Can you still drop someone off at a UK airport for free?
Not at the kerbside. In Auto Express's summer 2026 table of 20 UK airports (published 15 October 2026), every airport charged for dropping off at the terminal. The charges run from £4.00 at Belfast City to £10.00 at Gatwick and Stansted. The free routes that do exist are a short walk or shuttle away: most large airports offer free drop-off in a car park further out, and some exempt Blue Badge holders.
What the main airports charge
These figures come from the Auto Express table, which gives the fee and the time allowed, except where the airport's own page says otherwise. Luton's is taken from its own page, which gives a higher fee than the table. Airports change their fees often, so check the airport's own page before you set off.
| Airport | Fee | Time allowed |
|---|---|---|
| London Gatwick | £10.00 | 10 minutes |
| London Stansted | £10.00 | 15 minutes |
| Edinburgh | £8.50 | 10 minutes |
| Bristol | £8.50 | 10 minutes |
| London Heathrow | £7.00 | No waiting: drop off and leave |
| London Luton | £9.00 | 12 minutes, then £1 a minute |
| Glasgow | £7.00 | 15 minutes |
| Manchester | £5.50 | 5 minutes |
| Cardiff Wales | £4.50 | 10 minutes |
| Belfast City | £4.00 | 10 minutes |
The full table also covers Aberdeen, Belfast International, Birmingham, Bournemouth, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool John Lennon, London City, Newcastle and Southampton.
Ways to avoid the charge
Blue Badge holders
Heathrow gives UK and EEA Blue Badge holders a 100% discount, even when someone else is driving, but you must apply in advance. Gatwick exempts Blue Badge holders too, if the vehicle is registered through its operator, Times24. Other airports have their own rules, so look at the airport's page.
Free drop-off further out
Most of the large airports name a car park where dropping off is free, with a shuttle bus or a walk to the terminal:
- Heathrow: its Park & Ride car parks, with a free bus to the terminal.
- Gatwick: the Long Stay car parks, free for up to two hours, with a free shuttle.
- Stansted: the Mid Stay car park, free for up to 60 minutes, then £5 for the next hour.
- Luton: the Long Stay car park, free for up to two hours, with a shuttle of about ten minutes.
- Manchester: JetParks 1, with a free shuttle to the terminal running around the clock.
- Edinburgh: the Long Stay car park, free for up to 30 minutes, then £14 up to an hour. There is no shuttle; allow ten minutes to walk.
Each airport sets its own time limit and charges more if you stay longer, so check the page for the one you are using.
Other exemptions at Heathrow
Heathrow lists a 100% discount for recovery vehicles, two-wheeled motorbikes, and buses or coaches, and for vehicles booked on its Valet Parking.
Paying, and what happens if you forget
Most of these zones have no barrier. You pay afterwards, online or by phone, and the deadline is short.
- Heathrow: £7 each time a vehicle enters a drop-off area, payable by midnight the next day. Card payment only. A missed payment brings an £80 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
- Gatwick: £10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 for each extra minute up to 20 minutes, with a £30 daily maximum and a 30-minute maximum stay. Payable by midnight the day after.
If you get a notice you think is wrong, the airport's page explains how to appeal. For legal questions about a penalty, ask a professional adviser.