Dropping someone at a Heathrow terminal forecourt costs £7 per vehicle per visit, but there's a genuinely free alternative if you're prepared to use it.
The quick answer
The forecourt "kiss and fly" charge at all four Heathrow terminals is £7 per vehicle per visit, with a 10-minute maximum stay. It rose from £6 to £7 on 1 January 2026. To avoid it entirely, use the Park & Ride, where the first 29 minutes are free. Prices checked August 2026.
Why the forecourt charge catches people out
The £7 charge applies to every vehicle stopping at a terminal forecourt to drop off or collect a passenger, including private cars, taxis, private hire and ride-hailing vehicles. It isn't collected automatically like a barrier car park; instead, you're expected to pay online or via the app by 23:59 the day after your visit. Miss that window and the penalty is £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days, so a lot of drivers get caught out simply by forgetting to pay afterwards rather than by disputing the charge itself.
The free way round it: Park & Ride
The Park & Ride at Heathrow gives you the first 29 minutes free at all terminals, with shuttle buses to the terminals running roughly every 15 minutes. For anyone collecting an arriving passenger, this is the better option in almost every case: flights don't always land on time, and the forecourt only allows a 10-minute stay before the meter effectively starts running again on your next visit. Waiting in the Park & Ride until the passenger has actually landed and cleared arrivals removes that pressure entirely.
When paying the £7 still makes sense
If you can genuinely time your arrival at the forecourt to within the 10-minute window, for example dropping someone off for departure rather than collecting an arrival, paying the £7 can be simpler than the extra steps of the Park & Ride and shuttle bus. It comes down to how confident you are in your timing.
Don't forget to pay
Because the charge isn't collected at a barrier, it's easy to drive away and forget. Pay online or via the Heathrow app by 23:59 the day after your visit to avoid the £80 penalty (£40 if settled within 14 days). Setting a reminder on your phone as you leave the forecourt is a simple way to avoid this.
If you're being collected by app instead
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bolt and FreeNow cannot collect from the terminal forecourt at all. Pickups happen in each terminal's short-stay "Terminal Parking" car park instead, for example T2 Level 4 Row H or T5 Level 1 Row R; at T4 this moved to the T4 Park & Ride on 23 June 2026 after the T4 multi-storey car park closed permanently. See our taxis page for the full pickup-point detail, or our guide to where to meet at Heathrow arrivals if you're meeting someone in person.
A pre-booked alternative
If you'd rather skip the forecourt and the Park & Ride altogether, a pre-booked minicab such as 247 UK Airport Taxi collects you directly, with the fare fixed before you travel and your flight tracked, so a late landing doesn't change the price or add a drop-off charge to what you pay. Full pricing is on our taxis page.
FAQs
Is drop-off free at Heathrow?
No. It costs £7 per vehicle per visit at all four terminal forecourts, with a 10-minute maximum. The free alternative is the Park & Ride, where the first 29 minutes are free.
How do I avoid the Heathrow drop-off fee?
Use the Park & Ride instead of the forecourt. The first 29 minutes are free, with a shuttle bus to the terminals roughly every 15 minutes.
What happens if I don't pay the Heathrow drop-off charge?
You must pay online or by app by 23:59 the day after your visit. Missing this brings an £80 penalty, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
Can Uber or Bolt drop off at the Heathrow forecourt?
No app or private-hire pickups happen in each terminal's short-stay Terminal Parking car park instead of the forecourt, except at T4 where they now use the T4 Park & Ride.
Is the Park & Ride always better than paying the £7?
For collecting an arriving passenger, yes, since flights can run late and the forecourt only allows 10 minutes. For a tightly timed drop-off before departure, paying the £7 can be simpler.