.png){kind=small}
On This Page
Gatwick drop-off costs £10 for the first 10 minutes at both North and South Terminal, then £1 a minute, with a 30-minute maximum stay. You pay online, by phone or with AutoPay by midnight the next day. For free drop-off or pick-up, use a Long Stay car park, which is free for up to 2 hours with a free shuttle bus. This guide covers every option, checked against Gatwick's official website on 23 October 2026. If you'd rather skip the charges altogether, a pre-booked Gatwick airport transfer takes care of the drive.
Gatwick drop-off and pick-up: key facts
- Drop-off charge: £10 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 per extra minute. Maximum stay 30 minutes.
- Payment deadline: midnight the day after your visit. There are no barriers or pay machines.
- Free option: Long Stay car parks are free for up to 2 hours, with a free shuttle bus to the terminals.
- Pick-up: Short Stay car parks, from £8 for up to 30 minutes, or the express pick-up bays.
- Blue Badge: holders are exempt from the drop-off charge once their vehicle is registered.
How Much Is the Drop-Off Charge at Gatwick?
The Gatwick drop-off charge is a minimum of £10, which covers the first 10 minutes in the drop-off zone at either North or South Terminal. After that, it's £1 for each extra minute, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes and a maximum daily charge of £30. The same charge applies at both terminals.
| Time in the drop-off zone | Charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 minutes | £10 |
| Each extra minute | £1 |
| Maximum stay | 30 minutes |
| Maximum daily charge | £30 |
The drop-off zones are barrierless: you drive in, pull into a bay, unload and drive out. Cameras record your visit, so there's no ticket to take. Have your bags ready before you arrive, because every minute over 10 adds £1.
How Do You Pay the Gatwick Drop-Off Charge?
You pay the Gatwick drop-off charge online, by phone on 0330 174 4503, or automatically through AutoPay, by midnight the day after your visit. There are no payment machines in the drop-off zones.
Three ways to pay
- AutoPay (easiest): register your vehicle at dropoff.gatwickairport.com before you travel, and each visit is paid automatically.
- Online: use the payment link on Gatwick's drop-off page, by midnight the next day.
- By phone: call the automated payment line on 0330 174 4503, by midnight the next day.
If you don't pay in time, you can receive a Parking Charge Notice. Notices are paid or appealed through Times24, which runs the scheme for Gatwick. Gatwick says the easiest way to avoid a notice is to register for AutoPay before your visit.
Where Is the Drop-Off at Gatwick North and South Terminals?
Both Gatwick drop-off zones are on the lower level of the terminal forecourt. Leave the M23 at Junction 9 and follow the signs for Gatwick Airport, then for your terminal.
| Terminal | How to get there | Where the drop-off is |
|---|---|---|
| North Terminal | From the M23 Junction 9, go straight ahead at the first roundabout (J9a), follow signs for North Terminal, then take the first exit at the next roundabout | Lower level, between the Sofitel hotel and the multi-storey car park |
| South Terminal | From the M23 Junction 9, use the filter lane at the first roundabout (J9a) and turn left, following signs for South Terminal, then signs for Drop Off | Lower level |
Not sure which terminal? Check your booking or your airline's website before you set off. If you go to the wrong one, a free shuttle links North and South Terminal in about 2 minutes. Our North Terminal transfers and South Terminal transfers drop you at the right terminal for your flight.
How Does the Gatwick Drop-Off Charge Compare with Other London Airports?
Gatwick's £10 drop-off charge is in line with Stansted and higher than Heathrow, but each airport charges differently, so the cheapest option depends on how long you stop.
| Airport | Drop-off charge | Full guide |
|---|---|---|
| Gatwick | £10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 a minute (30 minutes maximum) | This page |
| Heathrow | £7 per entry to the terminal drop-off area | Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 guides |
| Stansted | £10 for up to 15 minutes; £28 for over 15 minutes (30 minutes maximum) | Stansted drop-off guide |
Is There Free Drop-Off at Gatwick?
Yes. Gatwick's Long Stay car parks are free for up to 2 hours for dropping off, picking up or parking, and a free shuttle bus runs to the terminals. After 2 hours, standard Long Stay rates apply (£38 for 2 to 24 hours). It takes longer than using the drop-off zone, so allow extra time for the shuttle, especially with heavy luggage.
Where Can You Pick Someone Up at Gatwick?
