Stansted Drop-Off Charge 2026: Costs, Paying and Free Options
The Stansted drop-off charge is £10 for 15 minutes outside the terminal. Here is how to pay it, avoid the £100 fine or drop off free.
Checked against Stansted's pages: 20 October 2026 · 9 min read
Stansted charges £10 for up to 15 minutes in its Express Set Down area, or £28 up to 30 minutes. Pay by midnight the next day or face a £100 charge. Mid Stay is free for 60 minutes.
In this guide
- How Much Is the Stansted Drop-Off Charge?
- Where to Drop Off at Stansted Airport
- How to Pay the Stansted Drop-Off Charge
- Forgot to Pay? Fines and Appeals
- Free Drop-Off at Stansted
- Blue Badge, Local Residents and Exemptions
- Picking Someone Up at Stansted
- Stansted Drop-Off by Taxi
- How Stansted Compares with Heathrow and Gatwick
- FAQs
How Much Is the Stansted Drop-Off Charge?
The Stansted drop-off charge is £10 for up to 15 minutes in the Express Set Down area. Stay longer and it rises to £28. Figures come from London Stansted's pick-up and drop-off page (checked 20 October 2026).
| What you need to know | The rule |
|---|---|
| Up to 15 minutes | £10 |
| 15 to 30 minutes | £28 |
| Longest you can stay | 30 minutes |
| Driving back in within 30 minutes | Another £28 |
| When it applies | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Pay by | 23:59 on the day after your visit |
| If you don't pay | £100 Parking Charge Notice, cut to £60 within 14 days |
| Electric cars | No exemption |
So how much is Stansted drop off for a normal goodbye? Plan on £10. A 16-minute stop costs £28, so keep an eye on the clock.
Every visit is charged on its own. Stansted's terms apply the charge on each occasion that a vehicle enters the Express Set Down
. Source: Stansted's Express Set Down terms (checked 20 October 2026).
Stansted Airport drop off charges changed this year. The 2026 Stansted drop off charge increase took effect on 19 March. Travel Weekly reported the 15-minute rate rising from £7 to £10. Stays over 15 minutes moved to £28.
The Stansted Airport drop off charge works the same way for almost every vehicle. Stansted drop off charges cover private cars and taxis alike, at any hour. That's the full Stansted drop off price list: £10 or £28. The Stansted Airport drop off fee has no night or weekend rate.
Where to Drop Off at Stansted Airport
Planning a drop off at Stansted Airport? The Express Set Down sits outside Departures, in front of the terminal. Stansted has a single terminal, so there's only one drop-off lane to find.
London Stansted drop off has no barriers. Stansted says There are no barriers, so cars don't need to stop and pay.
Cameras read your number plate as you drive in.
Some drivers call it the Stansted terminal drop off or the Stansted departures drop off. It's the same lane.
Searching for Stansted Express drop off? That means this lane too. The Stansted Express Set Down has nothing to do with the Stansted Express train. The Stansted Airport Express Set Down is for drop-offs, apart from Blue Badge collections.
Getting there From the M11, take junction 8a from the London direction, or junction 8 from the Cambridge side. Stansted's driving page gives the airport's sat nav postcode as CM24 1RW (checked 20 October 2026).
So your Stansted drop off postcode for the Express Set Down is CM24 1RW. Dropping off free at Mid Stay instead? That uses CM24 1PZ.
The airport lists three Stansted Airport drop off points. Each suits a different kind of goodbye.
| Drop-off point | Where it is | Cost | Distance to the terminal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express Set Down | Outside Departures | £10 up to 15 minutes | Right outside |
| Green Short Stay | Short Stay car parks | £13 up to 30 minutes | 5 to 8 minutes on foot |
| Blue Short Stay | Short Stay car parks | £13 up to 30 minutes | 10 to 12 minutes on foot |
| Mid Stay | CM24 1PZ | Free for 60 minutes | About 7 minutes by free shuttle |
Walking times come from Stansted's Short Stay page (checked 19 October 2026).
The Stansted drop off zone is built for a quick stop. Stansted says Vehicles must not be left unattended.
Unattended vehicles may be towed, and a towing fee applies.
Dropping off passengers at Stansted with lots of bags? Unload quickly, because the Stansted drop off area charges more after 15 minutes. Every visit to the Stansted Airport drop off zone is logged by camera. Stansted Airport passenger drop off follows the same rules for every driver.
