Quick Summary
The Gatwick drop off charge is £10 for up to 10 minutes at both North and South Terminal forecourts — up 43% from £7 on 6 January 2026, the largest single rise ever at a UK airport. Barrierless ANPR: pay online or by phone by midnight the next day or face a £100 PCN (£60 within 14 days). Free alternative: Long Stay car parks, up to 2 hours free with a shuttle. A pre-booked taxi with LondonAirport‑Taxi.com includes the charge in your fixed fare.
What Is the Gatwick Drop Off Charge?
The Gatwick drop off charge is a fee applied when any vehicle enters the designated forecourt drop-off zones outside the North Terminal or South Terminal at London Gatwick Airport. These zones are located on the lower level of each terminal, right next to the departures entrance — the most convenient spot to drop passengers.
The system is barrierless. There are no ticket machines, no barriers, and no payment booths. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras record your vehicle registration as you enter the zone. The charge is triggered instantly, even if you stop for less than a minute. There is no grace period.
Gatwick introduced the drop-off charge in March 2021 at £5. The fee then rose to £6 in 2024, £7 in May 2025, and £10 from 6 January 2026 — more than doubling in less than five years. Gatwick management cited a more than doubling of business rates as the primary driver of the latest increase. For wider context on what taxis cost across the capital, see our London taxi fares guide.
Gatwick Drop Off Charge 2026 – Current Prices
From 6 January 2026, the Gatwick forecourt drop-off charges are:
| Duration | Charge (from 6 Jan 2026) | Previous Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 minutes | £10 | £7 (since May 2025) |
| Each additional 10 minutes | +£1 per 10-minute block | — |
| Maximum stay | 60 minutes | — |
| Over 60 minutes | Not permitted — use Short Stay | — |
The £10 charge is a 43% increase from the previous £7 fee, and more than double the original £5 charge when the system launched in March 2021. The RAC's senior policy officer Rod Dennis called the increase the largest the organisation has ever seen at any UK airport. Gatwick is now the joint most expensive airport for drop-offs in the UK alongside Stansted.
An interesting detail: Gatwick's Short Stay car parks charge approximately £8 for up to 30 minutes — actually cheaper than the £10 drop-off charge and giving you three times as long. For anyone who needs more than a quick goodbye, Short Stay parking can be the better deal.
How Does Gatwick Compare to Other London Airports?
Every London airport now charges for terminal drop-offs. Here is the full picture for the current year:
| Airport | Drop-Off Charge | Time Limit | Free Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick | £10 + £1 per extra 10 min | 10 min (60 min max) | Up to 2 hrs at Long Stay |
| Stansted | £10 (£28 for 15–30 min) | 15 min | 60 min at Mid Stay |
| London City | £8 + £1/min after 5 min | 10 min max | None — DLR recommended |
| Southend | £8 | 10 min (strict) | 15 min at Long Stay |
| Heathrow | £7 | 10 min | 30 min at Long Stay |
| Luton | £7 + £1/min after 10 min | 30 min max | 2 hrs at Long Stay |
Each airport in the table above links to its own detailed guide. For a side-by-side view of every fee, time limit and free option, see our UK airport drop-off charges compared page — and for the wider story behind the rises, our London airport drop-off fees explained analysis.
North Terminal vs South Terminal – Where to Drop Off
Gatwick has two terminals, each with its own forecourt drop-off zone. The £10 charge applies at both:
- North Terminal: Follow signs from the M23 Junction 9 roundabout. The drop-off area is on the lower level between the Sofitel hotel and the multi-storey car park.
- South Terminal: Use the filter lane from the J9a roundabout via Airport Way. The drop-off area is on the lower level outside departures.
Always check which terminal your airline uses before setting off. If you drive to the wrong terminal, you may need to exit and re-enter — paying the £10 charge twice. British Airways, easyJet (some routes), TUI, and Wizz Air typically use the North Terminal, while easyJet (most routes), Ryanair, and Vueling use the South Terminal. Check your booking confirmation to be sure.
Who Needs to Pay?
The charge applies to almost every vehicle:
- Private cars
- Taxis, minicabs, and private hire vehicles
- Uber, Bolt, and ride-hailing vehicles
- Rental and hire cars
- Electric vehicles (EVs are not exempt)
Blue Badge holders are exempt but must register their vehicle on the Gatwick/NCP website before arrival or by midnight the following day. The exemption is not automatic.
