How you pay depends on which type of taxi you choose. A metered black cab is paid to the driver at the end of the journey, typically £75 to £130 to central London. A pre-booked minicab is usually paid by card when you book, with the price fixed in advance from about £45 to £75. Checked August 2026.
Payment methods at a glance
| Option | How you pay | When | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black cab at the rank | Driver, cash or card | End of the journey | Metered TfL fare, typically £75 to £130 |
| Pre-booked minicab | Card, usually online | At booking | Fixed price, often includes the drop-off charge |
| Uber, Bolt, FreeNow | Card, in the app | At booking or on demand | Price can move with demand |
| Piccadilly or Elizabeth line | Contactless, Oyster or ticket | On the day | From £5.60 |
| Heathrow Express | Ticket, online or on the day | Cheapest booked ahead | From £10 if booked 30 or more days ahead |
| Drop-off charge | Online or app, separately | By 23:59 the next day | £7, rising to an £80 penalty if unpaid |
Every mode of getting away from Heathrow has its own payment rhythm, and knowing which one applies before you travel avoids a surprise at the barrier or on the forecourt.
Paying for a black cab at the rank
Licensed black cabs wait at the marshalled rank just outside each terminal's arrivals hall. There's no need to book, and you pay the driver at the end of the journey once the meter has run its course on the standard Transport for London tariff. The minimum fare is £4.40, and the rate you're charged depends on the time you travel: Tariff 1 for weekday daytime, Tariff 2 for evenings and weekends, and Tariff 3 for nights and holidays. A rank surcharge of about £1.60 can be added, and if you were dropped off rather than picked up, the £7 forecourt charge applies separately. Most cabs take contactless and card as well as cash, but it's sensible to have a card ready as backup on an unfamiliar route.
Paying for a pre-booked minicab
A pre-booked minicab or private-hire car works differently. You agree the fare and usually pay by card when you make the booking, commonly £45 to £75 fixed to central London with the drop-off charge included. Because the price is set before you travel, nothing changes if the traffic is bad or your flight lands late, and there's nothing to settle with the driver on the day. For more on how this compares with the black-cab meter, see the taxis page and the full price comparison.
Paying with ride-hailing apps
Uber, Bolt and FreeNow all take payment by card inside the app, and you see a price before you confirm. For an on-demand ride, that price can move with demand, particularly at busy times. If you pre-book a ride-hailing trip in the app for a set pickup time, it's usually more expensive than simply requesting a car on demand once you land, which is worth knowing if you're weighing the two. Remember that none of these apps pick up at the terminal kerb, you need to walk to the short-stay Terminal Parking car park first; see the taxis page for the exact pickup points.
Paying the drop-off charge separately
If a friend or relative drives you to Heathrow and uses the terminal forecourt, that's a separate charge from any taxi fare: £7 per vehicle, with a 10-minute maximum stay, at all four terminals. It has to be paid online or by app by 23:59 the day after the visit, or the penalty is £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. Pre-booked minicabs commonly build this into their fixed price, but it's worth confirming when you book. The free alternative for anyone waiting on a passenger is the Park & Ride, covered on the drop-off page.
Paying for public transport
The Piccadilly and Elizabeth lines both take contactless bank cards and Oyster, with no need to buy a paper ticket. The Heathrow Express is a ticket, either bought on the day at £26 or online in advance from £10 if you book 30 or more days ahead. National Express coach tickets are bought online or at the bus station. Full fares for each are on the public transport page.
Heathrow Airport Guide's disclosed transport partner is 247 UK Airport Taxi, part of the Tick Taxi group. Need a door-to-door taxi? For fixed-price, flight-tracked transfers to and from Heathrow Airport, we recommend 247 UK Airport Taxi. Your fare is fixed and quoted before you travel, so drop-off charges, night surcharges and traffic never change what you pay.
More
More: Overview, Taxis, Public transport, Drop-off, Routes, FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pay for a black cab at Heathrow? You pay the driver at the end of the journey, either in cash or by card. The fare is metered on the standard TfL tariff, typically £75 to £130 to central London.
Do pre-booked minicabs at Heathrow take card payment? Yes. Most pre-booked minicabs take payment by card at the time of booking, with the fare fixed in advance, commonly £45 to £75 to central London.
Is the Heathrow drop-off charge paid separately from a taxi fare? Yes, if you use the forecourt. It's £7 per vehicle, paid online or by app by 23:59 the next day, separate from any taxi meter or fixed fare. Many pre-booked minicabs include it in their price, so ask when you book.
Can I pay for the Tube or Elizabeth line with a bank card at Heathrow? Yes. Both the Piccadilly and Elizabeth lines take contactless bank cards and Oyster, with no need for a paper ticket.
Is in-app pre-booking with Uber more expensive than requesting on demand? Usually yes. Booking a set pickup time in advance through a ride-hailing app is commonly more expensive than requesting a car on demand once you land.
We recommend a transport partner and may earn a referral fee. It never changes what you pay, and we only list options we would use ourselves.
Last verified August 2026 by the Heathrow Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Heathrow Airport website before you travel.