You can pick someone up at Gatwick from a Short Stay car park, minutes from each terminal, from the express pick-up bays if you want to wait in your car, or from a Long Stay car park, free for up to 2 hours. Express pick-up bays are for collections only, not drop-offs, and you must stay with your car.
| Option | Where | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Stay car park | Minutes from each terminal | From £8 for up to 30 minutes | Meeting someone in arrivals and helping with bags |
| Express pick-up | North: Car Park 6, Level 4. South: Car Park 3, ground floor (Level 0) | Short Stay rates | Waiting in your car |
| Long Stay car park | Free shuttle bus to the terminals | Free for up to 2 hours | The cheapest pick-up, if your passenger doesn't mind the shuttle |
Gatwick Short Stay prices
North and South Terminal Short Stay car parks have the same roll-up prices:
| Time parked | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 minutes | £8.00 |
| 31 to 60 minutes | £14.00 |
| 1 to 2 hours | £18.00 |
| 2 to 3 hours | £21.50 |
Tips for an easy Gatwick pick-up
- Check the flight before you leave home on Gatwick's live flights page, so you arrive when your passenger does.
- Arrived early or the flight's delayed? Both terminals have coffee shops with free Wi-Fi in arrivals, plus an M&S, vending machines and toilets.
- Don't wait in the drop-off zone. You'll be charged by the minute, up to the 30-minute maximum.
Common Gatwick Drop-Off Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to pay. There's no barrier to remind you. Set up AutoPay, or pay as soon as you get home.
- Going to the wrong terminal. North and South Terminal are separate buildings. Check before you leave, and use the free shuttle if you get it wrong.
- Waiting in the drop-off zone for an arriving passenger. Use Short Stay, the express pick-up bays or the free 2 hours at Long Stay instead.
- Leaving the car unattended. Stay with your vehicle in the drop-off zone and the express pick-up bays.
Collecting a passenger who'd rather take a taxi? See where to get a taxi at Gatwick Airport, or book a pre-arranged driver with Meet & Greet so they're met inside arrivals.
Do Blue Badge Holders Pay the Gatwick Drop-Off Charge?
No. Blue Badge holders are exempt from the Gatwick drop-off charge, but they must register their vehicle, or log in to an existing account, through Times24 before they travel. Do this well before your trip so you don't receive a charge notice.
Skip the Drop-Off Charge with a Pre-Booked Transfer
Dropping someone at Gatwick means a £10 charge and a payment deadline; collecting them means parking and waiting. With a Gatwick airport taxi from Banana Cars, nobody has to do the airport run.
| Friend or family drives | Banana Cars transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport charges | £10 to drop off; parking to pick up | Your driver deals with the airport |
| Flight delays | Extra parking time | Flight monitoring when you add your flight number, with free waiting time |
| Price | Fuel plus airport charges | Fixed fare, same rate day or night, no extra charge for traffic delays |
| Arrivals | Find each other in the terminal | Optional Meet & Greet in arrivals |
All our drivers are vetted and TfL-licensed, and child seats are available. We run transfers between London and both Gatwick North Terminal and Gatwick South Terminal, including from central London and Croydon. Choose a vehicle for your luggage in our fleet, book a group transfer for larger parties, or travel in comfort with our executive chauffeur service.
Get an instant fare quote for your Gatwick transfer in a few seconds, with the fare shown before you book.
Heading into the city? Read Gatwick to central London. Connecting to another airport? See our Heathrow to Gatwick guide. Comparing airports? Read Heathrow vs Gatwick, or see the drop-off charges at every London airport in our London airport drop-off charges guide. You can also browse all the London airports we serve.
Charges and rules checked against gatwickairport.com on 23 October 2026. Gatwick can change its charges, so confirm on its website before you travel.
Gatwick Drop-Off and Pick-Up FAQs
£10 for the first 10 minutes, then £1 for each extra minute, with a 30-minute maximum stay and a £30 maximum daily charge. It's the same at North and South Terminal.
Online, by phone on 0330 174 4503, or automatically with AutoPay, by midnight the day after your visit. There are no pay machines at the drop-off zones.
Yes. Long Stay car parks are free for up to 2 hours, with a free shuttle bus to the terminals.
On the lower level of the South Terminal forecourt. From the M23 Junction 9, turn left at the first roundabout (J9a) using the filter lane, then follow signs for South Terminal and Drop Off.
On the lower level, between the Sofitel hotel and the multi-storey car park.
From a Short Stay car park (from £8 for up to 30 minutes), the express pick-up bays (North: Car Park 6, Level 4; South: Car Park 3, ground floor), or a Long Stay car park, free for up to 2 hours.
You can receive a Parking Charge Notice, which is paid or appealed through Times24. Register for AutoPay before your visit to avoid this.
No. Blue Badge holders are exempt, but they must register their vehicle with Times24 before they travel.
Know someone travelling soon? Send them this guide.