How to Pay the Gatwick Drop Off Charge
Pay the Gatwick Drop Off Charge Online
The fastest way to pay is the official Gatwick drop-off payment portal, operated by NCP. Enter your vehicle registration and the date of your visit, pay by card, and keep the confirmation. You can pay before or after your visit — as long as it's completed by midnight on the day after you used the zone.
Pay by Phone
Call 0330 174 4503 to pay through the automated telephone service, 24/7. Have your vehicle registration and travel date ready. Cash and cheques are not accepted at any stage — the system is entirely cashless.
Set Up AutoPay (Best for Regular Drivers)
Register your vehicle once for AutoPay and the charge is collected automatically after every visit — no deadlines to remember and no PCN risk. If you drop off at Gatwick more than a few times a year, AutoPay removes the most common cause of £100 fines: simply forgetting to pay.
What Happens If You Do Not Pay?
If payment is not received by the midnight deadline, a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) is issued to the registered vehicle owner:
- £100 — the standard PCN amount
- £60 — if paid within 14 days
How to appeal a Gatwick drop-off PCN
Appeals go through NCP, which administers the charge on Gatwick's behalf. Submit on the NCP website with your PCN reference and evidence — proof you paid on time under a mistyped registration, proof the vehicle had been sold, or a Blue Badge registration that should have applied. If the evidence is thin, paying the £60 reduced rate within 14 days is usually cheaper than losing an appeal at £100.
How to Avoid the Gatwick Drop Off Charge
Free Option – Long Stay Car Parks (Up to 2 Hours Free)
Gatwick offers free drop-off at the Long Stay car parks for up to 2 hours — the most generous free option of any London airport. Follow signs to either Long Stay North or Long Stay South, take a ticket at the entry barrier, find a free parking bay, and exit using the same ticket. There is no charge if you stay less than two hours.
A free shuttle bus runs between the Long Stay car parks and both terminals every 10–12 minutes, taking approximately 5 minutes each way. The downside: the shuttle plus walking time adds 15–20 minutes each way, and you need to carry luggage between the car park and the bus. For families with multiple bags, pushchairs, or elderly passengers, this extra step can be tiring.
Short Stay Car Parks – Cheaper Than the Drop-Off Zone
Gatwick's Short Stay car parks charge approximately £8 for up to 30 minutes — actually cheaper than the £10 forecourt drop-off charge and giving you three times as long. If you need to help someone with luggage or walk them to check-in, Short Stay is the better value option. Short Stay is available at both North and South Terminals.
Public Transport – No Charge, More Time
Gatwick is exceptionally well-connected by rail. The Gatwick Express runs non-stop to London Victoria in 30 minutes. Southern and Thameslink trains serve the airport's South Terminal station, with onward connections to London Bridge, St Pancras, Brighton, and beyond. For solo travellers with light luggage, the train avoids the drop-off zone entirely. For a deeper analysis of taxi vs public transport options see our Uber vs black cab vs minicab guide.
Pre-Booked Taxi – The Simplest Choice
A pre-booked taxi eliminates every drop-off complication. Your driver handles the terminal approach and any associated charges as part of the fixed fare. No payment portals, no deadlines, no PCN risk.
With LondonAirport-Taxi.com:
- Direct door-to-terminal travel — no shuttle buses, no car parks
- The driver handles the drop-off charge as part of the fare
- No risk of missed deadlines or £100 fines
- Luggage assistance included
- Fixed fares with the £10 charge included — check our fixed-fare Gatwick Airport taxi prices before you book
Travelling as a group? A 7-seater taxi or minibus often beats five Gatwick Express tickets per head, and families can request free child and baby seats at booking through our baby seat taxi service.
Transfers also run well beyond Sussex — our Gatwick airport taxi service covers Brighton, Surrey, Central London and long-distance UK routes at fixed prices.
Why a Pre-Booked Taxi Beats Driving to Gatwick
With the forecourt charge now at £10 — and a potential £100 fine for forgetting to pay — many travellers decide that a pre-booked taxi is simply less hassle than driving themselves or asking a friend to drop them off:
- No drop-off charge to manage: Your driver handles the forecourt fee. No online portals, no midnight deadlines.
- Fixed fares: Your fare is confirmed at booking with LondonAirport-Taxi.com. No meters, no surge pricing.
