Heathrow Airport was the last major UK airport to introduce a drop-off charge back in November 2021. For 2023, the Heathrow drop-off charge is set at £5 per vehicle entering the drop-off zones. This charge applies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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Heathrow Drop-Off Payment
The Heathrow drop-off payment must be made online, by automatic auto-pay or via their automated telephone service. Unfortunately, there isn’t an option to pay the drop-off charge at a ticket machine. You have up until midnight the following day to pay the fee, or you can pay it in advance.
Heathrow Drop-Off Charge For Blue Badge Holders
If you are a Blue Badge holder, you can apply for a 100% discount on the Heathrow drop-off charge.You can do this by going to Heathrow’s Blue Badge Discount Application page.
Alternatively, Blue Badge holders are eligible for two hours free parking in Heathrow’s Long Stay Car Parks. To take advantage of this, use the call point at the entrance to the car park, state the vehicle registration and Blue Badge number. The same is required upon your exit.
Other Heathrow Drop-Off Discounts
The following vehicle types will get a 100% discount on the Heathrow drop-off charge (they must be recorded with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) as one of these categories):
- Two-wheeled motorbikes;
- Roadside Recovery vehicles (they must have a taxation class of recovery vehicle);
- Buses or coaches.
Vehicles that have used Heathrow’s Valet Parking will also be eligible for a 100% discount on the charge.
These discounts will be applied to your vehicle automatically. You don’t have to apply for them.
Unfortunately, electric vehicles are not eligible for any discounts or exemptions.
How Long Can You Stay At Heathrow Drop-Off?
In Heathrow’s Terminal Drop-Off Charge Terms And Conditions it doesn’t specifically mention a time limit for the drop-off zones. However, section 2.2 of the mentioned terms and conditions states:
Payment of the charge does not permit you to wait in the terminal drop-off zone before or after dropping off a passenger
Terminal Drop-Off Charge Terms And Conditions
And Section 6.4, which relates to Parking Charge Notices, of the same terms and conditions states:
In the event of a breach of these terms and conditions, we (via our trusted third party) may use the vehicle registration details to request and obtain details of the vehicle’s registered keeper from the DVLA
Terminal Drop-Off Charge Terms And Conditions
So it could be read that if you are captured waiting before, or after, dropping off a passenger, you will likely receive a Parking Charge Notice for a breach of section 2.2. If you think you will need to wait for your passenger, you can do free drop-offs at the Long Stay Car Parks.
What Happens If You Forget To Pay The Heathrow Drop-Off Charge?
As of 2023, the drop-off zones at Heathrow Airport are operated by APCOA Parking. They do this with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. If you forget to pay the Heathrow drop-off charge, you will receive a Heathrow Airport Drop-Off PCN. This will be issued by APCOA and their current charge is £80.
TLDR: Heathrow Drop-Off Charge
- The charge applies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year;
- The Heathrow drop-off payment must be made by their automatic auto-pay account, online or by the automated telephone service;
- You can pay the drop-off charge in advance and have up until midnight the following day to pay it;
- Blue Badge holders can apply for a 100% discount on the drop-off charge. They are also eligible for two hours free parking in the Long Stay Car Parks;
- If recorded with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Roadside Recovery vehicles, Two-wheeled motorbikes, Buses and/or coaches are eligible for a 100% discount on the charge;
- Vehicles that have used Heathrow’s Valet Parking are also be eligible for a 100% discount on the charge;
- If you forget to pay the Heathrow drop-off charge, you will receive a Heathrow Airport Drop-Off PCN.
Sources used to write this article: