure to pay by midnight triggers enforcement. Heathrow's contractor (APCOA) issues a Parking Charge Notice to the registered keeper using DVLA records.

• £80 PCN: the standard enforcement amount, sent by post to the registered keeper.
• Reduced to £40: pay within 14 days of the notice and the charge halves; after 14 days the full £80 is due.
• What it contains: your registration, the visit date/time, the unpaid £7, the £80 amount, the deadline, and appeal instructions.
• Multiple visits: each unpaid entry generates a separate PCN — several terminal entries can mean several £80 charges.
• Paying late: you can still pay via the same portal after the deadline, but the £80 (or £40 within 14 days) applies rather than the original £7.

How to Appeal a Parking Charge Notice

You have 28 days from the PCN issue date to submit a formal written appeal with supporting evidence to APCOA, which responds within 28 days.

• Valid grounds: the vehicle was not in the zone (mistaken registration); the amount is incorrect; the notice arrived outside the appeal window; you paid but payment failed (with evidence); or the PCN was issued in error or lacks required information.
• If successful: the PCN is cancelled and you may receive a refund if already paid.
• If unsuccessful: you receive a Notice to Owner and must pay the charge.

Exemptions — Blue Badge & Taxis

One genuine discount exists; one common assumption is wrong.

• Blue Badge — 100% discount: holders of a valid UK or EEA Blue Badge can receive a full discount. The badge must be registered with Heathrow before travel or by midnight on the visit date, and displayed visibly in the windscreen during the visit. Without registration and display, the charge applies in full. [OPERATOR: confirm exact Blue Badge registration steps — typically online or by phone.]
• Taxis NOT exempt: licensed black cabs and private hire vehicles (minicabs) must pay the £7 per visit, the same as private cars. This is a common misconception — Heathrow applies the charge universally. Frequent operators can register for AutoPay business accounts for streamlined high-volume payment.

Terminal-by-Terminal — Access & Meeting Points

All four terminals charge £7 with the same 10-minute limit; access routes and private-hire collection points differ. The forecourt is drop-off only — waiting is prohibited, and pre-booked private hire passengers are collected from each terminal's Short Stay Car Park.

How ANPR Detects & Enforces the Charge

Heathrow uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition at every drop-off entrance to detect and monitor vehicles without tickets or barriers.

• Cameras at each terminal entrance capture your registration automatically as you enter.
• The system records entry time, flags the charge and logs the visit.
• No physical ticket or barrier interaction is required.
• Payment is remote (online, phone or AutoPay) and is the vehicle keeper's responsibility.
• There are no payment barriers, ticket machines or cash points at any forecourt — ANPR keeps traffic moving by removing ticketing delays.

Heathrow vs Other UK Airports — Comparison

Heathrow's £7 / 10-minute flat fee is among the lowest-cost drop-off charges of the major airports.

Heathrow and Luton offer the lowest per-minute cost (£0.70/min). Stansted permits the longest stay (15 minutes) at £10. Heathrow's £7 flat fee is competitive for short drop-offs — but remember each terminal entry costs £7, so minimise entries.

No Grace Period — the Deadline Is Strict

There is no published grace period. If you miss midnight, enforcement begins immediately — Heathrow offers no extended window before the PCN is issued.

• Set a phone reminder to pay before midnight.
• Most drivers pay within 1–2 hours of their visit to remove any risk.
• Pre-pay before your visit through the online portal to eliminate deadline stress entirely.

Skip the Forecourt — Book a Fixed-Fare Taxi

If the £7 per entry, the 10-minute clock and the midnight deadline feel like more trouble than they're worth, a pre-booked taxi handles it all — your driver manages the stop and any charge, and passengers are collected from the correct Short Stay Car Park.

• ✔ No 10-minute clock, no PCN risk, no forecourt to manage
• ✔ Fixed fare confirmed at booking, luggage help included
• ✔ Flight monitoring and 24/7 availability across all four terminals

👉 See our Heathrow airport taxi service, or book online 24/7.

Final Checklist — Heathrow Drop-Off Visit

• ✓ Vehicle registration number ready (required for payment).
• ✓ Which terminal you'll visit (T2, T3, T4 or T5).
• ✓ You understand the 10-minute limit — no waiting or loitering.
• ✓ Plan to pay online by midnight (set a reminder or pre-pay).
• ✓ Blue Badge holders: registered for the 100% discount and badge displayed.
• ✓ Taxi operators: aware taxis are NOT exempt (register for AutoPay for business accounts).
• ✓ Payment portal or phone line to hand.
• ✓ Meeting private hire passengers: use the terminal's Short Stay Car Park, not the forecourt.