Heathrow Airport now charges a £7 drop off fee every time you enter a terminal forecourt. This clear, driver-friendly guide explains where the charge applies, how to choose the best payment method, what happens if you fail to pay, and how to use long stay and short stay car parks legally for pick-ups and drop-offs. It also covers exemptions for Blue Badge holders and why setting up Auto Pay and a business account is essential for regular Heathrow runs.
What Are Heathrow Drop Off Charges?
Where the charge applies
The Heathrow Airport drop off charge is £7 each time you enter the terminal drop-off areas on the terminal forecourt at:
- Terminal 2
- Terminal 3
- Terminal 4
- Terminal 5
Every entry counts as a separate visit, even if it’s on the same day. If you go into the drop off zone three times in one day, you will incur three separate £7 charges.
There are:
- No ticket machines
- No barriers at the forecourt
- Signs and road markings instead of physical pay points
The charge applies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for most vehicles using the terminal drop-off areas.
How the charge is enforced
Heathrow uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor the terminal forecourts. These cameras read your vehicle registration number as soon as you drive into the drop off zone. Once your plate is recorded, the system logs a visit and the £7 drop off fee becomes due.
If you are driving:
- PCO-licensed vehicles
- Private hire vehicles
- Black cabs
- Private cars
- Electric vehicles
You should assume the charge applies unless you are covered by a specific exemption.
How to Pay the Heathrow Airport Drop Off Charge
You cannot pay the charge at the airport in person. There are no pay stations or kiosks in the drop off zone or terminal forecourt.
You must pay the charge using one of the following payment methods:
Online payment
You can pay the charge online using your:
- Vehicle registration number
- Visit date(s)
- Payment card details
You can usually:
- Pay in advance of your journey
- Pay on the day
- Pay by midnight the following day
Paying online is often the quickest option if you only use Heathrow occasionally.
Telephone payment
Heathrow also offers an automated telephone payment line on 0330 008 5600. This is useful if:
- You are on the move and don’t want to use mobile data
- Your internet connection is unreliable
- You prefer not to pay online
You will need to provide your vehicle registration number and card details over the phone to pay the charge.
Auto Pay and business accounts
For regular Heathrow users, the best option is to set up:
- An Auto Pay account
- A Heathrow business account for your PCO or taxi operation
With Auto Pay, your vehicle registration number is linked to your payment card. Each time your vehicle is detected by automatic number plate recognition in the drop off zone, the £7 drop off fee is taken automatically.
Benefits for PCO and private hire drivers:
- No need to remember to pay every single visit
- Reduced risk of a parking charge notice (PCN)
- Clear records of all your Heathrow visits
- Easier to reconcile expenses, especially if you operate a fleet
To set up Auto Pay, you will usually need:
- Your business or driver details
- Your vehicle registration number(s)
- Card details for payments
If you rent a PCO vehicle, remember that most rental companies do not register your vehicle for you. You are responsible for registering your vehicle and managing your own business account.
What Happens If You Fail to Pay the Heathrow drop off Charge?
If you fail to pay the Heathrow, drop off charge by midnight the day after your visit, Heathrow will issue a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
Key points:
- Standard PCN amount: £80
- Early payment discount: reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days
- Further action may follow if you ignore the PCN
A typical process looks like this:
- Your vehicle enters the terminal forecourt and is recorded by automatic number plate recognition.
- You do not pay the charge by midnight the next day.
- A Parking Charge Notice PCN is sent to the registered keeper.
- If you pay within the 14-day discount period, the amount is reduced to 40 if paid within 14 days.
- If you do not pay or appeal, additional fees and enforcement can follow.
If you have received a PCN for failing to pay the drop off charge you can pay it here.
If you rent a vehicle and fail to pay, the PCN may go first to the rental company, who can then charge you admin fees on top of the PCN itself. This can make a simple missed payment far more expensive, so Auto Pay is strongly recommended for frequent users.
For tips on how you can avoid PCNs, you can read our full guide here.
Heathrow Airport Free Drop-off Options
You can avoid paying Heathrow’s £7 terminal drop‑off fee by using the Park & Ride car parks available at each terminal. These areas, which used to be called Long Stay car parks, allow you to park free of charge for up to 30 minutes.
