Stansted Airport raised its Express Set Down forecourt charge to £10 for up to 15 minutes on 19 March 2026, up from £7. Stay over 15 minutes and the charge jumps to £28, with a 30-minute maximum stay. 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 and how to pay before the penalty kicks in.
The 2026 rate
- Charge: £10 per visit, up to 15 minutes.
- Over 15 minutes: £28.
- Maximum stay: 30 minutes. Vehicles must not be left unattended and may be towed, with a towing fee.
- Re-entry: a £28 charge applies if you re-enter within 30 minutes of first entering.
- 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 or by phone (03450 175046), not at the airport. You cannot pay in advance: payment can only be made after your visit, or taken automatically if you set up AutoPay. You can pay:
- On the day, after you leave the forecourt.
- By midnight the day after your visit. Hard deadline.
Miss the deadline and Stansted issues a Parking 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 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 within 30 minutes of first entering (forgot something, second pickup), Stansted charges £28 for the re-entry, not another £10.
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 set the over-15-minute charge at £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 |
| Luton (LTN) | £9 | 12 min |
| Bristol (BRS) | £8.50 | 10 min |
| Leeds Bradford (LBA) | £8 | 10 min |
| East Midlands (EMA) | £8 | 10 min |
| Birmingham (BHX) | £7 or £8 (the airport's two pages differ) | 15 min |
| Heathrow (LHR) | £7 | per entry |
| Manchester (MAN) | £6.50 | 10 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 Parking Charge Notice in the post, sent to the registered keeper.
- 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. Over 15 minutes costs £28, and 30 minutes is the maximum.
- If you have a Blue Badge, register it with Stansted in advance.
- Do not come back within 30 minutes: re-entry costs £28.
- If you are the one flying, book parking and leave the forecourt out of the trip altogether.
The honest one-line answer
The Stansted forecourt costs £10 for 15 minutes and £28 beyond that, with another £28 if you come back within half an hour. If you are the one travelling, look at parking for your dates on our London Stansted Airport parking page before arranging a lift.
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.
Stansted Airport drop-off: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drop off at Stansted Airport in 2026?
£10 for up to 15 minutes at the Express Set Down forecourt from 19 March 2026, up from £7. Over 15 minutes costs £28, and the maximum stay is 30 minutes.
How do you pay for Stansted Airport drop-off?
Pay online or by phone after your visit (you cannot pay in advance), by midnight the day after. Miss the deadline and Stansted issues a £100 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Did Stansted drop-off charges go up in 2026?
Yes. The Express Set Down rate rose from £7 to £10 for 15 minutes on 19 March 2026, putting Stansted level with Gatwick at the top of UK drop-off charges.