Gatwick Airport charges £10 for up to 10 minutes at its terminal drop-off zones from 6 January 2026 — up from £7, the single biggest drop-off price rise any UK airport has made. Here is the full 2026 tier breakdown for both terminals, the free alternative most travellers miss, and how to avoid an automatic £100 penalty.

Gatwick drop-off charge for 2026

  • £10 for the first 10 minutes.
  • £1 per minute after that, up to a maximum stay of 30 minutes.
  • £30 is the most you can be charged in a single visit.
  • The same charge applies at both the North Terminal and South Terminal forecourts.

There are no barriers. Number-plate (ANPR) cameras record your vehicle as it enters and leaves the drop-off zone, and the charge is based on the time between.

How and when to pay

You do not pay at a machine on the day. Payment is made online, and you have until 23:59 the day after your visit to settle it. Miss that window and Gatwick issues a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) of £100, reduced to £60 if you pay within 14 days. Always keep a note of the date and terminal you used so you can pay the correct amount.

The free alternative most people miss

You do not have to use the forecourt at all. Gatwick's Long Stay car parks are free for up to two hours, and a free shuttle bus runs between the Long Stay car park and the terminal. For most drop-offs and pick-ups this turns a £10 charge into £0 — you simply park, walk your passenger to the shuttle stop, and wait if you are collecting.

For the South Terminal, drivers also use the free lay-by on the A23 near the Longbridge roundabout, which is roughly a 10–15 minute walk from the terminal. It is free but it is a walk with luggage, so the Long Stay shuttle is the easier option for most.

Who is exempt

Blue Badge holders are exempt from the Gatwick drop-off charge. You will normally need to register your vehicle in advance so the ANPR system recognises it — check the official Gatwick drop-off pages before you travel.

How Gatwick compares to other UK airports in 2026

At £10 for 10 minutes, Gatwick is now the most expensive major UK airport for dropping off. For comparison, Bristol charges £8.50, Luton and Leeds Bradford £7, and Manchester and Birmingham £6 for their initial periods. If you are driving to the airport, the few minutes it takes to use a free park-and-shuttle option is almost always worth more than the convenience of the forecourt.

The bottom line

Budget £10 if you use the Gatwick forecourt in 2026, pay online by midnight the next day, and remember that the Long Stay car park gives you two free hours plus a free shuttle if you would rather not pay at all. Figures here are based on Gatwick's published 2026 tariff; always confirm against the airport's own signage and website, as charges are reviewed periodically.