After the first half hour, parking costs £9.40 for stays of up to two hours. If you remain for longer than two hours, the charge is £40.80 for the first 24 hours and £32.90 for each additional day.
Although these car parks are situated some distance from the terminal forecourts, Heathrow provides a free shuttle bus service, which typically takes around 10 minutes to carry passengers between the car parks and the terminals.
Travelling to Heathrow for a Job?
If you’re a PCO driver, minicab driver or taxi driver, Heathrow runs can be a big part of your weekly income. But every time you enter a terminal drop off zone on the terminal forecourt, you face the Heathrow Airport drop off charge.
The current drop off fee is £7 per entry to the forecourt areas at any of the four terminals. Understanding how the system works will help you avoid an expensive Parking Charge Notice (PCN) and keep your earnings on track.
This guide has been created to help drivers:
- Understand where the charge applies
- Choose the right payment method
- Avoid PCNs when they fail to pay on time
- Use the long stay car park and short stay car parks correctly
- Support Blue Badge holders and passengers with mobility needs
You can also read similar guides for other airports, such as Gatwick, Luton, London City and Stansted, to keep on top of airport drop-off rules across the South East.
When Were Heathrow Drop Off Charges Introduced?
Heathrow is the UK’s busiest airport, handling tens of millions of passengers each year. With passenger numbers in the tens of millions (over 79 million in 2023), traffic management around the terminals is critical.
The Heathrow Airport drop off charge was introduced in 2021 as part of its Surface Access and sustainability plans. The goals included:
- Reducing congestion on the terminal forecourt
- Encouraging more sustainable travel choices
- Supporting a cleaner environment by discouraging unnecessary car journeys
The charge applies regardless of whether your vehicle is petrol, diesel or an electric vehicle.
Business Accounts and Managing Multiple Vehicles
London Heathrow strongly advise that taxi drivers (black cab), private-hire vehicle drivers and operators register for a business account.
By setting up your business account with London Heathrow Airport you can view all of your previous drop-offs and reconcile registered blue-badge drop-offs by passengers.
Authorised Vehicle Area (AVA) and Waiting for Jobs
If you are a private hire driver waiting for a passenger to land before picking them up from a short stay car park, Heathrow may provide an Authorised Vehicle Area (AVA) or similar holding area.
Typical uses for an AVA:
- Waiting for ride-hailing bookings
- Reducing congestion on local roads
- Preventing drivers from circulating the terminals repeatedly
Check Heathrow’s current rules on:
- Who can access the AVA
- How long you can stay
- Any charges or conditions attached
More information can be found through clicking the link: Authorised Vehicle Area.
Picking Up Passengers at Heathrow
To stay compliant:
- Do not pick up passengers from the terminal forecourt or drop off zone.
- Use short stay car parks for quick pick-ups near the terminal.
- Use the long stay car park only if agreed in advance and practical for the passenger.
Explaining this to your passengers in advance can help avoid confusion and last-minute requests to be collected from the wrong place.
More information about passenger pick-ups can be found here.
Heathrow drop off charge roundup
Heathrow drop off charges don’t have to eat into your profits. By understanding where the charge applies, choosing the right payment method and setting up Auto Pay, you can turn the £7 drop off fee into a predictable business cost rather than an expensive surprise.
Looking for an insurance partner that understands airport and PCO work? Explore Acorn Insurance’s specialist cover for private hire and high-mileage drivers, so you’re protected every time you drive to the terminal forecourt.
Check out our other Airport Drop Off Charge Blogs
- How to pay the Gatwick drop off charge
- How to pay the Luton Airport drop off charge
- What is the London City Airport drop off charge?
- How to pay the London Stansted drop off charge
About Rapid PCO
Here at Rapid PCO we are a Professional PCO rental service designed to help you maximise your earnings with minimal hassle.
Our benefits include:
- Same-day collection so you can start earning quickly
- Comprehensive insurance included
- 24/7 roadside support to keep you on the road
- No credit checks with many plans, making it easy to get started
If you are interested in a PCO rental, you can browse our site here, or call us on 01732 747190 to find a vehicle that suits your work pattern, including frequent Heathrow airport runs.
