Gatwick Drop-Off Charge 2026: Costs, Zones and Free Options
The Gatwick drop-off charge starts at £10 outside North or South Terminal. Here's how it works, how to pay and how to skip it.
Checked against Gatwick's pages: 14 October 2026 · 7 min read
Gatwick charges £10 for the first 10 minutes in its North and South Terminal drop-off zones, then £1 a minute. Pay by midnight the next day or face a £100 charge. Long Stay is free for 2 hours.
In this guide
- How Much Is the Gatwick Drop-Off Charge?
- Where Are the Gatwick Drop-Off Zones?
- How to Pay Gatwick Drop-Off Charges
- Missed Payment: Fines and Appeals
- Free Drop-Off at Gatwick
- Blue Badge and Other Exemptions
- Picking Someone Up from Gatwick
- Gatwick Drop-Off by Taxi
- How Gatwick Compares with Heathrow
- FAQs
How Much Is the Gatwick Drop-Off Charge?
The Gatwick drop-off charge starts at £10. Gatwick says:
There is a minimum £10 charge to use the designated drop-off zones
in the North and South Terminals.
Source:
London Gatwick drop-off charges
(checked 14 October 2026).
| What you need to know | The rule |
|---|---|
| First 10 minutes | £10 |
| After that |
£1 for each extra minute,
up to 20 minutes |
| Longest you can stay | 30 minutes |
| Most you can pay in a day | £30 |
| Where it applies | The drop-off zones at North and South Terminals |
| Pay by | Midnight on the day after your visit |
| If you don't pay | £100 Parking Charge Notice, cut to £60 within 14 days |
So a 15-minute stop costs £15. A quick 5-minute stop still costs the full £10. The Gatwick drop-off fee is the same at both terminals, and so is the Gatwick airport drop-off charge structure.
How much is it to drop off at Gatwick Airport, then? Plan on £10 for a normal goodbye. Gatwick airport drop-off charges only climb when you linger.
Where Are the Gatwick Drop-Off Zones?
Planning a quick drop off? Gatwick runs a zone at each terminal. Both sit on the lower level, right outside the terminal. There are no barriers. You drive in, stop in a marked bay and drive out.
| North Terminal | South Terminal | |
|---|---|---|
| Where |
Lower level,
between the Sofitel and the multi-storey car park |
Lower level, outside the terminal |
| From the M23 | Junction 9, straight on at J9a, then the first exit signed North Terminal | Junction 9, filter lane, left at J9a, then follow the Drop Off signs |
| Sat nav postcode | RH6 0PJ | RH6 0NP |
Your Gatwick drop-off postcode depends on the terminal. The Gatwick north terminal drop-off postcode is RH6 0PJ. Gatwick's own page gives a map pin for each zone rather than a postcode. The South Terminal postcode is the one Gatwick's map shows for its South Short Stay car park.
At Gatwick Airport, North Terminal drop-off leaves you a short walk from check-in. The Gatwick south terminal drop-off works the same way, and the Gatwick South drop-off zone has the same charge. Your airline sets your terminal, so check before you set off.
Every Gatwick airport drop-off zone is a short walk from check-in and departures. It's built for a quick stop, not a wait.
How to Pay Gatwick Drop-Off Charges
Wondering how to pay Gatwick drop-off charge bills? There are three ways. You pay the drop-off charge at Gatwick Airport after you leave the zone. Gatwick needs to read your number plate first, so it can work out the right fee.
| Way to pay | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Pay by card on Gatwick's drop-off portal after your visit | One-off trips |
| Phone | Call the automated line on 0330 174 4503 | Paying without a computer |
| AutoPay account | Register your car once. Each visit is then paid for you | Regular drivers |
For Gatwick drop-off, pay online at dropoff.gatwickairport.com. That's also where the Gatwick drop-off account login sits. Gatwick airport drop-off login and Gatwick drop-off registration both start there.
Want Gatwick drop-off AutoPay? Gatwick says to set it up before your first visit. If you've already used the zone, pay that visit first, then register.
The deadline is midnight on the day after your visit. Drop off on a Friday, and you have until midnight on Saturday.
Missed Payment: Fines and Appeals
Miss the deadline and a fine follows. Gatwick says late payment brings
a Parking Charge Notice of £100
.
It's
reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Source:
Gatwick's drop-off FAQs
(checked 14 October 2026).
| When you pay the notice | Amount |
|---|---|
| Within 14 days | £60 |
| Within 28 days | £100 |
The 28-day figure comes from Gatwick's drop-off terms, last updated 15 September 2026. Times24 enforces the charge for Gatwick.
