Stansted Airport raised its Express Set Down forecourt charge to £10 for up to 15 minutes on 19 March 2026, up from £7. Stay 15 to 30 minutes and the charge jumps to £28. The change applies to the single terminal forecourt and is enforced automatically by ANPR cameras. The new rate puts Stansted level with Gatwick at the top of UK drop-off charges. Here is the full rule, the exemptions, the free alternative and how to pay before the penalty kicks in.
The 2026 rate
- Charge: £10 per visit, up to 15 minutes.
- Extended stay: £28 for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Beyond 30 minutes: additional charges apply, intentionally punitive to discourage forecourt parking.
- Enforcement: ANPR cameras at every entry and exit. No barriers, no payment booths on site.
- Effective date: 19 March 2026 (the £10 / 15min rate). Previous rate was £7 / 15min.
How to pay (and the deadline)
Payment is online, not at the airport. You can pay:
- In advance, if you know the trip is happening.
- On the day, after you leave the forecourt.
- By midnight the day after your visit. Hard deadline.
Miss the deadline and Stansted issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Pay within 24 hours of every visit; you can pay from anywhere with an internet connection.
The free alternative (use Mid Stay or Long Stay)
Park at the Mid Stay or Long Stay car park and use the free shuttle into the terminal. The first 20 minutes at Mid Stay are free, so a 15-minute drop-off costs nothing. Mid Stay shuttle is 3 to 5 minutes, runs every 5 to 10 minutes. The trade-off: 25 to 40 minutes round trip for the driver versus 10 to 15 minutes for the forecourt. For drivers with time, this is the genuine zero-cost option.
The drop-off trap most people fall into
The £10 covers ONE visit. Driving in, dropping off and driving out is one charge. If you come back later (forgot something, second pickup), that is a second £10 charge. Two visits = £20.
What changed on 19 March 2026
The previous rate was £7 for 15 minutes (introduced in May 2024, up from £5 in 2023). On 19 March 2026, Stansted raised it to £10, a 43% increase, and tightened the over-15-minute tier to £28. Stansted cited congestion management and operational costs.
The new rate puts Stansted at the top of UK airport drop-off charges, tied with Gatwick at £10 per visit but with a more generous 15-minute window (Gatwick is £10 for 10 minutes only).
How Stansted compares in 2026
| Airport | Drop-off charge | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Stansted (STN) | £10 | 15 min |
| Gatwick (LGW) | £10 | 10 min |
| Bristol (BRS) | £8.50 | 10 min |
| Heathrow (LHR) | £7 | 10 min |
| Luton (LTN) | £7 | 10 min |
| Leeds Bradford (LBA) | £7 | 10 min |
| Manchester (MAN) | £6 | 10 min |
| Birmingham (BHX) | £6 | 15 min |
| East Midlands (EMA) | £5 | 15 min |
Exemptions
- Blue Badge holders: exempt. Register your Blue Badge with Stansted in advance to avoid the automatic fee being applied and needing a refund.
- Motorcycles and scooters: not subject to the charge.
- Licensed taxis on a metered fare: separate arrangements, not on the £10 rate.
If you forget to pay
- You receive a Penalty Charge Notice in the post, typically within 14 days.
- Standard penalty is £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days of issue.
- If unpaid after 28 days, the penalty escalates and may be passed to a debt-collection agency.
- You can appeal if you genuinely paid on time or were exempt. Keep the payment confirmation email.
Five things to do at the Stansted drop-off
- Set a phone reminder to pay £10 before midnight the next day. Do it before you drive home, takes 60 seconds.
- Stay under 15 minutes. The £28 tier starts immediately at 15:00:01.
- If you have a Blue Badge, register it with Stansted in advance.
- If you will likely need a second pickup or drop-off, factor in another £10.
- If you have time, use the free Mid Stay drop-off instead (first 20 min free).
The honest one-line answer
The Stansted forecourt at £10 for 15 minutes is the convenience option. Worth it for a one-way drop-off where you save 30 to 40 minutes of round-trip Mid Stay shuttle time. The free Mid Stay drop-off remains a viable option for drivers with time on their hands.
Plan the rest of your Stansted trip
- For parking, see Cheapest Stansted Airport Parking in 2026.
- For driving routes, see Driving to Stansted Airport.
- For lounges, see Stansted Airport Lounges 2026.