How to pay the Gatwick drop off charge

Navigating London Gatwick Airport's drop-off zones

As of July 2025, there's a minimum £7 charge for all vehicles, but don't worry – this short guide has everything you need to know about Gatwick Airport’s drop-off charges in 2025.

Designed for private hire drivers, family, and friends alike, we'll walk you through understanding Gatwick's drop-off fees, payment methods, and most importantly, how to take advantage of free alternatives to keep more money in your pocket.

Here is what you should know about the Gatwick drop-off charge.

What is the Gatwick drop off charge?

A minimum £7 charge now applies each time a car enters for drop off at Gatwick Airport, both on North and South terminals.

If you stay more than 10 minutes, the cost increases:

£7 for 10 minutes
£1 for each additional minute up to 20 minutes
A maximum charge of £27 and maximum length of stay of 30 mins.

The drop-off charge operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without any exception.

How to pay the Gatwick drop off charge?

Payment for the Gatwick drop-off charge is required by midnight on the day following your visit to the designated drop-off zones. While setting up an AutoPay account for your vehicle is the most convenient method to ensure timely payment, we've outlined several other options to help you avoid a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).

Pay online: We recommend choosing this option if you do not have an AutoPay account with London Gatwick and have already used the drop-off zone.
Postpay: We recommend paying after your visit by entering your licence plate number, then your payment details.
Autopay: If you pay regular visits to the drop-off charge zone, you can set up a Gatwick autopay account for automatic payment.
Over the phone: You can also pay over the phone by using the automated payment line on 0330 174 4503.

IMPORTANT: You cannot pay the drop-off charge at the airport ticket machines.

Don't worry about this charge affecting your Uber driver salary. This cost is automatically included in the trip payment, to cover the minimum expenses you have for the ride.

Gatwick Drop-Off Zones

Right at the Terminal Door

For quick goodbyes, Gatwick offers convenient, barrier-free drop-off zones located directly on the forecourt of both its North and South Terminals.

Simply follow the "Drop Off" signs, pull into a designated bay, and your passengers are just moments from check-in and departures.

Extended Stay & Free Alternatives:

Short Stay Car Parks: If you need more time with passengers, the Short Stay car parks at both terminals offer nearby parking options.
Long Stay Car Parks: Prefer to avoid the drop-off charge? The Long Stay car parks provide up to two hours of free parking, complete with a complimentary shuttle bus service to the terminals.

Directions to North Terminal Drop-Off:

From the M23 (Junction 9), follow signs for Gatwick Airport.
Continue straight at the J9a roundabout, heading towards North Terminal.
Take the first exit at the subsequent roundabout, following North Terminal signs.
You'll find the North Terminal drop-off area on the lower level, between the Sofitel and the multi-storey car park.

What happens if you forget to pay the drop off charge?

If you don’t pay the charge by midnight the day after the visit, you’ll receive a £100 PCN (Parking Charge Notice).

TIP: If you pay the fine within 14 days, it will be reduced to £60.

Pay a PCN issued at Gatwick drop-off zone.

How can I avoid paying the PCN charge?

To avoid paying the PCN charge, you can drop off passengers at the airport long-stay car parks. Follow the signs for these car parks at your terminal and take a ticket at the barrier. When you leave, just scan the ticket on exit and that’s it.

TIP: This parking is free if you don’t stay for less than 2 hours.

The downside is that the car park is quite far from the terminal. There are free shuttle buses from the long-stay car parks to the airport and the journey takes around 20 minutes. However, it’s far more inconvenient than getting dropped off right at the terminal and many passengers won’t be happy with this option.

Do I need to pay the charge if I'm picking-up passengers?

For pick-up, things work a little differently. Uber users who request a ride will be required to meet you at one of the Express Pick-Up areas, located in the car parks for each terminal — Car Park 6, Level 1 for North Terminal and Orange Car Park, Level 0 for South Terminal.

Can I apply for a discount?

In some cases, yes. If you’re a resident living in postcode areas RH6 0, RH6 9, and RH11 0, you can apply for a £50 annual membership fee. This allows two free entries per day, but only in the South Terminal drop-off zone.

Blue Badge holders are exempt from the drop off charge, but they must be registered with NCP.

About Splend

At Splend, we believe in drivers. We know their vehicles need to work harder than most; that they drive more miles than most; that their insurance is hefty; their maintenance costs high and that they can face unreasonable finance rates – which is a heavy load to carry on their own.

That’s why at Splend, we exist to support rideshare drivers with a new model, that takes all those car ownership costs, and provides them for less, with lower purchase prices, better rates, lower servicing and insurance costs – all for one weekly repayment, all in one place.