How to Pay the Stansted Drop-Off Charge
Wondering how to pay Stansted drop off charge bills? You pay after your visit, never before. Stansted's FAQs say Payment can only be made after you've visited the Express Set Down area.
Source: Stansted's parking FAQs (checked 20 October 2026).
| Way to pay | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Pay by card on Stansted's payment site, pay.stanstedairport.com | One-off trips |
| Phone | Call 03450 175046 and pay by card | Paying without a computer |
| AutoPay | Add your number plate and card once. Each visit is then paid automatically | Regular drivers |
For Stansted drop off, pay online at pay.stanstedairport.com. Cash and cheques aren't accepted. Your Stansted drop off payment shows within 24 hours, Stansted says.
Stansted drop off AutoPay suits regular drivers. Add your number plate and card once, and each visit is paid for you. Keep a valid card on the account, as a failed payment is your responsibility.
Your Stansted drop off login sits on the same payment site. That's where you add your car and card for AutoPay.
The deadline is 23:59 on the day after your visit. Drop off on a Saturday morning, and you have until 23:59 on Sunday. Two drop-offs in one day means two payments.
Need help? The Stansted drop off contact number is 03450 175046. You can also use live chat on the payment site.
Forgot to Pay? Fines and Appeals
Forgot to pay Stansted drop off on time? Stansted says a £100.00 Parking Charge Notice will be issued to the registered vehicle holder.
Pay within 14 days and it drops to £60.
| When you pay the notice | Amount |
|---|---|
| Within 14 days | £60 |
| Within 28 days | £100 |
| After 28 days | Extra charges may be added |
The 28-day limit comes from clause 6.2 of Stansted's Express Set Down terms.
So a Stansted drop off fine costs ten times the £10 charge. Paying a Stansted Airport drop off fine within 14 days saves you £40.
The notice goes to the registered keeper, not the driver. Lent your car to a friend? The letter still comes to you.
Think the notice is wrong? APCOA manages the Express Set Down for the airport, and appeals go through APCOA. Start at payments.apcoa.co.uk.
Drove into the lane by mistake? Stansted's pages list no exception for that. Paying the £10 by the deadline keeps a £100 notice off your doormat.
Free Drop-Off at Stansted
Free drop off at Stansted is real, but not at the terminal. Use the Mid Stay car park, which is free for up to 60 minutes. A free shuttle bus runs 24/7 and reaches the terminal in about 7 minutes. Source: Stansted's Mid Stay page (checked 20 October 2026).
| Time in Mid Stay | Cost |
|---|---|
| Up to 60 minutes | Free |
| Second hour | £5 |
| Over 2 hours | The day rate |
| Driving back in within 1 hour | £48 |
Many drivers call this the Stansted Airport free set down. Looking for the free set down at Stansted Airport? This is it.
The Stansted Airport free drop off postcode is CM24 1PZ. Stansted Mid Stay drop off suits travellers with light bags and time to spare. Stansted Airport Mid Stay drop off also works for collections, with the same free hour.
Need to drop off Stansted Airport passengers at no cost? Mid Stay is the only free option. Stansted free drop off has one catch: the bus ride. The Stansted drop off cost there is nothing for the first hour.
| Option | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Express Set Down | £10 up to 15 minutes, £28 up to 30 | Right outside Departures. 30-minute limit |
| Green or Blue Short Stay | £13 up to 30 minutes, £21 up to 1 hour | Park and walk your passenger in |
| Mid Stay | Free for 60 minutes | Free shuttle bus, about 7 minutes |
Here's the surprise. Need more than 15 minutes? Short Stay costs £13 for 30 minutes, against £28 in the Express Set Down.
For a Stansted Airport parking drop off with time to say goodbye, Short Stay is the better deal. Prefer a Stansted car park drop off? You can walk your passenger all the way to check-in.
Blue Badge, Local Residents and Exemptions
Stansted Airport drop off: Blue Badge holders pay the same £10 as everyone else. Stansted says All vehicles using the Express Set Down area must pay for their visit.
| Who | What applies | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Badge passengers | Normal charge, with extra time if reasonably needed | Ask a Traffic Marshal for more than 15 minutes |
| Local residents within 5 miles | £0.50 for up to 15 minutes | Apply online first |
| Local residents within 10 miles | £1.00 for up to 15 minutes | Apply online first |
| Pre-booked valet parking | Exempt | Nothing |
| Airport, emergency and military vehicles | Exempt | Nothing |
| Electric cars | No exemption | Pay as normal |
Where the passenger holds the badge, Stansted's terms allow an extension to the maximum stay period if reasonably required
. Speak to a Traffic Marshal if you need more than 15 minutes.
For a Stansted Airport disabled drop off, use the Blue Badge bays at the front of the Express Set Down. Stansted's Blue Badge page puts them a 1 to 2 minute walk from the terminal (checked 20 October 2026).
Stansted Airport drop off for local residents needs an approved account first. You must be 18 or over and live within 10 miles of the airport. Each household can register up to two vehicles, with two entries a day.
Taxis, ride-sharing and business vehicles can't join. Approval takes about ten working days. Source: Stansted's local resident discount terms (checked 20 October 2026).
Picking Someone Up at Stansted
For most drivers, the Express Set Down is drop-off only. Stansted describes it as the lane for dropping-off friends or loved ones
. Collect arriving passengers from the Green or Blue Short Stay car park, or free at Mid Stay.
There's one exception. A passenger with a Blue Badge can be collected in the Express Set Down, at the normal charge. Blue Badge spaces sit in Zone C, closest to the Assistance Desk, with a help point nearby. Source: Stansted's accessible transport page (checked 20 October 2026).
That's Stansted Airport pick up and drop off in brief. Our Stansted pick-up guide covers every collection point and price.
Stansted Drop-Off by Taxi
Taxis and minicabs pay the charge too. Stansted's FAQs say It's the responsibility of the vehicle owner to pay the Express Set Down charge.
Some firms pass it on to you, so check your quote.
With Fastlane Transfers, your driver uses the Express Set Down and the charge is ours to pay. It's built into your fixed fare, with no deadline to track. Any pick-up parking is included too.
Fares on our Stansted Airport taxi page start at £40 from Bishop's Stortford. Central London costs £108 each way in a saloon.
Coming from the capital? See our London to Stansted Airport taxi guide. For any other address, use our airport taxi fare calculator.
How Stansted Compares with Heathrow and Gatwick
Stansted gives you the longest first slot, at 15 minutes. Stay one minute longer, though, and the price nearly triples.
| Stansted | Heathrow | Gatwick | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charge | £10 up to 15 minutes, £28 up to 30 | £7 each time you enter | £10 for 10 minutes, then £1 a minute |
| Longest stay | 30 minutes | 10 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Unpaid fine | £100, or £60 within 14 days | £80, or £40 within 14 days | £100, or £60 within 14 days |
| Free option | Mid Stay, 60 minutes | Park & Ride, 29 minutes or up to 2 hours | Long Stay, 2 hours |
Heathrow figures come from Heathrow's terminal drop-off page (checked 13 October 2026). Gatwick figures come from London Gatwick's drop-off page and Gatwick's drop-off FAQs (both checked 14 October 2026).
Our Heathrow drop-off charge guide and Gatwick drop-off charge guide cover each airport in full. Dropping off at Luton instead? Our Luton Airport drop-off guide explains its £9 charge.
Stansted Drop-Off Charge FAQs
£10 for up to 15 minutes in the Express Set Down area. The Stansted drop off fee rises to £28 for 15 to 30 minutes. You can't stay longer than 30 minutes.
Pay online at pay.stanstedairport.com or call 03450 175046. You can also set up AutoPay. Pay by 23:59 on the day after your visit.
No. Stansted only takes payment after you've used the Express Set Down. AutoPay is the closest thing to paying ahead.
You'll get a £100 Parking Charge Notice, sent to the registered keeper. It drops to £60 if you pay within 14 days.
Thirty minutes at most. The first 15 minutes cost £10, and anything longer costs £28.
Yes, at the Mid Stay car park. It's free for up to 60 minutes, and a free shuttle bus reaches the terminal in about 7 minutes.
Yes. Stansted says all vehicles using the Express Set Down must pay. Blue Badge passengers can ask a Traffic Marshal for extra time.
No. "Express drop off" usually means the Express Set Down lane outside Departures. The Stansted Express is the train to Liverpool Street.
Not usually. Stansted lists the Express Set Down as drop-off only. A Blue Badge passenger can be collected there at the normal charge. Everyone else is collected in Green or Blue Short Stay, or free at Mid Stay.
With Fastlane Transfers, yes. The charge is built into your fixed fare. With other firms, check your quote, as Stansted bills the vehicle owner.
M Toseef
Founder of Fastlane Transfers. Every rule and figure in this guide links to London Stansted's own pages.