The London Gatwick drop-off charge in detail
£10 for up to 10 minutes.
If you overstay: £1 per additional minute up to 20 minutes; 30-minute maximum stay, £30 maximum daily charge.
Where to drop off at London Gatwick
Both drop-off zones are barrier-free ANPR areas on the lower level of each terminal — no ticket to take and nothing to pay on site.
| Terminal | Where the drop-off zone is |
|---|---|
| North Terminal | Lower level, between the Sofitel hotel and the multi-storey car park |
| South Terminal | Lower level — follow the Drop Off signs from the M23 J9a approach |
The same £10 charge applies at both terminals.
What the London Gatwick drop-off is actually like
The forecourts are barrier-free, using number-plate recognition rather than tickets; at North Terminal the drop-off is on the lower level between the Sofitel and the multi-storey car park.
Source: the airport's own directions page.
How and when to pay the London Gatwick drop-off charge
How: Online at Gatwick's post-pay site (postpay.dropoff.gatwickairport.com), by automated phone on 0330 174 4503, or automatically with an AutoPay account.
When: pay by midnight the day after you use the zone. Unpaid visits become a Parking Charge Notice, issued and enforced by Gatwick's parking partner Times24.
There are no barriers, tickets or machines — cameras record your plate and you pay afterwards.
Exemptions: Blue Badge holders are exempt from the drop-off charge, but must register with Times24 before travelling.
Official payment site: postpay.dropoff.gatwickairport.com
Free drop-off alternative at London Gatwick
Long Stay car parks — 2 hours free, shuttle to terminal. Allow 15–25 extra minutes versus the barrier.
Every airport's free alternative is in the free drop-off guide — or scan the full comparison table.
Pick-up charges at London Gatwick Airport: where to collect and what it costs
Don't use the drop-off zone for pick-ups. Gatwick's express pick-up areas are inside the Short Stay car parks — Car Park 6 (Level 4) at North Terminal and Car Park 3 (ground floor) at South Terminal — at standard Short Stay rates, and you must stay with the car, as unattended vehicles can receive a Parking Charge Notice. The cheaper option is the Long Stay: free for up to 2 hours, with a shuttle to both terminals.
How pick-up charging works across the UK: pick-up charges at every airport · the quick comparison.
Getting to the London Gatwick drop-off
London Gatwick Airport terminal. Follow the drop-off signs on site — the zone can sit a short walk from the doors.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · Get directions →
By rail — Gatwick Airport station is at the South Terminal, about a five-minute walk from the concourses, with the non-stop Gatwick Express to London Victoria plus Southern and Thameslink services.source
Being dropped off isn't the cheap option.
£10 on the way out — and coming home, pick-up can't use the £10 zone anyway.
Collections go via the Short Stay car parks, so a dropped-off round trip pays in two different places. Flying yourself? Pre-book parking instead and the car's waiting when you land — even off the 1am arrival.
Pre-book Gatwick parking →Compare: Airparks · YourParkingSpace
Just dropping someone off? Long Stay car parks is the free option here — details above.
Still weighing it up? Is it cheaper to park or get dropped off at Gatwick?
Some parking links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It never affects our charges data.
London Gatwick drop-off & pick-up FAQs
How much is the drop-off charge at London Gatwick Airport?
London Gatwick Airport charges £10 for up to 10 minutes at the drop-off area closest to the terminal. If you overstay: £1 per additional minute up to 20 minutes; 30-minute maximum stay, £30 maximum daily charge.
Is there a free drop-off at London Gatwick Airport?
Yes. London Gatwick keeps a free or cheaper option — Long Stay car parks: 2 hours free, shuttle to terminal. Allow 15–25 extra minutes.
How do I pay the London Gatwick Airport drop-off charge?
Online at Gatwick's post-pay site (postpay.dropoff.gatwickairport.com), by automated phone on 0330 174 4503, or automatically with an AutoPay account. Pay by midnight the day after you use the zone. Unpaid visits become a Parking Charge Notice, issued and enforced by Gatwick's parking partner Times24.
Can you pay the London Gatwick drop-off charge at a machine or by card at the airport?
No. There are no barriers, tickets or machines — cameras record your plate and you pay afterwards. Pay by midnight the day after you use the zone.
Is the London Gatwick drop-off charge free for Blue Badge holders?
Blue Badge holders are exempt from the drop-off charge, but must register with Times24 before travelling.
Is there a pick-up charge at London Gatwick Airport, and where do you collect?
Don't use the drop-off zone for pick-ups. Gatwick's express pick-up areas are inside the Short Stay car parks — Car Park 6 (Level 4) at North Terminal and Car Park 3 (ground floor) at South Terminal — at standard Short Stay rates, and you must stay with the car, as unattended vehicles can receive a Parking Charge Notice. The cheaper option is the Long Stay: free for up to 2 hours, with a shuttle to both terminals.
Has the London Gatwick Airport drop-off charge gone up?
Yes. It rose from £7 in 2025 to £10, an increase of about 43%.
Did you know?
Gatwick's Art Deco “Beehive” of the mid-1930s was the world's first circular airport terminal, linked to its own railway station by subway so passengers could walk from train to plane under cover. The listed building still stands beside the modern airport.
Source: www.gatwickairport.com
Drop-off charges at airports near London Gatwick
Method & corrections
Every figure on this page is checked against the airport's own published charges and stamped with the date we checked it. We re-verify the full dataset quarterly, and after any reported change — see how we work and who maintains it.
Spotted an error? Email hello@airportdropoffcharges.co.uk — corrections are made visibly and dated. The dataset behind this page is free to reuse with attribution: JSON · CSV (CC BY 4.0).