- Flight monitoring for pickups: For Gatwick arrivals, your driver tracks your flight and waits at the terminal with a name board. 30 minutes of complimentary waiting time is included.
- Both terminals covered: Your driver delivers you to the correct terminal — North or South — based on your airline.
- 24/7 service: Gatwick operates around the clock with early-morning easyJet and Ryanair departures. A pre-booked taxi works around your schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Gatwick drop off charge in 2026?
The Gatwick drop off charge is £10 for up to 10 minutes in the forecourt drop-off zones, effective from 6 January 2026. This applies at both North Terminal and South Terminal. The fee was increased from £7 (which had been the rate since May 2025) and has more than doubled since the system was introduced in March 2021 at £5 — a 43% jump in a single increase that the RAC described as the largest ever seen at any UK airport. After 10 minutes, an additional £1 is added per 10-minute block up to a 60-minute maximum stay. Payment must be made online or by telephone by midnight the following day.
Is there a free drop-off option at Gatwick?
Yes. The Long Stay car parks offer free drop-off for up to 2 hours, the most generous free option of any London airport. A free shuttle bus takes passengers from the car park to both terminals every 10–12 minutes. This avoids the £10 forecourt charge but adds 15–20 minutes to the journey each way. Alternatively, Short Stay car parks charge approximately £8 for 30 minutes — actually cheaper than the £10 forecourt drop-off and giving you more time.
What happens if I do not pay the Gatwick drop off charge?
If payment is not received by midnight the day after your visit, a Parking Charge Notice of £100 is issued to the registered vehicle owner. This is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. The fine is administered by NCP on behalf of Gatwick Airport and is based on ANPR camera records. You can appeal via the NCP website if you believe the charge is incorrect.
Does the charge apply at both North and South Terminal?
Yes. The £10 forecourt drop-off charge applies at both Gatwick North Terminal and South Terminal. Each terminal has its own designated drop-off zone on the lower level outside departures, accessed from Junction 9 of the M23 via Airport Way. If you accidentally drive to the wrong terminal, exit, and re-enter the correct one, you will be charged twice because each entry is recorded separately by the ANPR cameras.
Do taxis have to pay the Gatwick drop off charge?
Yes, all taxis, minicabs, and private hire vehicles are subject to the £10 Gatwick drop off charge. When you book a pre-booked taxi with LondonAirport-Taxi.com, the driver handles this charge as part of the fixed-fare service. Passengers do not need to worry about payment deadlines or fines.
Is Short Stay parking cheaper than the drop-off zone?
Yes, surprisingly. Gatwick Short Stay car parks charge approximately £8 for up to 30 minutes, compared to £10 for just 10 minutes in the forecourt drop-off zone. Short Stay also gives you time to help with luggage or accompany someone to check-in. This makes Short Stay the better value option if you need more than a very quick stop. Both terminals have Short Stay car parks.
How has the Gatwick drop off charge changed over time?
The fee has more than doubled since launch in less than five years: £5 in March 2021, £6 in 2024, £7 in May 2025, and £10 from 6 January 2026. The 43% jump that year was the largest single increase ever recorded at any UK airport, according to the RAC. Gatwick management cited a more than doubling of business rates as the primary driver, alongside broader operational cost pressures.
How does Gatwick compare to Heathrow and Stansted?
Gatwick and Stansted are now jointly the most expensive London airports for drop-offs at £10 each. Heathrow charges £7 for 10 minutes. Gatwick gives you 10 minutes for your £10, while Stansted gives you 15 minutes. All three airports use ANPR cameras with no barriers and require payment by midnight the following day. Gatwick and Stansted both issue £100 PCNs while Heathrow issues £80 PCNs. For a complete side-by-side comparison of all six London airports, see our UK airport drop-off charges compared aggregator page.
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Final Thoughts
Gatwick's drop-off is now the joint most expensive in the UK: £10 for 10 minutes at either terminal, £1 per extra 10 minutes to a 60-minute cap, and a £100 PCN if you miss the midnight-next-day deadline. Two quirks worth remembering: Short Stay parking at ~£8 for 30 minutes is actually cheaper than the forecourt, and the Long Stay car parks give you up to 2 hours free if you don't mind the shuttle.
Or make it someone else's problem: a pre-booked taxi includes the charge in your fixed fare and delivers you to the correct terminal, North or South. Check our Gatwick Airport taxi prices for every vehicle type, or get an instant fixed-price quote now.
