A free drop-off is a thing of the past at Gatwick.
Important update: As of January 5th, the minimum charge for dropping off at Gatwick’s designated zones will increase to £6.
Since March 2021, new number plate reading camera technology has been installed at the drop-off zones of both the North and South terminals at London Gatwick. The minimum charge to enter either of these zones is £6.00.
If a vehicle remains in a zone longer than 10 minutes, the charge will increase by £1 per minute, up to a total of 20 minutes. So the maximum cost is £25, and the maximum length of stay is 30 minutes. Payment must be made through PostPay by midnight the following day. You can also pay by phone – it’s an automated line: 0330 1744503.
If you don’t pay the drop-off fee on time a fine of £100 will be issued, which is reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
The only exemptions are for Blue Badge holders, who must register their details in advance and provide passenger name(s), date of flight(s), vehicle number plate and a photo or scan of the Blue Badge.
For local commuters who use Gatwick Airport railway station, a Local Commuter Scheme has been set up, although those eligible must live in one of three postcodes (RH6 0, RH6 9, or RH11 0). For an annual fee of £50, they will be entitled to two free drop-offs per day at the South Terminal.
The only way your friends and family can ferry you to and from Gatwick Airport without paying a charge, is by dropping you off or picking you up at the Long Stay car park, where two hours parking is free, as is the shuttle bus to and from the terminal.
For more information on drop-offs and pick-ups at Gatwick Airport, click here.
If you are happy to pay the new drop-off charges, the drop-off zone for the North Terminal is located on the lower level between the Sofitel and the multi-storey car park. The South Terminal drop-off zone is also on the lower level. Both zones are signposted as you enter the airport.
While there has been some inevitable grumbling among the local residents and regular users of Gatwick over the introduction of charges, the airport could be said to be simply falling in line with other airports around the UK. At Manchester Airport, for example, the drop-off zone is £5 for 5 minutes, whereas in Birmingham, you could end up paying a scary £48, if you had to wait nearly an hour for your passenger to emerge through Customs!
Disgraceful to charge .. we have never dropped off before but had to drop off son )1st time flyer) last Monday there was no other way or signs to say enter this way to be/ or not be charged we literally stopped outside south terminal suitcase out the car then drove off to be hit with a £6 charge for that is ridiculous .. we do not know Gatwick and shouldn’t have our first experience with charges
I understand your frustration with receiving a drop-off charge, especially since you weren’t aware of it beforehand.
Gatwick Airport, like many other airports, has implemented drop-off charges to manage traffic congestion and encourage the use of sustainable transportation options. The current charge is £6 for the first 10 minutes and £1 for each additional minute up to 20 minutes, with a maximum charge of £25.
While the drop-off zones have charges, there are free alternatives available. You can drop off your son at the Long Stay car parks and utilize the free shuttle bus to the terminals. Additionally, public transportation options like trains and buses are available. While unintentional, it’s important to be aware of the signage around the airport, which typically indicates zones with drop-off charges. Additionally, you can find information about these charges on the Gatwick Airport website before your next visit.
I understand that this charge can be unexpected and inconvenient, especially for first-time visitors. While I can’t directly address the charge, I encourage you to contact Gatwick Airport to see if they offer any options for waiving the fee under the circumstances.