London Stansted introduced their drop-off charge in November 2012. The drop-off zone at London Stansted seems to be operated by NSL. NSL supplied and operates the new Videoalert system in the drop-off zone and short stay car parks. The Videoalert system helps them fight against drivers who tailgate the car in front of them to avoid paying fees. If you are caught by the Videoalert system in the drop-off zone, you will be sent a London Stansted Airport Drop-Off PCN by NSL.
Contents
- Is There A Charge To Drop-Off At Stansted Airport?
- How To Pay The Drop-Off Charge
- Appeal London Stansted Airport Drop-Off PCN
- Is There A Free Drop-Off At London Stansted Airport?
- London Stansted Short Stay Parking Charges
- London Stansted Mid Stay Parking Charges
- London Stansted Long Stay Parking Charges
- Local Residents Discount Scheme For London Stansted Airport
Is There A Charge To Drop-Off At Stansted Airport?
The charge for dropping off at London Stansted Airport as of 2023 is:
- £7 for 15 minutes;
- £25 for anything over 25 minutes.
There is also a £20 charge for re-entering within 30 minutes of first entering the drop-off zone.
How To Pay The Drop-Off Charge
The drop-off charge is payable at the exit barriers. Due to needing to pay at the exit barrier, the only way you will receive a London Stansted Airport Drop-Off PCN, is if you get caught by the Videoalert system tailgating the car in front to leave without paying.
Appeal London Stansted Airport Drop-Off PCN
As you need to pay the fee before exiting the drop-off zone, if you receive a fine or charge from Stansted Airport Limited, it is unlikely to be a conventional Parking Charge Notice and probably due to breaching another part of their terms and conditions.
For example, there have been reports of people getting a Parking Charge Notice for stopping on double yellow lines outside London Stansted Airport, so be aware of possible charges from Stansted Airport Limited. So for that reason, it is recommended to seek professional legal help on that matter if you are not willing to pay.
However, if you left the drop-off zone without paying, you could attempt to appeal the penalty due to Schedule 4 of The Protection Of Freedoms Act (POFA). However, also be aware of land that is covered by byelaws, which some airports are, as the appeal may not be as straight forward.
Is There A Free Drop-Off At London Stansted Airport?
You can drop-off and pick up passengers for free at the Mid Stay Car Park. It is free for up to 60 minutes. However, if you go over the free 60 minutes there will be a charge. If you feel you may be staying longer than 60 minutes, it would be cheaper to pre-book some parking.
You can find more about possible free parking options at out Free Parking Near Stansted Airport article.
London Stansted Short Stay Parking Charges
It is recommended that to avoid a London Stansted Airport drop-off PCN to use one of their dedicated car parks. Pre-booking parking is always advised to guarantee a space. The 2023 rates for the Short Stay Car Parks are:
| Duration | On The Day |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 minutes | £10.00 |
| Up to 1 hour | £18.00 |
| Up to 2 hours | £22.00 |
| Up to 4 hours | £35.00 |
| Up to 24 hours | £62.00 |
| Each additional 24 hour period | £62.00 |
London Stansted Mid Stay Parking Charges
Pre-booking parking is always advised to guarantee a space. The 2023 rates for the Mid Stay Car Park are:
| Duration | On The Day |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | Free |
| Up to 2 hours | £5.00 |
| Up to 24 hours | £30.00 |
| Each additional 24 hour period | £30.00 |
London Stansted Long Stay Parking Charges
For stays longer than 6 days, it is recommended to use London Stansted’s Long Stay Car Park. Pre-booking parking is always advised to guarantee a space. The 2023 rates for the Long Stay Car Park are:
| Duration | On The Day |
|---|---|
| Each 24 hour period (October – April) | £21.50 |
| Each 24 hour period (May – September) | £23.50 |
Local Residents Discount Scheme For London Stansted Airport
There is a local residents discount scheme to use the drop-off zone. It is open to all residents living within a 10 mile radius of London Stansted Airport. You can only apply once per household. If accepted, the rates are as follows:
- Living within 5 miles of the airport – £0.50 for up to 10 minutes,
- Living within 10 miles of the airport – £1 for up to 10 minutes.
Stays over 15 minutes will be charged at £25 and re-entry within 30 minutes will be charged at £20. These are the current 2023 rates.
Sources used to write this article: