Drop-off and pick-up FAQs

If you are a Blue Badge holder being dropped off at the airport by friends or by taxi you are exempt from drop-off charges, as long as you register your number plate in advance.

The Blue badge exemption is valid for a 30 minute free drop off session, up to three hours of your chosen start time. You are not permitted to leave your vehicle unattended on the Drop-Off Terminal Forecourts.

You can register anytime from three months before your flight up to the day before you travel, each time you fly. The vehicle owner can also register their number plate on behalf of the Blue Badge holder being dropped off, as long as they can provide evidence of a Blue Badge.

An exemption can be applied for by creating an online account and providing the information below.

• Passengers name/s
• Date of flight(s)
• Vehicle number plate
• A photo or scan of the Blue Badge

Your account can be used to register and view your exemptions for upcoming visits to the airport, you must apply for each exemption in advance through your account.

Confirmation of a successful application will be sent by email. Please check the number plate details on the confirmation email carefully and contact NCP if any changes are made to the number plate being used before travelling to the airport.

If you are arriving by taxi you can register for an exemption using the taxi number plate. You can request this from the taxi company in advance and use the confirmation email to show your taxi driver that you are exempt. You must register the taxi details in advance to be exempt from the drop-off charge.

If the vehicle is registered to an Autopay account, please ensure this is disabled when utilising a Blue Badge drop-off exemption, in order to avoid charges being debited automatically.

An exemption must be applied for before the date of travel to allow adequate time for it to be processed. Applications on or after the date of travel may not be accepted.

We recommend that all passengers use the Short Stay car parks for picking up as this tends to take longer than dropping off. Please note that normal charges apply in the car parks.

Payments should be made after you exit the drop off zone in order for your vehicle to be recognised by the Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems and for the correct fee to be calculated for your drop-off session.

Auto Pay accounts should be set up before you enter the drop off zone in order for your account to be debited.

Yes, you can create an AutoPay account where you can register your vehicle details and add a payment card which is automatically debited after each use of the drop off zone.

This works similar to the 'Dart Charge' system for the Dartford Crossing.

Local commuters are NOT exempt from the drop off charge at London Gatwick, however, the Local Commuter Scheme can provide access to London Gatwick station for people living close to the airport who regularly use the station to commute. The scheme is open to residents living within the specified postcode sectors below, which have limited or no other public transport options nearby:

• RH6 0
• RH6 9
• RH11 0

The scheme has a £50 annual membership fee per household to cover administration costs and provides access for two free visits per day to the South Terminal drop off zone. Each household may register two vehicles.

Residents eligible for the scheme can apply for their permit by providing the details below:

• Name
• Address
• Vehicle registration details (up to two per household)
• Evidence of eligibility (recent utility bill/car insurance certificate)

Our operations partner, NCP, will review each application and, if approved, will be in contact to arrange for payment.

As circumstances can change, there is provision for vehicle details to be updated twice a year by amending the account details. Members will be contacted to renew membership the following year.

Anyone who does not wish to pay the forecourt charge will be able to drop off or pick up passengers in the airport’s long-stay car parks with two hours free parking and a free shuttle bus to the terminals. Follow the signs for 'North Terminal long stay' or 'South Terminal long stay', depending on which terminal your passenger is flying from.

Take a ticket at the barrier, park your car in a bay in an open zone and catch the free shuttle bus to the terminal. Once you’ve picked your passenger up and are ready to leave, simply scan the ticket on exit for free parking for up to two hours.

To maintain visitor safety, red routes will be in operation around the airport site. If you see areas designated as red routes, please be aware that you are not allowed to stop, unload, wait or park. If you are dropping off passengers, please use the drop off zones or the free option in our long stay car parks.

Red routes are clearly marked around the airport roads with signage and double red line road markings. London Gatwick operates a vehicle monitoring and enforcement operation. Any vehicle seen contravening the Red Route restrictions will face an enforcement charge of £100 (reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days).

Payment must be made by midnight the day after the visit to the drop off zone. To pay the charge and avoid a fine, click here.

Non-payment will be enforced through Parking Charge Notices at £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days

Taxis will be able to add the drop off charge to the taxi fare as many already do when picking passengers up from the short stay car parks. 

Local commuters living within a limited number of postcode sectors close to the airport (RH6 0, RH6 9, RH11 0) with limited access to public transport can apply for a permit which covers two visits per day to use the train station by paying an annual £50 charge. The scheme is now open to applicants.

If you do not live within those postcode areas, you will need to pay the drop off charge each time you are dropped off at the airport to use the train station.

Anyone who holds an ID to work at the airport can apply for an exemption from the drop off charges. To apply, complete the Forecourt Access Request form and submit this to your authorised signatory.

All pickups should take place in the short stay car parks as it often takes more time to collect passengers. Alternatively you can park for free in our long stay car park for up to two hours, using our free shuttle bus to the Terminal. You can use this for drop offs too.

The North Terminal forecourt drop off area is on the lower level between the Sofitel and the multi-storey car park and is signposted from the approach roads.

Click here to view full size map.

The South Terminal drop off area is located on the lower level and is signposted from the approach roads.

Click here to view full size image.

To query your drop off charge or for any other payment issues please contact NCP here or call 0345 050 7080 (select option 4)

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the aviation industry and as an airport we need to look at new revenue streams to help us continue to protect jobs and income while we rebuild. Therefore, London Gatwick introduced a charge for vehicles dropping off passengers on the forecourt directly outside our terminals.

We also want to rebuild better and sustainability remains important to us as an airport. Encouraging more sustainable journeys to the airport, the drop off charge will also help London Gatwick achieve its sustainability targets, including to achieve 48% of journeys by public transport as well as deterring a car led recovery after the pandemic.