How to avoid the London Gatwick drop-off charge
To avoid the £10 London Gatwick drop-off charge, use the Long Stay car park — free for 120 minutes — which saves you £10 per drop-off.
- Free alternative: Long Stay car park (120 min free)
- Forecourt charge avoided: £10 per drop-off
- If you do use the forecourt, pay by: Midnight the day after your visit
- Penalty for an unpaid forecourt visit: £100
How do I avoid the drop-off charge at London Gatwick?
London Gatwick charges £10 to use the terminal drop-off forecourt, but you can avoid it: park in the Long Stay car park, which gives you 120 minutes free. Free for up to two hours, with a free shuttle bus to the terminals That saves the full £10 per drop-off. If you do use the forecourt and don't pay, the penalty is £100.All figures are official, date-stamped snapshots read from the airport's own published page and verified 2026-06-10.
The free alternative: Long Stay car park
Step by step
Use the Long Stay car park
Free for up to two hours, with a free shuttle bus to the terminals You get 120 minutes free, avoiding the £10 forecourt charge.
Check Blue Badge exemption
Blue Badge holders dropped off by friends or taxi are exempt from the charge if they register the vehicle number plate in advance (free 30-minute session)
If you do pay, don't miss the deadline
If you can't avoid the forecourt, London Gatwick lets you pay by Midnight the day after your visit — missing it risks a £100 penalty. £100 Parking Charge Notice for non-payment, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days
If you can't avoid the forecourt
Pre-book London Gatwick parking
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Frequently asked questions
How do I avoid the London Gatwick drop-off charge?
Use the Long Stay car park — free for 120 minutes, which avoids the £10 forecourt charge. Free for up to two hours, with a free shuttle bus to the terminals (Verified 2026-06-10, per the official London Gatwick page.)
Is there a free way to drop someone off at London Gatwick?
Yes — the Long Stay car park gives you 120 minutes free. Free for up to two hours, with a free shuttle bus to the terminals
Are Blue Badge holders exempt from the London Gatwick drop-off fee?
Blue Badge holders dropped off by friends or taxi are exempt from the charge if they register the vehicle number plate in advance (free 30-minute session)
If I use the London Gatwick forecourt, when do I have to pay?
Pay by Midnight the day after your visit. Otherwise you risk a £100 penalty. £100 Parking Charge Notice for non-payment, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days
Full London Gatwick drop-off charge breakdown →
Parking vs drop-off at London Gatwick: which is cheaper? →
Blue Badge drop-off at London Gatwick: is it free? →
How to avoid the charge at every UK airport →
Sources & method
- Official London Gatwick drop-off page — verified 2026-06-10
Every figure — the forecourt charge, the free-alternative allowance and the penalty — is read from the airport's official page and re-verified on the date shown. We never republish unverified prices.
Independent: we are not owned by any airport, network or booking site. Any affiliate links are labelled Ad and earn us a commission — this never affects the figures we publish or which option we show as cheapest.