Think the Gatwick drop-off fine is wrong? You pay or appeal the notice through Times24. Email [email protected] with your notice details.
Drove through the zone by mistake? Gatwick's pages list no exception for that. The safest move is to pay the £10 by midnight the next day. That keeps a £100 notice off your doormat.
Need the Gatwick drop-off contact number? For payments, it's the automated line on 0330 174 4503. Charge queries go to Times24 by email.
Free Drop-Off at Gatwick
Want free drop-off? Gatwick Long Stay is the answer. Use a Long Stay car park, which is free for the first 2 hours. A free shuttle bus then takes your passenger to the terminal.
| Option | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal drop-off zone | £10 for 10 minutes | Closest to check-in. 30-minute limit |
| Short Stay car park | £8 for under 30 minutes | Walk your passenger in |
| Long Stay car park | Free for 2 hours | Free shuttle bus to the terminal |
Short Stay prices come from Gatwick's roll-up car park prices (checked 14 October 2026).
Here's the surprise. Short Stay costs £8 for up to 30 minutes, less than the drop-off zone. For drop-off parking at Gatwick with time to say goodbye, it's the better deal.
So is Gatwick drop-off free? Not at the terminal. Gatwick drop-off is only free at Long Stay, or with a Blue Badge.
Blue Badge and Other Exemptions
Gatwick drop-off: disabled travellers with a Blue Badge go free.
Gatwick says
The Blue Badge exemption is valid for a 30 minute free drop-off
session.
| Who | What applies | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Badge holders driven by friends or family | Free 30-minute session | Register the number plate in advance |
| Blue Badge holders travelling by taxi | Free 30-minute session | Register the taxi's number plate in advance |
| Local commuters | Paid scheme, £50 for 12 months | South Terminal forecourt only, two visits a day |
Gatwick drop-off Blue Badge registration opens three months before your flight. The last day is the day before you travel. Times24 handles Blue Badge checks on 0800 678 3353.
Using AutoPay? Gatwick says to turn it off before you use the exemption.
Picking Someone Up from Gatwick
Don't use the drop-off zone for collections. Gatwick says pick-ups should happen in the Short Stay car parks.
Each terminal has an Express Pick-Up area inside Short Stay, where you wait in the car. Long Stay offers 2 free hours here too.
That covers Gatwick airport drop-off and pick-up in brief. Our Gatwick pick-up guide gives the exact points and prices at each terminal.
Gatwick Drop-Off by Taxi
Taxis and minicabs pay the drop-off charge too. Some firms add it to your bill, so check before you book.
With Fastlane Transfers, the charge sits inside your fixed fare. You pay nothing extra at the kerb, and there's no deadline to remember.
Fares on our Gatwick taxi page start at £32 from Horley. For your town, see Gatwick taxi prices.
Flying from a set terminal? See our North Terminal taxi and South Terminal taxi pages.
How Gatwick Compares with Heathrow
Gatwick costs more per visit, but gives you longer.
| Gatwick | Heathrow | |
|---|---|---|
| Charge | £10 for 10 minutes, then £1 a minute | £7 each time you enter |
| Longest stay | 30 minutes | 10 minutes |
| Unpaid fine | £100, or £60 within 14 days | £80, or £40 within 14 days |
| Free option | Long Stay, 2 hours | Park & Ride, 29 minutes or up to 2 hours |
Heathrow figures come from Heathrow's terminal drop-off page (checked 13 October 2026). Our Heathrow drop-off charge guide covers that airport in full.
Gatwick Drop-Off Charge FAQs
Pay online at dropoff.gatwickairport.com, or call the automated line on 0330 174 4503. You can also set up AutoPay. Pay by midnight on the day after your visit.
Yes. Call the automated payment line on 0330 174 4503 and pay by card.
You'll get a £100 Parking Charge Notice. It drops to £60 if you pay within 14 days.
Gatwick's pages list no exception for that. Paying the £10 by midnight the next day avoids the £100 notice. You can appeal through Times24.
Thirty minutes at most. The first 10 minutes cost £10, then £1 for each extra minute.
Use a Long Stay car park, which is free for 2 hours, with a free shuttle bus. Blue Badge holders can also register for a free 30-minute session.
Yes, if you register the number plate in advance. Register from three months before your flight until the day before you travel.
Use RH6 0PJ. Gatwick's own drop-off page also links to a map pin for each zone.
No. Gatwick says pick-ups should happen in the Short Stay car parks, including the Express Pick-Up areas.
With Fastlane Transfers, yes. The charge is built into your fixed fare. With other firms, check your quote before you book.
M Toseef
Founder of Fastlane Transfers. Every rule and figure in this guide links to its official source.